Dear Missoula Cycling Friend,

Free Cycles Missoula is happy to announce the second annual Festival of Cycles, to take place in Bonner Park, by the University, on April 24th from noon to 4pm. On this day we will celebrate not only the virtuous bicycle, but also many other wonderful 'Cycles of the Community'.

The water cycle, energy cycle, nutrient cycle, air cycle, and so on, all are provided by Mother Nature and all are utilized by our community. The question is... 'how can we, as a united community, function in our daily lives without breaking down these cycles we all depend on?'. How do we keep from overflowing our landfill? How do we keep from tainting our precious, life-supporting aquifer? How do we create a sustainable energy system? And how do we minimize air pollution? These are some of the questions we must continue to address if we are to ensure a quality future for the Missoula Valley.

In this light, we are asking organizations to come to Bonner Park and share with others your missions, objectives, and thoughts on these subjects. Free Cycles Missoula's current mission is to promote the bicycle as a viable means of transportation through hands-on community projects. This is our small contribution to the collective expression of community stability. After all, the way we choose to get around affects not only our individual well-being, but the well-being of every other person in this valley.

Last year at the Festival, 30 green bikes were released into the city. Twenty were brought safely home in the fall. This year we hope to release another 30 green bikes. We will also continue to build a Checkout program, sustain a community cycling shop, and tie it all together with Pedal Education. Whether building bikes with second graders at Lewis and Clark or reminding the community that the bicycle is the most efficient form of transportation on the planet, it all boils down to awareness. An aware community is an alive and thriving community.

If you are able to participate in this year's Festival of Cycles, please call to arrange an outreach table. Thanks for your time.