Meet Our Spring Super Commuter Couple: Janie Katz-Christy and Sam Christy

Posted on May 7th 2025 | super commuters, quarterly dispatch, bike life,

Meet Janie Katz-Christy and Sam Christy, a dynamic duo who have transformed their lives and community through their passion for biking. Their journey began in different parts of the country—Janie from New Jersey and Sam from rural Maryland—but their paths converged in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where they ha […] read more...

Portland Gear Hub is Providing Equitable Access to Outdoor Experiences

Posted on Apr 23rd 2025 | advocacy, better world, quarterly dispatch,

In January 2014, the Portland Gear Hub began humbly in the basement of a YMCA. It was born from the vision of individuals from two youth-focused nonprofits in southern Maine - Camp Ketcha and the Community Bicycle Center - with the vision of using a second-hand outdoor gear shop to support their youth programs. Since t […] read more...

Meet our Winter Super Commuter - McTzviel Alejandro Oyerinde

Posted on Feb 12th 2025 | bike life, quarterly dispatch, super commuters,

McTzviel Alejandro Oyerinde’s passion for cycling grew out of his youth in the El Paso – Juarez area. From the very beginning, McTzviel felt the unity and freedom that bicycles, public transportation, and city parks bring to a community. Now at the age of just 24, he is finding ways to more deeply immerse h […] read more...

Calling All Youth

Posted on Feb 10th 2025 | better world, advocacy, bike life, quarterly dispatch,

Planet Bike’s involvement with the Youth Bike Summit (YBS) began in March 2010 when Kim White and Kristi Nanco, interns from Recycle-A-Bicycle in NYC, attended the National Bike Summit to learn more about bicycle policy and advocacy. While there, they sat in on Planet Bike’s panel entitled “Broadening […] read more...

Meet Our Fall Super Commuter - Nestor Rivera

Posted on Nov 4th 2024 | super commuters, bike life, quarterly dispatch,

Nestor Rivera’s love affair with bicycles began on the sun-kissed streets of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. It was the late 1970s and his uncle introduced him to the magic of two wheels by teaching him how to ride a Japanese knockoff of a Schwinn Stingray. From that moment, Nestor was smitten—exploring every corner […] read more...

IMBA is Increasing Trail Access Across the Country

Posted on Nov 4th 2024 | advocacy, bike life, quarterly dispatch, better world,

The International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) isn’t just about trails; it’s about transforming outdoor access. From bustling urban centers to awe-inspiring backcountry EPICs, IMBA’s mission harnesses the power of bicycles to create sustainable communities. Planet Bike, a supporter since 2004, ali […] read more...

Meet Our Summer Super Commuter - Heather Foreman

Posted on Jul 29th 2024 | super commuters, quarterly dispatch, bike life,

Our summer Super Commuter is Heather Foreman. She’s a velo mama and cycling naturalist who loves gliding gracefully along the bike paths and boulevards of Madison, WI. Heather found love on two wheels, is raising two young bicycle commuting dynamos and her keen eyes are always on the lookout, studying the landsca […] read more...

Meet Our Spring Super Commuter - Vivian Ortiz

Posted on Apr 30th 2024 | bike life, quarterly dispatch, super commuters,

Our spring Super Commuter is Vivian Ortiz. In contrast to Paul Revere’s historic ride through the streets of Boston on horseback, Vivian opts for her faithful bicycle as her steed of choice. She found her passion for cycling a bit later in life, but that hasn’t stopped her from being a powerful advocate and inspira […] read more...

Protecting the Planet 1% at a Time

Posted on Apr 30th 2024 | advocacy, better world, learn, quarterly dispatch,

1% for the Planet was born from a simple concept: businesses should give back to the earth from which they profit. Founded in 2001 by Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia and Craig Matthews of Blue Ribbon Flies, the organization has since rallied an impressive network of over 5,200 businesses in 110 countries, collectively […] read more...

Meet Our Winter Super Commuter - Douglas Trotter

Posted on Feb 23rd 2024 | super commuters, quarterly dispatch,

Our winter super commuter is Douglas Trotter. At 60 years of age, he has a life time of cycling experience under his belt and shows no sign of slowing down. He started on a tricycle, adventured on two wheels as a teen, commuted as an adult and tours as a semi-retiree. His passion for bicycling grows every day. As h […] read more...

Working Bikes is Making a Difference in Their Community and World Wide

Posted on Feb 22nd 2024 | ADVOCACY, BETTER WORLD, QUARTERLY DISPATCH,

Working Bikes Chicago was founded in 1999 by Lee Ravenscroft and Amy Little with the mission to strengthen communities both near and far through the power of bicycles. Their goal was to sustainably rescue bikes that people in the community were either planning to discard or sell for scrap metal. They started sellin […] read more...

Meet Our Fall Super Commuter - Jesse Wolmart

Posted on Oct 30th 2023 | Quarterly Dispatch, Super Commuters,

Our fall Super Commuter is Jesse Wolmart. On the surface, Jesse may appear to be just a kid from the Bronx. If you dig a little deeper, you discover a man who believes that the bike is an agent of change that can bring a community together. The Bronx is special for Jesse because he believes in the resiliency of his […] read more...

Meet Our Summer Super Commuter - Mayo Costanza

Posted on Aug 15th 2023 | SUPER COMMUTERS, QUARTERLY DISPATCH,

Our summer 2023 Super Commuter is Mayo Costanza. At 22 years of age, he’s not only our youngest Super Commuter to date, but he also has a knack for transforming less than perfect situations into something remarkable. If Mayo were part of a daytime soap opera, he’d undoubtedly shine in the cast of “the Young and the […] read more...

NICA is Expanding Youth Cycling Across the U.S.

Posted on Mar 23rd 2023 | QUARTERLY DISPATCH, NEWS, LEARN, ADVOCACY, BIKE LIFE,

The National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) is introducing youth and families across the country to the lifelong benefits of bicycling. NICA was founded in 2009 with the goal of developing mountain bike programs for student-athletes in grades 6-12 across the U.S. Its mission is to “build strong minds, […] read more...

Meet Our Spring Super Commuter - Tracy Berman

Posted on Mar 23rd 2023 | SUPER COMMUTERS, QUARTERLY DISPATCH,

Tracy Berman, our spring 2023 Super Commuter, was persuaded to travel with her bike commuting father one morning while working a summer factory job during her college years. Since then, the bike has become an integral part of Tracy’s life and has taken her to and from work most days, empowered her to share her pass […] read more...

Join the Movement in Creating a More Bicycle-Friendly America

Posted on Jan 13th 2023 | BETTER WORLD, LEARN, QUARTERLY DISPATCH,

Is 2023 the year that you’ll encourage your business, university, or community to join the movement to create a more bicycle-friendly America? If so, the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) is here to help!A decade ago, the League launched the current version of its Bicycle Friendly America (BFA) program. It’s focus […] read more...

Meet Our Winter Super Commuter - Pamela Murray

Posted on Jan 13th 2023 | QUARTERLY DISPATCH, SUPER COMMUTERS,

Pamela Murray is Planet Bike’s winter Super commuter and she’s living proof that it's not necessary to start cycling at an early age to develop a deep love of bicycling as an adult. A longtime resident of Charlotte, North Carolina, Murray purchased her first adult bicycle in 2006 at the age of 40. She has […] read more...

Meet Our Fall Super Commuter - Becky Walkwe

Posted on Oct 6th 2022 | BIKE LIFE, QUARTERLY DISPATCH, SUPER COMMUTERS,

Like the English nanny Mary Poppins, Becky Walkwe also loves children and teaches them valuable life lessons with a magical touch. The two are similar in many ways but diverge when it comes to their preferred means of transportation. Mary has an enchanted parrot umbrella to float between nannying assignments and Be […] read more...

The Boise Bike Project is Building a Stronger and Heathier Community Through Bicycle Access

Posted on Jul 19th 2022 | ADVOCACY, NEWS, QUARTERLY DISPATCH,

When thinking about communities that are leading the way in innovative bicycling efforts, you might think of Davis, CA or Fort Collins, CO but not Boise, ID. And that’s why we were delighted to learn about the Boise Bicycle Project (BBP) and the many wonderful programs they’ve developed that are helping to build a […] read more...

Meet Our Summer Super Commuter - Xail Hernandez

Posted on Jul 19th 2022 | QUARTERLY DISPATCH, SUPER COMMUTERS, VIDEO,

The bicycle has been one of the most efficient modes of transportation since its inception in 1817. Xail Hernandez discovered just how efficient it could be in the summer of 2014 when dealing with public transportation in Tucson, Arizona. Her journey to becoming a full-time bike mechanic, year-round commuter and adv […] read more...

Meet Our Spring 2022 Super Commuter - Emma Scudder

Posted on May 6th 2022 | BIKE LIFE, QUARTERLY DISPATCH, SUPER COMMUTERS,

Bicycles have the power to inspire and empower people. Portland Bike Party co-founder Emma Scudder found this out in college when she saw how many people used bikes for transportation. That’s when she embraced the independence and joy of bicycling and was inspired to become a daily cyclist and a committed bicycle a […] read more...

Planet Bike Celebrates National Bike Month Awarding Over $44,500 Supporting 17 Advocacy Groups Across the U.S.

Posted on May 6th 2022 | ADVOCACY, BETTER WORLD, NEWS, QUARTERLY DISPATCH,

In celebration of National Bike Month, we have awarded over $44,500 to non-profit organizations across the U.S. These groups are working tirelessly to grow, support and create cycling access for all people. They achieve this through educational programming and policy work which results in a more diverse and equita […] read more...

Meet Our First Super Commuter of the New Year!

Posted on Mar 4th 2022 | QUARTERLY DISPATCH, SUPER COMMUTERS,

What does bicycle commuting mean to you? It’s a question we ask every nominated Super Commuter. Our 2022 winter Super Commuter is Lieutenant Brian Beekman and his response to our question is very personal. He’s a 22-year law enforcement veteran in the Central Oregon Police department and biking to work has become a […] read more...

QBP Expands Bicycle Industry Scholarship Programs for 2022

Posted on Mar 4th 2022 | ADVOCACY, NEWS, QUARTERLY DISPATCH,

This spring, Planet Bike is partnering with Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) to help expand QBP’s mechanic scholarship program for 2022. The goal is to create a cycling industry that is more accessible, inclusive and diverse. Four distinct scholarships will award 48 individuals with tuition and lodging at either the […] read more...

Black Girls Do Bike Releases Episode 9 of Bike Girl Magic

Posted on Mar 4th 2022 | ADVOCACY, NEWS, QUARTERLY DISPATCH,

Planet Bike’s partnership with Black Girls Do Bike (BGDB) continues with episode 9 of the Bike Girl Magic video series. This series highlights women who are spreading love, passion and camaraderie throughout the BGDB community.This episode of Bike Girl Magic catches up with Kandice Shelton. She is a spirited and lo […] read more...

Meet Our Fall 2021 Super Commuter - Rich Jones

Posted on Oct 26th 2021 | quarterly dispatch, super commuters,

Whether from personal experience or from the silver screen, we can all picture New York City traffic. We envision taxi-upon-taxi, blaring horns, bumper to bumper vehicles all rolled up and stuck in the chaos of the Big Apple. Our fall Super Commuter, Rich Jones, escapes that madness on his 40-mile round trip bike […] read more...

Black Girls Do Bike Releases New Bike Girl Magic Video

Posted on Oct 26th 2021 | Bike Life, news, Quarterly Dispatch, Video,

Planet Bike is thrilled begin a partnership with Black Girls Do Bike. We love the balance that the bicycle brings to the world and our corporate mission is to pledge time, resources and profits to organizations working for sustainable transportation solutions. This year we have focused a portion of our giving on […] read more...

Planet Bike Awards over $46,000 Supporting 15 Advocacy Groups Across the U.S.

Posted on Jul 27th 2021 | Advocacy, news, quarterly dispatch,

In its latest round of advocacy giving, Planet Bike has awarded over $46,000 to non-profit organizations that are creating safer and friendlier places to bike for all cyclists. Additionally, Planet Bike has focused a portion of its annual giving on groups that are welcoming and supporting new and diverse people to […] read more...

Summer 2021 Super Commuter - Elizabeth Climer

Posted on Jul 27th 2021 | Bike life, news, Quarterly Dispatch, Super Commuters,

As we all know, Covid has been horrible! As we live through it, we’ve all been inspired by the stories of the countless frontline workers who have selflessly rolled up their sleeves and met the crisis head on. At Planet Bike, we are particularly moved by a medical professional who travels by bike. Elizabeth Climer is […] read more...

Capital Trails Coalition Releases Their First Impact Report

Posted on May 5th 2021 | Advocacy, Better World, Bike Life, News, Quarterly Dispatch,

We are a proud member of 1% for the Planet® which is an alliance of businesses that are financially committed to creating a healthy planet. As a result, every year the Planet Bike staff has the privilege of sitting around the “advocacy” table to discuss all of the wonderful organizations that are helping to m […] read more...