FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Re: Provo Bicycle Collective Grand Opening December 2, 2011

Date and Time:  December 2, 2011 – 5:00PM to 7:00PM

Location: 49 North 1100 West #2; Provo, UT 84601

The Bicycle Collective will be hosting a Grand Opening to celebrate the launch of the Provo Bicycle Collective Location.  Please come visit this exciting new space to learn about their programs, enjoy light refreshments, and win in the prize drawing.

“I’m very excited to see Provo climb the ranks of Bicycle Friendly Communities.  Opening a Bicycle Collective was our the next logical step and a perfect way to channel all the momemtum and energy of local bicycle advocates and volunteers,” said Zac Whitmore, Director of the Provo Bicycle Collective. “Much like the other Bicycle Collective locations in Salt Lake and Ogden, Provo will offer a Community Bike Shop for guided Do-It-Yourself repair; supply Bikes for Goodwill Organizations through a referral network; and eventually offer the Earn-a-Bike mechanics classes and Trips for Kids mountain bike rides for youth.”

The mission of the Bicycle Collective is to promote cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society. The Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income households.

For more information on the on the Provo Bicycle Collective or any donations or voluteering opportunities call the Director of the Provo Bicycle Collective at 801-356-1378 or visit www.provobikecollective.org.

Media Contact: Zac Whitmore 801-356-1378

The Cranksgiving ride is a super rad annual ride that Zac and Krysta Whitmore started 3 years ago. The ride entails going to local grocery stores and purchasing some non-perishable food items and even hygeine items to donate to the Provo Food Bank. The morning of the ride it was a typical overcast autumn day, but once we all got riding, chatting ensued and the cold was long gone. We hit up Allen’s Grocery, Macey’s, and A Fresh Market. It was fun to see that confused looks on peoples faces as 18 or more people showed up together on bikes scrambling around a store looking for the best stuff to get and randomly meeting each other around every corner. Once we had all of the food picked out we headed over to the Collective location for donuts and hot chocolate to warm us up after riding in the chilly fall morning. All in all the ride was a success and the Food Bank’s supply just got a little bigger thanks to bicycles!

On 11/10/11 the Provo Bicycle Collective was given the opportunity  to present at  Independence high school the “Earn a Bike Program,” which is dope. I think it was weird for us all to be at a school assembly and not sitting in the bleachers, but it turned out really well.  We got a bunch of emails from all the students who want to sign up for the class so hopefully (if the first class goes well) we can be a staple at the school every week! Zac presented everything to the students and we gave them some candy for their answers (kids still like candy right?) we also brought some of our bikes in to show them different types like a polo bike, a commuter, etc. Overall, I’m pumped for this class and also a huge high five goes out to the principal of Independence High, Rosanna Ungerman. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Photo: Kate Chandler