Glion was recently commended for encouraging and facilitating the use of bicycles in the town of Bulle, where approximately 680 of Glion’s students live. The institute set up a rental system with price reductions, created a biking safety booklet and installed bicycle parking stations in the campus to encourage students to choose this mode of green transportation. For these efforts, Glion was awarded the “Prix Rayon d’Or de PRO VELO Fribourg” of August 2011. Read More→

2 years of discussion, planning and building led to a climactic confluence on September 7th and 8th when 88bikes unveiled its first, mobile, sustainable 88bikeshop, and 51 kids at the Whitehorse High School in Montezuma Creek, Navajo Nation, received bikes! The bikes were carefully chosen. They needed to be bad ass and functional, hip, urban, simple, but also able to take on the endless miles of rambling dirt roads, paths and trails that crisscross the Navajo Nation. Kona’s World Bike was the perfect choice. A three speed internal geared hub saves hours of pain digging sand and dirt and the ruthless goat head stickers out of derailleurs. Fat, slick tires provide maneuverability on the ragged dirt roads while also delivering a smooth, clean ride on pavement. The steel frames are up to the rugged conditions of the Nation. The black matte paint job gave the bikes an edginess the kids dug–while also providing a palette on which they could personalize their bikes. Read More→

From Bradley Schroeder’s blog Schroedersolutions…One very early morning, a cup of coffee, a bloody Mary and three airports later we arrive in Lilongwe, Malawi, Africa. “Reason for entry to country?” I jot down on the funny yellow piece of paper that we are here to do a bike donation for BikeTown Africa. Of course, this reason does not ‘fly’ so well with the official at Customs. “How many days do you want?” I respond, seven days please and put on my best Sunday smile. Finally after a few minutes of explaining and a joking promise of a bike donation to the official, we are legally allowed into Malawi, with a warm inviting smile.

As we are driving to our hotel in what seems to be a brand new UNICEF double cab ‘bakkie’, I realize that Malawi feels strangely familiar. Not knowing what to expect of this adventure, I felt completely foreign, yet comfortable and a sense of home in the dusty hot air. The landscape reminds me of a non-existent place between Mid-Rand and Pretoria in South Africa. The areas are vast and spread out here. Fresh lilac flowers of the Jacaranda trees in bloom give me a sense of comfort and hope of rain. Many farmers in the rural areas are waiting for the rains to help them feed their families and to generate some income.

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