Trek: Trek Launches One World, Two Wheels

Trek Bicycle Corp. President John Burke recently announced Trek’s campaign to change the world through bicycle advocacy, a program named “One World, Two Wheels: A Trek Commitment.”  Addressing nearly 2000 of Trek’s independent bicycle dealers at the recent TrekWorld dealer show, Burke unveiled Trek’s plan to get more people to ride their bikes by creating an army of advocates empowered to make a difference on the local, state, and national levels.

“From obesity to traffic congestion to pollution, the world is facing some pretty big challenges,” said Burke. “As the most efficient mode of transportation on the planet, the bicycle is uniquely positioned to provide a simple solution to some of the world’s toughest problems. Getting more people to ride bikes more often by creating bicycle-friendly communities is the biggest opportunity we have to make the world a better place.” 

As part of the “One World, Two Wheels” campaign, over the next three years Trek will donate $1 to the League of American Bicyclists’ “Bicycle Friendly Community” (BFC) program for every Trek helmet sold in the U.S., for a total three-year commitment of $1,000,000. That substantial investment will dramatically expand the reach of the BFC program, which recognizes and awards municipalities that actively support bicycling.

BFC will use the “One World, Two Wheels” pledge to add staff and resources in critical areas, hire a full-time staff person to promote, support, and market the program so it becomes a mainstream element of city planning, award technical grants to communities so they can bring in expert bicycle planners, engineers, and educators to help transform their community, launch a Bicycle Friendly States “scorecard” to inspire states to embrace the bicycle as a critical transportation alternative, and present two Mayor Mobile Forums to show mayors from around the country what a BFC really looks and feels like.

“Thank you…on behalf of cyclists across the country,” said Andy Clark, Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists. “The League’s Bicycle Friendly Community program can now more than triple our efforts to help communities improve conditions for cyclists.” 

Over the next three years, Trek’s “One World, Two Wheels” campaign will also donate $10 to the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) for every full suspension Trek and Gary Fisher mountain bike it sells, for a total three-year commitment of $600,000. IMBA will use this donation to fund its Trail Solutions Services, which offers trail design, construction, assessment, and education.

"Trek has been a longtime IMBA supporter, but the ‘One World, Two Wheels’ initiative is a dramatic step forward for IMBA, and for the sport. This robust level of commitment will allow us to double the amount of new singletrack that IMBA designs and builds over the next three years,” said Mike Van Abel, IMBA’s Executive Director. 

After hearing the announcement, Trek dealers were overwhelmingly supportive of the initiative. Jenn Dice, IMBA’s Government Affairs Director, noted, "The response from Trek's dealers was amazing. Several of them approached IMBA staff immediately after John Burke's speech and immediately pledged that their shops would match Trek's support."

Burke ended his “One World, Two Wheels” speech by surprising Trek’s dealers with the announcement that bikes, not buses, were outside waiting to take them en masse to the evening’s off-site entertainment venue. Instead of relying on fossil fuel burning buses, Trek’s dealers would ride 1000 brand new Trek Lime bikes to cover the two mile distance.

“Over the past several months when I’ve been talking about the importance of bicycle advocacy I’ve been fond of citing the fact that nearly 50% of all car trips are less than two miles,” said Trek President and CEO, John Burke. “Loading our customers onto buses to drive just two miles would be hypocritical. Tonight’s event was the perfect opportunity for me to put my money where my mouth is.

“Just as importantly, it was a chance to demonstrate how bicycles and bicycle-friendly cities can help address some of the world’s most serious problems. Madison is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the U.S.; Trek’s Lime is the bicycle built for everyone. Bringing the two together for this unique event was an opportunity to show our customers firsthand how bicycles can change the world by reducing pollution, easing traffic congestion, and improving personal fitness. My hope is that the success of tonight’s event will inspire an army of advocates who will return to their own communities with a determination to make them more bicycle-friendly.”

The “One World, Two Wheels” event was a major hit with attendees:

“I’ll never forget the evening Trek unveiled their ‘One World, Two Wheels’ program,” noted Andy Clark, Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists. “We’ll all look back on this as a truly transformative moment in this country and for this movement. The surprise bike ride was inspired and enormous fun; the message behind it was profound. Trek is going to help bicycling change the world. Not just in words, but in deeds.”

“Trek's ‘One World, Two Wheels’ announcement and the 1000-bike Lime Ride were two of the best things I've ever experienced inside the bike industry,” noted Jack Johnson of Landry’s Bicycles. “The whole evening was like a dream…. Having a thousand Lime coasting bikes parked outside the conference center for an easy-paced group ride through Madison was a big highlight of TrekWorld.  It underscored Trek's commitment to getting more people on bikes for basic transportation—like getting a thousand people across town to a dinner party.”

Brad Hill of Goodales Bike Shop agreed: “John Burke’s speech on ‘One World, Two Wheels’ was the most moving speech I have ever heard by a cycling industry leader. The contents, delivery, and execution had us all stunned. Exiting the speech hall to go jump on a bike and ride through the capital city of Wisconsin was unbelievable. In all the events I have ever attended, the ‘One World, Two Wheels’ event is something I will never forget. It’s tough to describe in words except to say it was phenomenal.”
 

###

 
About Trek Bicycle:

Headquartered in Waterloo, Wisconsin, Trek Bicycle Corporation is a global leader in bicycle design and manufacturing. From the original hand-built steel touring frames introduced in 1976 to the revolutionary OCLV carbon fiber first introduced in 1992, Trek’s passion for innovation, quality, and performance leads the industry with next-generation technology and thinking. With a record seven consecutive Tour de France titles, six straight 24-hour World Solo Mountain Bike Championships, and countless other professional wins, Trek enjoys a rich tradition of victory in the world’s premier cycling events. Today, with a broad range of bicycles and cycling products under the Trek, Gary Fisher, LeMond, Bontrager, and Klein brand names, Trek continues to pursue new ways to bring the joy of cycling to all people.

About the Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) Program & the League of American Bicyclists

The BFC program was initiated in 2003 and has received applications from more than 170 communities. Designations have been awarded to 63 cities and counties. Applicants complete a detailed on-line form with numerous questions in five key areas: engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation/planning. Local cyclists, national experts, and League staff review the applications. To learn more, visit www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org.

The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of 57 million American cyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates. For more information or to support the League, visit www.bikeleague.org or www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org.

About Trail Solutions Services and the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA):

Trail Solutions is a professional trail consulting program operating under the auspices of IMBA that offers flexible, fee-based trail services that range from trail planning, design, and construction to education and dispute resolution.

Since 1988, IMBA has been bringing out the best in mountain biking by encouraging low-impact riding, volunteer trailwork participation, cooperation among different trail user groups, and innovative, sustainable trail management solutions. IMBA's worldwide network includes 35,000 individual members, more than 750 affiliated bicycle clubs, dealers and patrol members and 150 corporate supporters. IMBA's members live in all 50 U.S. states, most Canadian provinces and in 30 other countries.