[00:00:00] Speaker A: The Journey Hometown Journal.
[00:00:02] Speaker B: We know that people are biking downtown in particular, and we just really wanted to encourage ways to keep that going throughout the summer. We know it's hot, but this is a great way to grab a refreshment along your ride or stop at a restaurant.
[00:00:14] Speaker C: Welcome to the Hometown Journal. I'm Mark Edwards. This week, we are sharing with you a new program for cyclists in the Lynchburg area. It is called Businesses for Bikes, and it's a way to better inform and connect cyclists to area businesses. The program comes from the Central Virginia Planning District Commission, and joining us is Ada Hunsberger, senior planner with the commission. Ada, welcome. Tell us about this new program, Businesses for Bikes.
[00:00:40] Speaker B: Yeah. So Central Virginia Commuter Services. We're a regional governmental program that helps promote alternative modes of transportation, including biking, walking, carpool, transit, things like that. So we were thinking about ways that we could help cyclists encourage them to visit local businesses over the summer. So we're encouraging both biking and then also supporting local businesses.
[00:01:03] Speaker C: Okay. One of the aspects of this program is this interactive map that's available to cyclists. Tell us about that.
[00:01:11] Speaker B: Right. So each of our participating businesses is listed on this interactive map, and you can go through and look at all of our participating locations, and some of them will indicate what they're offering, and then some of them, you'll see a special discount when you get there. But it's just a fun way to see new businesses that maybe you haven't patronized before.
[00:01:29] Speaker C: That's also, I guess, a great way and another way to connect cyclists with more of the community.
[00:01:36] Speaker B: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, we know that people are biking downtown in particular, and we just really wanted to encourage ways to keep that going throughout the summer. We know it's hot, but this is a great way to grab a refreshment along your ride or stop at a restaurant. So it's really a symbiotic relationship between both bikers and businesses.
[00:01:55] Speaker C: And did you launch this at the beginning of June?
[00:01:57] Speaker B: Yeah. So the first day was June 15, though we had them reaching out to businesses prior than that. So we've had great success of our participating businesses, but we're also accepting businesses on a rolling basis. So if you're a business hearing about this, we definitely still love to have you. We can add to this interactive map as we go along.
[00:02:14] Speaker C: Have you had any feedback yet from cyclists about the program?
[00:02:18] Speaker B: We've had quite a lot of people reaching out, trying to figure out how they can get their decals. So all of our participating businesses have some decals to give out which is a great way to stop by there, see what they offer, and then you can come back and get your discount on the next visit. They're also available at our offices, which are in the bank of the James Building downtown on floor 12. And I'll be at the Community Market in Lynchburg this weekend also handing them out. Or if you send me an email, we can also mail them to you. We also have information on our website, cvcommuter.org CV as in Central Virginia, there's all information there. You can see participating locations and the interactive map as well.
[00:02:57] Speaker C: That is Ada Hunsberger, senior planner with the Central Virginia Planning District Commission, sharing about businesses for bikes. And if you are a cyclist or business and would like more information on the program, visit cvcommuter.org I'm Mark Edwards. Thank you for joining us for the Hometown Journal.
[00:03:15] Speaker A: You've been listening to the Journey Hometown Journal. If you're a part of an organization or know of one in the communities we serve and would like to be considered as a guest, please make your
[email protected] email officeyjourneyfm.com or call 800-424-9594. The Hometown Journal is a presentation of the Journey.
