“It’s your world; ride it!” proclaims the tag line at Pacific Beach’s Bicycle Warehouse retail and repair center. Co-owner Debbe Simmons thinks it has a nice ring, and as the warehouse marks its 25th anniversary, she adds that it’s about to take on a certain literal significance. The local bike community has come a long way since the venue’s opening on Independence Day of 1992, she says – as the fraternity grows, so too does its connection with the rest of the planet.
On Feb. 8, Simmons and co-owner husband Mike will travel to Africa as part of Africa Project, which supplies refurbished bikes to the continent as a public service. It’s the brainchild of Mike’s Bikes, a San Francisco shop that started the venture in 2008 – 20,000 vehicles later, the movement has taken hold in eight countries from Lesotho to Kenya. The Simmonses, whose shop has participated in the project for the last four years, will travel to Botswana on their maiden voyage, helping sell the recast bikes to partner African dealers at greatly reduced cost. “What a great, great project,” Simmons says. “It serves a purpose for somebody else, and it really changes lives.”
Simmons is searching feverishly for 50 more vehicles to fill the latest 400-bike container for shipment. Kids bikes and mountain bikes are much appreciated, she says, adding that interested donors may drop off the vehicles at any Bicycle Warehouse store (the business has outlets in seven communities, from Chula Vista to Termecula, and it also operates a mobile unit). Money, as you might also imagine, wouldn’t be turned away.
Merchandise, raffles and a barbecue were among the orders of the day on July 1 as Bicycle Warehouse celebrated its 25th year at its flagship store, 4670 Santa Fe St. in PB – but even as the event marked San Diego’s growth as a bike community, it doesn’t necessarily herald a new era. San Francisco, New York and Washington, D.C. are miles ahead of us in bike commutership; indeed, Portland’s ridership roles jumped 215 percent between 1990 and 2000 amid intense public campaigns.
But Simmons’ glass is half full as she cites the growing local trend and its impact on regional highways.
“There’s more to be done,” she says, “but we’ve also done a lot. Look at downtown. I see people riding downtown all the time. It’s much greater than it was even five years ago.” Add community representation on City Council and a growing grid of rental stations stretching through strategic beach and urban locations, and the signs of growth are everywhere. And look at Africa Project, a testament to bicycling’s place in the transportation climate. Bicycle Warehouse is taking full advantage accordingly – indeed, this anniversary year is sure to be one that a grateful kid from Lesotho won’t soon forget. WANT TO HELP? For more on Bicycle Warehouse, see bicyclewarehouse.com. The number is 858-273-7300. More on Africa Project, including a number of introductory videos, can be found at mikesbikesafrica.com.