By Anthony Wyatt
June 26, 2012. The Boone Bicycle Initiative (BBI), a local bike co-op, recently received a $1,819 grant through Appalachian State University’s 2012 Greek Week Mini-Grant program. As one of four area non-profit organizations to receive this charitable award, BBI hopes to put the grant money to good use and expand to better assist Boone’s growing number of commuter cyclists.
This generous Greek Week Grant will aid the Boone Bicycle Initiative in covering its general operating expenses and allow them the chance to grow and provide more services to the local biking community.
Located in the Collective at 125 Depot Street beside Black Cat Burrito, BBI serves the ASU student body and town residents by providing an affordable bicycle rental program. Although originally started as a student project aimed at promoting commuter cycling within the university, the program now aids all in the Boone area that wish to become commuter cyclists.
With its grant money, BBI plans to host regular maintenance workshops and create an Earn-A-Bike program. These new services will help the initiative improve upon their primary mission to get the community biking at little or no cost, spread bicycle safety awareness through educational campaigns, and positively impact the town on both a social and environmental level.
To do their part in making Boone a healthier, more active and less fossil-fuel dependant town, the initiative strives to put more bikes on the road, and the money received from the Greek Week Grant will help them further promote this vision.
BBI is located on Depot Street in downtown Boone. Their hours are 6 to 9 p.m. on Sundays and Thursdays. For more information contact bikeboone@gmail.com or visit www.boonebikeinitiative.org.