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<\/p>\nBETHLEHEM, Pa. \u2014 New home, same mission.<\/p>\n
The Coalition for Appropriate Transportation celebrated its new venue on the first floor of the Walnut Street Garage with a ribbon cutting on Friday.<\/p>\n
The 2,500-square-foot space that will serve as CAT\u2019s bike cooperative was filled with bicycles and racks and workstations and tools and smiles and well-wishers wall to wall.<\/p>\n
The expanded room will house do-it-yourself bike repair and maintenance, hands-on workshops and classes and a central start location for community bike rides.<\/p>\n
With a main focus on bicycles, the 32-year nonprofit is dedicated to promoting, educating and advocating for sustainable, safe and accessible transportation in the Lehigh Valley.<\/p>\n
CAT envisions a world where bicycling, walking\/ADA accessibility and public transportation prevail.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we see here is a place to make transportation that\u2019s sustainable and affordable.\u201d <\/p>\n
Scott Slingerland, CAT executive director<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we see here is a place to make transportation that\u2019s sustainable and affordable,\u201d said Scott Slingerland, CAT executive director.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a place where anyone can learn bicycle mechanics. Anyone can build a bike for little or no money. We have a lot of volunteers who come in and help one another.\u201d<\/p>\n
CAT refurbishes and distributes more than 300 bikes annually, with 350 bikes rebuilt and renewed in 2025, including 150-200 youth bikes for children in financial hardship.<\/p>\n
Volunteers spend an average of four hours per bike, supporting transportation and holiday programs.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Phil Gianficaro<\/p>\n
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LehighValleyNews.com<\/p>\n
Jaydrian Brydie-Melendez, 11, a CAT volunteer, cuts the ribbon on the grand opening of CAT’s Bicycle Cooperative. Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds looks on.<\/p>\n
Folks go to the new location and fix bikes which can then be adopted by people. Others build the bikes for themselves for their daily transportation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful thing when people come together and work together,\u201d Slingerland said. \u201cIt\u2019s also a place where people can volunteer, socialize and learn. It could be a parent, a retiree, parents with young kids \u2014 anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
‘A new beginning’<\/p>\n
The event was hosted by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. The new venue is a partnership with the City of Bethlehem and the Bethlehem Parking Authority.<\/p>\n
\u201cCAT focuses on the community,\u201d said Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds. \u201cThis shows the potential of what we can do by working together.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not just about an opening; it\u2019s about a new beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Added Tara Zrinski, Northampton County executive: \u201cCAT shows we have no boundaries.\u201d<\/p>\n
CAT received certificates of appreciation from Zrinski and state Sen. Lisa Boscola, Lehigh\/Northampton. State Rep. Steve Samuelson, D-Northampton, also offered remarks of thanks.<\/p>\n
CAT Board President Bill Meiklejohn said the organization has been actively looking for a new facility for the past three years, as it looked to find a larger space than was available at 135 W. Broad St. in Bethlehem.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started working with the parking authority, the mayor\u2019s office and the community and they came up with this space for us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is basically triple the size of our last facility. We\u2019d have 12 people working and touching elbows in the other place. We now have five work stands; the other place had two.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new location will allow CAT to increase its bike output.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a holiday bike program that\u2019s really grown,\u201d Meiklejohn said. \u201c\u201cThe past couple of years we\u2019ve had a waiting list that we couldn\u2019t fill the need because of space. This facility will help us meet that need.\u201d<\/p>\n
Slingerland thanked the 75 major donors for contributing more than $100,000 to help with the new location.<\/p>\n