Ah, the seductive powers of the mountain bike. In Sacramento a new program aims to use bicycling (I assume they mean mountain biking, cycling is still a pretty elite sport) to lure kids away from gangs and negative influences. The article is sparse on details but it sounds like an innovative way to build kids up in a difficult environment.
I’ve seen a number of non-profits set up to get bikes to disadvantaged kids but this is one of the first I’ve heard of that actually teaches kids to use the bikes in positive ways. Having a bike is about so much more than just fitting in with friends – it’s also a fitness tool, source of healthy competition, and means of transportation. Giving a kid a bike is the first step – teaching him/her what it’s good for is equally important.
If you know about or are involved in a mountain bike non-profit you would like us to profile on the Singletracks Mountain Bike blog, please email us some info and we’ll be glad to promote your organization.
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