Community. It’s in our name, it’s what we do. We have decided to introduce a biannual newsletter to keep our friends, family, and supporters up-to-date on how, collectively, we change lives from the seat of a bike!

At Community Bike Collective(CBC),we have seen how bikes can open up entire worlds for young people. A recent ride with youth from the Watsonville Police Activities League(PAL) was a reminder of just how powerful those moments of connection – to nature, to each other, and to themselves – can truly be.

We met that morning at Nisene Marks State Park, a redwood-lined haven right here in Santa Cruz County. Our group included ten kids some of whom had little to no experience riding mountain bikes, let alone in a forest like Nisene Marks. CBC provided everything they needed: bikes, helmets, and coaching. No cost. No barriers. just an open invitation to ride.

As we pedaled under the towering redwoods, something shifted. The kids’ early nerves were replaced with laughter, grit, and curiosity. They encouraged each other up

The group wandered down to Aptos Creek, where they kicked off their shoes and plunged in. They caught crawdads, skipped rocks, built little dams, and played like kids should – freely, joyfully, and completely unplugged. One of the PAL counselors looked over at me and asked, “Can we stay a little longer?” We all knew the answer. How could we pull them away from a moment like that?

Reinvesting for the Future!

When we finally rolled back to the vans, muddy and smiling, one of the kids asked, “When’s the next ride?”

That’s why we do this. CBC is more than bikes — it’s about access, adventure, and creating moments where young people can simply be themselves in nature’s playground. To all our donors and partners: thank you. Your support gave these kids a ride they won’t forget.

Purchasing capital equipment is a significant investment for any organization, especially so for a small nonprofit such as Community Bike Collective. So, it’s a big deal to us that with the help of our donors and supporters, we have been able to purchase a new-to-us bike trailer.

Our new trailer will:

• allow us to carry more bikes – more kids on bikes per outing!
• secure the bikes better, no rubbing – less damage to bikes!
• be easier and faster to load – more time riding!

Another critical component of our program is our tow vehicle, affectionately named “Adventure Betty”.  She has served us well, but is ready for retirement. We are actively looking for funding to purchase a replacement vehicle that can safely handle the bike trailer and passengers. Let us know if you can help!

Community Bike Collective345 Harvest Drive, Watsonville, CA 95076 Community Bike Collective is a 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation [Tax ID 46-4215289]

Copyright © 2020 Community Bike Collective, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you donated to Community Bike Collective in the past or attended one of our events.