Wisconsin Governor Doyle Announces Grand Opening of DreamBikes

April 21, 2008 -- MADISON - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced the grand opening of DreamBikes, a non-profit used bicycle store in Madison that employs kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County.

“Madison has long been considered one of the most bike friendly cities in the country,” Governor Doyle said.

Children biking: Photo by Karel Hermans (CC)

“It’s great to see the opening of a store like DreamBikes that will not only introduce biking to a new audience, but provide jobs and important skills to area teenagers in need.”

DreamBikes is a non-profit business that refurbishes donated bicycles, trains and employs local teenagers, and provides low-cost bicycles to youth in Allied Drive and other neighborhoods in need. DreamBikes will be hiring youth that are enrolled in the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County’s Job Ready Program, a program designed to help teens ages 14 to 18 prepare themselves for the professional world of work. Employees will learn how to clean, repair, and sell bikes.

All bikes sold at DreamBikes are either used or donated. In order to increase affordability, DreamBikes is offering a Micro-Credit Program in which individuals can purchase a bike on a payment plan. For example, a $25 bike can be paid for over the summer.

The Governor was joined at today’s event by John Burke, President of Trek Bicycles, and Roger Bird, President of DreamBikes. The new store is located at 4611 Verona Road. For more information about DreamBikes, visit http://dream-bikes.org.

Source: Wisconsin Governor