(You’d be happy too if you just gave
up your car for a sweet new bike.)
(Photo © J. Maus)
New Belgium Brewing’s big bike circus, parade and celebration, the Tour de Fat rolls into Portland this weekend. It’s one of the best bike events of the year, and the entire day is capped with an elaborate ceremony where one smart citizen hands over their car keys and becomes the owner of a brand new, custom urban riding rig.
But according to New Belgium’s Michael Craft, Portland might be the first city in the three-year history of the bike-car trade to have no one step up to the opportunity. Craft says the person they had lined up has just backed out. “I cannot imagine Portland wants to be the first city in three years to not have someone who is willing to trade their car for this unbelievable bicycle.”
The car-for-bike trader this year will roll away on a custom-made commuter bike from Fort Collins, Colorado based Black Sheep Bikes….
If you’re ready to take the carfree plunge, check out the car/bike trade page here and get in touch with New Belgium ASAP by emailing zlevis[at]newbelgium[dot]com. More info about the event here.
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (one of two local non-profits that benefit from the event) is looking for event volunteers. See the BTA blog post for more info and email Chris Knott at chrisk[at]bta4bikes[dot]org if you’re interested.