The first director for the Des Moines Bicycle Collective wants to get
more metro residents rolling along instead of riding in vehicles.
Jeremy
Lewis, 35, took the nonprofit organization by the handlebars Nov. 4.
The collective, which began in 2007 and is governed by a board of
directors, aims to raise awareness about the personal and environmental
benefits of cycling. The collective’s numerous volunteers have recycled
or refurbished more than 500 bikes so far this year, supported the more
than 2,800 B-Cycle bike-share trips, distributed 40,000 trail maps, and
organized 729 bike commuters in Central Iowa Bike Month that racked up
47,000 car-free miles.
The Des Moines Register recently caught up with Lewis.
Q. Why did you decide to take this job?
I
can’t think of a more exciting job. It’s pretty simple, really. I love
biking — to me it means freedom, the outdoors, and being active; I also
love connecting with people and helping others. I’m inspired by working
to build a better community.
As someone who has lived on both
coasts for a decade and traveled internationally, I am inspired by the
many ways my native Des Moines continues to reinvent itself. Bicycling
already has strong traditions in Iowa. It is in a position to continue
to grow here as part of that renaissance, as it has already with the
B-cycle program, ongoing trail system development, new community events,
and organizations such as the Des Moines Bicycle Collective.
Q. How many other regular employees are there?
Including me, we have two full-time employees.
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