Wow, what a year this has been. Here we are in the home stretch of the holiday season, the beginning of winter, and lord-knows-what’s-next on the societal stage. I think it’s fair to say that 2020 has presented us all with challenges and surprises of truly biblical proportions. We’re all doing what is necessary to ride out the many figurative and literal storms and it seems that there’s even more to come. We’re living in heroic times, my friends. These are the days of living large!
Here at the bike shop it’s been a heady ride through a record breaking season of sales and service as southern Oregon, along with the rest of the planet, has embraced the value of bicycling in a big way. While so many businesses have struggled immensely and too many have had to shutter their doors completely, I had to bring on additional employees to manage the demand for all things two-wheeled, and in our case, electric. For this I feel blessed and am truly, eternally grateful.
Bicycle manufacturers are wondering if this year’s bonanza is the beginning of an enduring surge or just a quirky blip on the screen of history. We’re all wondering if and how to expand our respective businesses in response to so many factors. There is one very good local development that’s worth sharing in this regard.
The City of Ashland is offering a $300 rebate on purchases of electric bikes as part of their ongoing push for more low-carbon transportation solutions. There are specific criteria to meet in order to qualify for the rebate. Come see us and we can show you which bikes qualify for this initial program. We’re hopeful that the program will expand as more data is collected and more input is received. This is great news since more bikes equals less cars equals a healthier environment for us all.
If you’re reading this, congratulations for making it through the gauntlet of this past year. Carry on, brave soul. Enjoy the holidays. Take care and understanding along your way. Be kind to yourself and others. Remember that Life is a Gift.
