Ross Willard ponders all the inventory he needs to move.
Recycle Bicycle is rolling out of its current building, as the nonprofit has begun to close down its shop in Uptown Harrisburg.
Ross Willard, executive director, said that his organization has begun moving thousands of bicycles, parts and equipment from its home at the Atlas Street Warehouse.
“Recycle Bicycle is in the throes of moving all of our stock into storage,” he said.
Recycle Bicycle is a nonprofit that offers free bicycles, parts, advice and training to those in need, especially Harrisburg youth.
For the past four years, the community group has operated out of an old warehouse on the 2200-block of Atlas Street in Harrisburg. But the building recently sold, and a new location has not yet been secured.
Recycle Bicycle must completely vacate the Atlas Street location by Tuesday, Willard said.
Therefore, the group is putting all its belongings into temporary storage and will hold “pop-ups” around the Harrisburg area until it secures a new home. In the near future, pop-ups will held in numerous locations, including in Newville, Carlisle, York and New Cumberland, Willard said.
The good news is that Willard is cautiously optimistic that he has a beat on a new home.
“We believe we have a location,” he said. “We’re in the process of acquiring it in the center of Allison Hill.”
And that, Willard said, is exactly where he wants to be, since that’s where the greatest need is for their services. In fact, Recycle Bicycle has spent most of its 20-plus years on Allison Hill before moving to its Uptown location.
Willard wanted to add that he was “overwhelmed” by the response last Sunday to the Recycle Bicycle-sponsored “Colorful Bike Tour” on the closing day of the Harrisburg Mural Festival. About 150 bicyclists pedaled from mural to mural, viewing all the new art work in the city.
“It was remarkable,” he said.
To learn more about Recycle Bicycle, visit their website.
