The San Gabriel Valley Bicycle Education Center (SGV-BEC), the region’s first public bicycle repair and education cooperative, opened Sunday, October 25th at the Jeff Seymour Family Center on 10900 Mulhall Street, El Monte 91731.

Over 60 attendees enjoyed the day's festivities, which included a costumed 15 mile spooky "Bike Train" ride along the Rio Hondo River Trail to Whittier Narrows, a healthy barbecue, folding bike test rides courtesy of Duarte-based Dahon folding bikes, and a community raffle!

Among the dignitaries joining the festivities were CA State Assembly Member Ed Chau (D), Garvey School Board Member and representative for CA State Senator Ed Hernandez - Janet Chin, Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce President Dora Leung, Monterey Park City Clerk Vincent Chang, Representative for Congresswoman Judy Chu - Enrique Robles, and San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water Board Member Thomas Wong.  

BikeSGV representatives were also honored to receive certificates of recognition from Assembly Member Chau, who highlighted the need to better support biking and walking initiatives across the state, Senator Hernandez and the City of Monterey Park. 

​The SGV-BEC will empower residents of all ages and abilities to maintain, repair, and safely operate bicycles. In the months ahead the center will provide bicycle education programming for San Gabriel Valley residents, including free bike classes for first-timers, beginners and intermediate riders. Recycled bicycles will also be available as rentals to help residents without a bicycle explore the nearby Emerald Necklace bikeway network.

The center's opening was made possible thanks to the generous support of community partners and benefactors including the El Monte City School District (classroom space at the Jeff Seymour Family Center), Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center (funding for tools and active commuting classes), Whole Foods East Pasadena (funding for tools), City of Hope (funding for "Learn to Bike" classes), Dahon Folding Bicycles (raffle donations), the Pasadena Athletic Association (raffle donations), and over two dozen individual donors (parts, tools, center seed-funding). 

For more information about the center please visit the BEC page here and "like" the BEC's new Facebook page. You can also visit us Saturdays (9 AM - 1 PM) at the center, 10900 Mulhall St., El Monte 91731.

To learn more about the Bicycle Education Center or to make a tax-deductible donation of bikes/parts/tools/monies, please contact: info@activesgv.org