Photo of pro cyclist Jennifer Tetrick riding the Electra Amsterdam city bike by Allan Crawford, courtesy of Pedal Love.
In celebration of National Bike Month, PedalLove.org announced Tuesday that the nonprofit will be giving away two bicycles, an Electra “Cherry” cruiser and an Electra “Amsterdam” city bike to the two Southern California women who can creatively explain why they need a new bike. Pedal Love is a platform for the Long-Beach based Women on Bikes California, a four-year-old volunteer-based organization dedicated to “elevating the voice of Californian women of all ages, races and backgrounds in bicycling.”
The bicycles are currently on display at Made Long Beach at 236 Pine Ave., a bike-friendly shop and small business incubator for local entrepreneurs, makers and merchants. Potential contest entrants can find inspiration by checking out the bicycles they might just have a decent chance at winning.
The “Why I Need a New Bike” stories can be submitted via a written blog with artwork or images, a short video, a series of tweets via Storify, a podcast via Soundcloud or in your own creative way (pitch your idea to [email protected]. Entries must be submitted via Pedal Love’s website here, by Sunday, May 31 at midnight.)
The Women on Bikes California initiative began in 2012, when the group hosted the very first certified cycling instructor program by the League of American Bicyclists. The class was taught by a woman for an all-female class, according to a release.
Long Beach local and Women on Bikes founder Melissa Balmer said that until positive, engaging stories about women of all ages and backgrounds are seen in the media regularly, the act of riding a bicycle for the most menial of reasons “won’t be an easy mainstream choice for everyone in [California],” whether you’re running an errand or riding with friends.
Women on Bikes intends to cultivate and spread the stories of women who are passionate about “more mindful mobility,” including bicycling, walking and transit.
“There’s a fabulous blooming bike culture in Long Beach and throughout California, but we’ve got to move the conversation beyond policy and infrastructure into the types of emotionally engaging, visually appealing stories of real women riding,” Balmer said.
The “Why I Need a Bike” contest winners will be announced on Friday, June 5 and will be featured on Pedallove.org. Follow the conversation on social media by way of #WhyINeedaNewBike and #MindfulMobility.