The NBA star says bikes have played an important role in his life, and he wants young people to have the same access and freedom that biking gave him.
Basketball legend LeBron James is a bike advocate, and he is partnering with Lyft on the LyftUp program, which will provide bikeshare memberships to young people in New York City, Chicago, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Eben Weiss attended the press event in New York City where James made a surprise appearance and met with a group of teens who would soon have access to the city’s Citi Bike network. He talked about the importance of biking for him growing up in Akron, Ohio, as well as the need for improved biking infrastructure, particularly in lower-income neighborhoods.
"Sure, the cynic in me registered that all of this was essentially a photo op put together by a tech company with a $14 billion market cap, but so what? Bikes need more of this. When was the last time you saw anyone even remotely exciting—let alone one of the most talented and successful athletes on the planet—stand in front of a bunch of kids and articulate the sheer sense of freedom and exhilaration that comes from riding a bike?" says Weiss.
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