The Erwin Middle Bike Club is an after-school club based at Erwin Middle School in the Leicester area of Asheville. EMBC started during the 2008/2009 school year thanks to a Healthy Buncombe “Eat Smart Move More” Community Bike Education Grant.  The grant supplied 20 bikes, maintenance equipment, helmets, a trailer, and a storage facility.  This equipment is used for a variety of community bicycle education initiatives, including the Erwin Middle Bike Club and area bicycle rodeos, a bike skills program aimed at educating youth about safe riding practices.

The Erwin Middle Bike Club’s mission is to encourage youth to lead an active lifestyle, educate them about bike safety, and inspire them to continue to choose the bicycle as a mean of sustainable transportation in the future.  The club started with 7 students, and now has over 20 active participants.  In addition, the Erwin Middle Bike Club partners with the Johnston Elementary Bike Club, which has about 15 student members.  The Erwin Middle students serve as peer leaders for the elementary children.  To date, Bike Club outings have included the greenway at Carrier Park, track racing at the mellowdrome, mountain biking at Bent Creek, and the annual Virginia Creeper Trail Overnight.

The club usually meets after-school on Thursdays, about two times per month.  As we grow, there is an increased need to have more adult volunteers for outings.  Volunteers ideally possess an interest in cycling, the desire to inspire our youth, and a willingness to help educate the importance of safe biking skills.  There is also a need for people with trucks or other cars with towing capacity to pull the trailer and bikes.

For more information about the Bike Club, or to learn how you can help, please contact Traci Malone at tracisuzanne@hotmail.com or 828.231.0474.