It is a bittersweet thing to announce that after many years of calling Downtown Reno home, Reno Bike Project is moving to a new location at 216 E Grove St., opening November 1. We came to 4th St. in 2008 at just two years old. Over the course of this residency, we’ve grown up and into our own; and have accomplished some pretty impressive undertakings.
First, some easy numbers: since we moved in, our shop, programs, and events have reached well over 72,000 people. We’ve refurbished and recycled over 7,000 used bicycles and over 40,000 used parts. Our staff have performed over 9,000 repairs, and customers have made thousands of repairs themselves, utilizing our public workstations for nearly 10,000 hours. Dedicated volunteers have contributed 10,000 hours of their own, and RBP has provided employment and professional development opportunities to 35+ individuals.
4th St. is where we developed many of the programs and practices we are best-known for today, including Dan’s Night and Ladies’ Night, community slow rides, Gratis days and mornings, the annual Bike Swap, quarterly Bicycle Repair Classes, the Biggest Little Commuter bicycle subsidy program, Major Taylor cycling education for youth, and much more.
In addition to the above, our presence has had further tangible effects on our neighborhood: as a prime example, three years after we banded together with other 4th St. businesses to demonstrate the potential of the 4th St. corridor with Positively 4th Street, one new business after another is opening its doors on our block; and construction on 4th St./Prater Way, due for completion early next year, will connect Reno to Sparks with enhanced bus rapid transit service, accessible sidewalks, safer two-way traffic, street trees, and bike lanes!
So while it is difficult to say goodbye to this place that we’ve grown so fond of, it’s awesome to look back and see all the good things our presence here has done. And it’s equally exciting to imagine the positive effects RBP is going to bring to our new neighborhood, south of Plumb. So what’s next for this organization? If the history from our first big move is any predictor, it’s going to be bigger and better than anyone can imagine right now.
RBP’s last day open on 4th Street will be Friday, October 20. After that we’re going to spend the next 10 days moving, and we are going to need all the help we can get. Seriously, all the help. To confirm any time you’d like to contribute between 10/21-11/1, please check in with Genevieve so we can tell you which location to meet us at any given time (and to be sure we’re working at the time you want to help). We’ll post daily updates to our social media platforms with day-to-day requests for help, so follow along there, or check in for times not posted about.
So long 4th Street, and hello Grove Street!
