BOULDER, COLO (April 17, 2020) — Aiming to inspire riders, support bicycle retailers, and unite the industry, PeopleForBikes is launching Ride It Out, a campaign to encourage responsible riding during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Ride It Out campaign is designed to give retailers and suppliers the resources, communication and engagement tools they need to inform their biking communities in a time of uncertainty.
Participating retailers and suppliers will have access to a deep well of free resources, including a range of assets for email, social, websites and blogs. Each image can be modified with a shop's logo and each image is paired with messaging that can be customized by the retailer for their markets and customers.
The program aims to amplify the wide range of bike riding experiences available to Americans coast to coast. Using PeopleForBikes's digital wayfinding and engagement tool, Ride Spot, the campaign focuses on inspiring safe, socially distanced rides while also activating retailers' communities virtually. The program also gives retailers access to Ride Spot's Challenge tool for 120 days, allowing retailers and suppliers to produce their own Ride It Out challenges to keep riders inspired and excited about getting on their bikes.
"A lot of Americans are getting on their bikes right now, many of them new to cycling or getting back in the saddle for the first time in years," said Chief Operating Officer Jenn Dice. "Whether it's a healthy break, both physical and mental, from being isolated or as an alternative form of transportation to get around town, bikes are providing welcome relief from our new socially distanced lifestyle. Ride It Out is about celebrating and encouraging these riding experiences, while also making sure our communities know about the best practices related to COVID-19."
As part of the campaign, PeopleForBikes is also hosting a private Facebook group for retailers and suppliers where business owners can share links, ask questions, and engage in peer-to-peer dialogue.
The Ride Spot platform includes a suite of free features such as suggested rides, audio and visual turn-by-turn directions, guidance on equipment and riding techniques, plus helpful information on finding bike shops and supporting local bike advocacy efforts. Further, the Ride It Out campaign has expanded its creative assets to help bike industry suppliers and brands communicate the same unified message to their retailers and customers.
The Ride It Out campaign is the latest in PeopleForBikes's work to support the bicycle industry during the COVID-19 crisis. Additional resources include guidance for retailers advocating for essential business status; a state-by-state tracker of relevant orders and advice for bike businesses; federal advocacy for support for bike businesses; and best practices for keeping employees and customers safe. The full PeopleForBikes resource guide is available at https://peopleforbikes.org/resources-for-retailers-and-industry-during-covid-19/.
Due to the constantly changing dimensions of the COVID-19 crisis, we encour- age everyone to follow all current CDC guidelines as well as local travel advi- sories and recommendations. Take care of yourselves and loved ones. We're all in this together.
About PeopleForBikes
PeopleForBikes is making biking better for everyone by uniting millions of indi- viduals, thousands of businesses and hundreds of communities. When people ride bikes, great things happen. Join us at PeopleForBikes.org.
