Lebanon, Pa (April 6, 2023) The Lebanon Valley Bicycle Coalition (LVBC), a local organization making the Lebanon Valley region of Pennsylvania a better, safer place to bicycle, recently announced its 2023 executive board members. The members include Dean Auchenbach, president; Laurie Crawford, vice president; Ron Birch, treasurer; and Laurie Funk, secretary.
The Lebanon Valley Bicycle Coalition was first formed in the 1980s under the name Lebanon Bicycle Club, changing to its current name in 2008 when advocacy became a priority. The board members plan to increase the organization’s activity level, outreach and education in the community. “We have advocacy in the forefront of our plans, to help protect our local and state bicyclists and their safety, but we’re also offering events and education,” stated Auchenbach, president of LVBC. “The education piece is for both our bicyclists and motorists,” added Auchenbach, “it’s important to understand the rules of the road for everyone’s safety.”
One of the newest programs underway at LVBC is Lebanon Bicycle Recycle (LBR). The project provides a space to recycle old bikes, learn how to fix a bike, and trade in or earn a bike. Since its first open house in March of 2022, the program has hosted four mechanic training sessions, trained 30 people, and provided the community in Lebanon with more than 300 bikes. “People may bike to get to work or to school, for exercise or recreation, to reduce stress, or just spend time with friends. Whatever the reason, we want to provide equitable access to bikes in Lebanon County,” shared Birch, who serves as treasurer for the Lebanon Valley Bicycle Coalition and is a committee member of Lebanon Bicycle Recycle.
The most recent event hosted by Lebanon Bicycle Recycle was a Spring Bike Giveaway event on April 1, where LBR was able to provide 70 bikes to youth, ages 5-8, in Lebanon County. The next event is a Cinco de Mayo slow ride on May 5 at 6:00 pm, leaving from the Bicycle Recycle location at 53 Chestnut Street. “Whether you want to volunteer, earn a bike, learn something new about bikes or just begin biking (youth or adult), we have events and resources to help… and we also offer membership for just $20-$25/year for anyone interested in being part of our club,” concluded Crawford, vice president of LVBC and research project manager for Penn State REACH.
Additional information about the Lebanon Valley Bicycle Coalition, cycling resources and membership can be found at bikelebanon.org. Upcoming events can be found on the LBR facebook page, www.facebook.com/LebanonBicycleRecycle.
Author: Amaury Abreu
