Mike’s Bikes and PODS join forces to collect bikes for Africa bike drive through June 26

June 16, 2011 - PRLog -- Bike drive supports the Mike’s Bikes Sister Shops project which aims to improve everyday life in Africa, one bike at a time.  

(SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.) -- PODS of San Francisco donated nine PODS® containers to Mike’s Bikes, the largest independent bicycle retailer in the U.S., to store donations for its ongoing Africa Bike Drive, through June 26.

The PODS® containers will serve as temporary bicycle donation centers and provide on-site storage at nine Mike’s Bikes locations throughout Northern California. At the end of the bicycle drive, PODS will drive the containers to a central staging area where volunteers and staff will prepare the bikes for shipment to Africa.

“PODS is committed to aiding Mike’s Bikes and this worthy cause,” said Brian Burks, General Manager of PODS of San Francisco. “It is always an honor to be involved in the charitable efforts of the communities we serve, whether it’s helping make a difference down the street or halfway around the world.”

This is Mike’s Bikes tenth shipment to Africa; its second bound for Sierra Leone. Donations are tax-deductible and will be accepted at nine Mike’s Bikes locations, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through June 26 at the following store locations:

2161 University Ave., Berkeley, CA 94704
201 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95030
3001 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306
264 Petaluma Blvd North, Petaluma, CA 94952
1411 I St. (at 14th), Sacramento, CA 95814
1233 Howard St. (between 8th & 9th), San Francisco, CA 94103
836 Fourth St., San Rafael, CA 94901
No. 1 Gate 6 Rd., Sausalito, CA 94965
1615 North California Blvd., Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Mike’s Bikes designed the Africa Sister Shops program to build a self-sustaining supply of working bikes in Africa, and to promote economic growth by teaching African entrepreneurs how to run a bike business. With hopes of creating job opportunities in the local community, Mike’s Bikes collects and sends donated bikes and start-up funding to these developing African countries as well provides mentoring to the owners of the Africa Sister Shops.

“The PODS® containers will provide great visibility to our nine stores which will be collecting bicycles from the community for two weeks. We will pack the donated bicycles in an overseas container and then ship them to our Sister Shops in Africa,” said Ken Martin, owner of Mike’s Bikes, based in San Francisco. “Once in Africa, the bike shop sells bicycles to local residents at affordable prices, which encourages local commerce, provides transportation and helps improve everyday life one bike at a time.”

The ninth shipment from Mike’s Bikes included 480 bicycles. It left the Port of Oakland bound for Botswana on May 25 and is expected to arrive in about six weeks.


About PODS Enterprises, Inc.
Founded in 1998, PODS currently provides moving and storage services to a population of more than 250 million consumers and businesses, in 48 U.S. states, Canada, Australia and the UK, through its company-owned and independent franchise network. To date, the PODS network has completed more than 330,000 long-distance relocations, exceeded 1.7 million deliveries and has over 143,000 PODS® containers in service. Information: PODS.com.

PODS® secure containers are constructed of a steel frame and are available in three sizes: approximately 7-by-7-by-8 feet, 12-by-8-by-8 feet and 16-by-8-by-8 feet. The 12-foot and 16-foot containers have been tested to withstand winds of more than 110-mph when partially loaded. For more information or to schedule service, visit PODS.com or call 800-776-7637.

About Mike’s Bikes
Mike's Bikes was founded in 1964 as one of Marin County's first Schwinn shops.Today, with stores throughout Northern California, Mike's bikes remains true to its mission of "putting more people on bikes," and has grown to become the Largest Local Bike Shop in America.  Visit www.mikesbikes.com or call 888-696-BIKE.

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