May is National Bike Month! Bikes are a powerful tool to lower your carbon footprint, stay active, and reduce transportation costs. Whether you’re purchasing a bike for the first time, upgrading to a new bike, or switching to an e-bike, here are some resources to get riding.
Mikes Bikes
Mike’s Bikes is a family of bike shops and one of MCE’s Deep Green Champions operating on 100% renewable energy. Founded in 1964, Mike’s Bikes San Rafael location is home to some of the first mountain bikes in the country. The company has since grown to be the largest independent bike dealer in America and has 12 locations throughout the Bay Area, including San Rafael, Sausalito, and Walnut Creek. Visit one of their shops to chat with bike experts and to check out their vast selection of road, mountain, active, kids, and electric bikes.
“At Mike’s Bikes, our mission is simple: Get More People on Bikes! Since 1964, our entire business has been based on the most ecological and sustainable vehicle ever created ⎯ the bicycle. We recycle bike tubes, utilize environmentally friendly lubricants and cleaners in our tech departments, and pay our employees to ride instead of drive. Going Deep Green for our shops was as easy as riding a bike.” — Eric Lucan, Mike’s Bikes Chief Marketing Officer
The New Wheel
The New Wheel is an electric bike retailer that runs on MCE’s Deep Green 100% renewable energy. In 2010, Karen Weiner founded The New Wheel with the vision of transforming transportation and working to fight climate change. Considering an e-bike? The New Wheel offers test rides on their demo fleet of e-bikes. Visit their shop in San Rafael, San Francisco, or Oakland to see if an e-bike is right for you!
“As a retailer of clean, green electric bikes, The New Wheel is committed to combating climate change and living more sustainably. We value what MCE stands for as a local and public force for sustainable living and are so happy to have the ability to choose how the energy that powers our lights and our e-bikes is produced.” — Brett Thurber, The New Wheel Owner
Charge Up Contra Costa
E-bikes are a great option for people of all ages and fitness levels for commuting and recreation. Their rechargeable, battery-powered electric motors make it possible to ride uphill with ease.
Charge Up Contra Costa offers rebates to make purchasing an e-bike more affordable. Residents 18 years or older are eligible for a $500 rebate for purchasing a new e-bike. They must live in Concord’s Monument Corridor, Richmond, Pittsburg, or Bay Point and meet the qualifying annual household income limits. Learn more here.
We hope these resources help get your bike rolling! Check out Bay Area Bike to Wherever Days to learn about biking events happening in your area during Bike Month.
