Looking Back and Looking Forward, 2007 - 2020
In the late summer of 2007, Brian Anderson (BBP’s cofounder) and I were sitting on a smokey hillside in Ketchum, Idaho, talking about bicycles. We were on a hotshot crew and had just finished putting out the Castle Rock Fire, a fire that almost burned up the historic Sun Valley ski resort and about 100 of the surrounding homes. After five straight days of torching trees on steep hillsides with loose rocks, our chainsaws running nonstop, we had it 100% contained and finally had a few minutes to sit down.
It was in this conversation that BBP was born. Two months later we were refurbishing kids bikes and donating them to neighbors and our refugee community in need. I’m not sure if either of us imagined where BBP would be today. Over 7000 bicycles donated to kids. A staff of 17 employees. Thousands of volunteers. One of the most recognized nonprofits in the Treasure Valley…. The list goes on.
After 13 years, I sometimes find myself wondering if, at 25 years old (when I started BBP), had I known the impossibly hard work ahead, I would have done it anyway. The reality is that I was warned. I can’t tell you how many people told us BBP was an impossible idea when we were first trying to get started. And each time they did, it fueled our fire even more. Even as naive 25-year-olds, we knew the road ahead would be hard—creating positive change always is—and it doesn’t take me long to remember that the difficulty was part of the appeal.
BBP has always been and will always be an organization that does hard things. JFK once said
We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept.…
In 2007 we believed Boise had the potential to be the Bicycle Capital of America—that was our “moon,” our vision. In 2020 we still do, and despite a year of fighting for our basic survival, we’re still pursuing that vision, still taking big steps, like canal pathways
On Friday, October 9th, 2020, BBP will celebrate 13 years of shooting for the moon, holding on tight, and enjoying the ride. I want you to be there to celebrate (safely and at a distance) with us as we launch into the next phase of pursuing our vision of making Boise the Bicycle Capital of America.
All the party info and tickets can be found here.
Ride on Boise! And hold on tight!
