Cyclists Inciting Change thru LIVE Exchange (C.I.C.L.E.) announced that it will begin plans for an innovative new Bicycle Community Center in northeast Los Angeles, thanks to initial funding from New Belgium Brewing Company. The Bicycle Community Center will house an extensive bicycle education program, and provide a comprehensive set of resources designed to get more Los Angelenos riding their bikes for everyday transportation.

The Center will also involve an innovative Social Bike Business program which will manufacture affordable transportation bicycles and equip qualifying low-income individuals with a transportation bicycle and the training to help them meet with their transportation needs. Area residents will also benefit from job training programs and additional business opportunities created by the Center.

“Bicycling is not only an environmentally friendly form of transportation but for many of our community’s residents who are transit dependent, it is also an effective and low cost means of contributing to their livelihoods,” said Council-member Ed Reyes of the First District in northeast Los Angeles when he learned about the program’s launch. “C.I.C.L.E’s social bike business project fulfills a great need in my district and I fully support their efforts.”

While the New Belgium funding makes the initial launch of the program possible, funding is still needed for the Center and the training programs. Those wanting to help should contact C.I.C.L.E..

[Read the Dirt Rag Rider Profile article about C.I.C.L.E. co-founder Shay Sanchez here.]

This entry was posted on Monday, January 26th, 2009 at 2:53 pm and is filed under Access & Advocacy, Fresh Dirt, New! Cool!. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.