Basketball icon LeBron James is partnering with Lyft to give young people access to free bikes. Through his athlete empowerment company Uninterrupted, and in collaboration with the YMCA, James is helping to expand Lyft’s bikeshare program—with free one-year memberships to eligible 16 to 20-year-olds.

Transportation isn’t always easy to come by. According to Lyft, almost 4.5 million people in America don’t have access to reliable, affordable transportation. James’ new initiative is helping to solve this problem, one bike at a time.

James said, in a press release, “Growing up, a bike changed everything for me. It was more than a way to go see my friends or play basketball—it was a way of life. A bike opened doors, allowed me to get to safe places after school, and gave me access to opportunities I never would have known. I’m proud that Uninterrupted can join Lyft in bringing that access to kids and people in communities across the country.”

John Zimmer, Lyft co-founder and President, added, “With LeBron as our inspiration, we want to demonstrate how transportation can be a spark that helps young people reach their full potential. The future of transportation is exciting, and we feel a deep responsibility to help make transportation accessible to all.”

Look for Lyft’s new bikeshare program to start this spring in New York City, with an expansion to Chicago and the Bay Area later in 2020.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Lyft via Instagram

 

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