Giant Bicycle USA, headquartered in Newbury Park, CA, is donating 100 bikes to people in the New York City areas hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy. “Ride NYC Forward” is a partnership effort between Giant and two New York bicycle advocacy groups—Transportation Alternatives (http://www.transalt.org/) and Recycle-A-Bicycle (http://www.recycleabicycle.org/)—to improve mobility among residents in the stricken areas. Giant is sending 100 of its Revel 2 mountain bikes, as well as helmets and locks, to help people move about their neighborhoods and commute to work by bicycle.
“We want to help move NYC forward in the recovery from Hurricane Sandy,” said An Le, Giant Global Marketing Director. “Bikes can play a huge role in providing a sustainable mobility solution, and that’s what the Ride NYC Forward initiative is all about. With our partners Transportation Alternatives and Recycle-A-Bicycle, we are delivering Giant bikes and gear to the people who need them most.”
The Revel 2 bikes, Giant Talos helmets and Giant U-locks have been shipped from three Giant distribution centers to Recycle-A-Bicycle’s warehouse in Long Island City, Queens. The non-profit organization—which uses bicycling to foster youth development, environmental education, community engagement and healthy living—has a large instructional facility where experienced volunteers are building the bikes. Recycle-A-Bicycle and Transportation Alternatives, New York City’s leading transportation advocacy organization, will work together to place the bicycles with affected residents in neighborhoods around the five boroughs most impacted by the storm, specifically Rockaway, Red Hook, the Lower East Side, and coastal Staten Island.
“Ride NYC Forward” stickers will be placed on the top tube of each bike, showing that it’s from the partnership of Giant, Transportation Alternatives, and Recycle-A-Bicycle.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Giant USA for their very generous donation of 100 bikes for communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy,” said Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “Thanks to the hurricane, it’s clearer than ever that a robust variety of transportation choices—including bicycles—makes New York City stronger and more resilient. We’ll be working hard with Recycle-a-Bicycle to get these bikes where they’re needed most.”
“Now more than ever, the bicycle is the way to go,” said Pasqualina Azzarello, Executive Director of Recycle-A-Bicycle. “We are grateful to partner with Giant USA and Transportation Alternatives to bring these bikes to people who need them most. Such a generous donation will serve to further relief efforts by providing transportation and delivering food and supplies. With the help of a dedicated team of mechanics and tremendous goodwill, we’ll get neighborhoods and businesses growing again.”
This story is contributed by a member of the Ventura community and is neither endorsed nor affiliated with Ventura County Star
