Bikes available soon to rent in downtown Evansville
By Brad Conaway - email
EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
Partnering with The Downtown YMCA, the Welborn Baptist Foundation's Upgrade Campaign will roll out a new bike rental program tomorrow at the YMCA located on Northwest 6th Street.
The Upgrade Campaign had learned that local bike shops frequently receive inquiries on the availability of a bike rental program. The demand for such a program, along with a desire to promote bicycling in the community, prompted the partnership with the YMCA.
"The Y is thrilled about the partnership with the Welborn Baptist Foundation'sUpgrade Campaign", says Barb Dykstra, Downtown Branch Director of the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana. "The bicycle rental program will allow us to provide the community with yet another healthy lifestyle option. The Greenway is easily accessible from the Y and will give riders a safe and scenic route to explore."
The project involved the purchase, customization and installation of 20 bicycles ranging from children's to adult men's and women's and bike lockers. Each bike rental includes a helmet and a lock. The rentals can be made at the front desk of the Downtown YMCA. The Upgrade Campaign will also introduce bicycle maps and a "Rules of the Road" bike safety video.
"It's no secret that increasing physical activity is imperative to living a healthy lifestyle", explains Kevin Bain, Executive Director and CEO of the Welborn Baptist Foundation. "By providing new and engaging opportunities to be active, the Upgrade Campaign hopes to improve the health of Tri-State residents."
The Upgrade Bike Rental Program was made possible with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) grant program which focuses on decreasing overweight and obesity rates through improved nutrition and increased physical activity. The Welborn Baptist Foundation, in collaboration with the Indiana State Department of Health, received a $2.5 million CPPW grant in March 2010 to apply best practice strategies toward improving nutrition and increasing physical activity in Vanderburgh County.
"With the continued expansion of the Pigeon Creek Greenway, as well as the network of marked bicycle routes, much of Evansville can be experienced by bike", says Andrea Hays, Director of the Upgrade Campaign at the Welborn Baptist Foundation. "We believe that providing a low cost bicycle rental program will get our residents and visitors out to enjoy the city using a physically-active form of transportation."
The Upgrade Campaign was designed to help area residents achieve health improvements by making small lifestyle changes. The Upgrade Bike Rental Program gives residents and visitors yet another way to actively enjoy Evansville.
To learn more about the Upgrade Campaign, please visitwww.upgradenow.org
Copyright 2012 WFIE. All rights reserved.
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