Dear CAT Supporter,

It is the time of year when we look back at 2023 at all the good that YOU have done to help CAT in our mission to inspire the Lehigh Valley to walk, bicycle, and ride the bus. Every single CAT member should feel that YOU are a part of CAT’s successes, big and small.

As you know, our work is never done, and with our region’s 650,000 residents, there is always more need and more opportunity to improve transportation – for safety, health, environment, and quality of life!

We need your help as we strive to rebuild 200 youth bicycles through December. We need your help as we plan our programs going into 2024.

Donate today with a year-end gift that will carry CAT forward!

Your generous donation will go toward build and support for youth Holiday Bike recipients and adult Bike Basics clients. Your donation will support operations of the CAT Bicycle Cooperative for the public to receive bike education and encouragement. Your donation will support CAT’s work around the Lehigh Valley to promote pedestrian safety and public transit advocacy.

Regards,

Scott Slingerland, Executive Director

P.S. Here’s a glimpse of CAT’s year-in-review, a.k.a. whewww, what a year it was!

CAT Bicycle Cooperative in 2023

• 2,304 visits served
• 850 hours open to the public 4 days per week at our Lehigh County location
• 95 adult bikes refurbished by/for low-income residents
• 85 adult bikes refurbished by volunteer mechanics
• 35 youth bikes refurbished & awarded at schools & events
• 200 bikes to local children via CAT Holiday Bikes program

CAT Adult Classes in 2023

• 31 students in 12 Basic Bike Maintenance Classes
• 18 students in 5 Advanced Bike Mechanics Classes
• 8 students in 3 Wheel Building Classes
• 5 students in 1 Smart Cycling Classes
• 12 students in CAT Bike Basics Classes for essential commuters
• 25 attendees in 1 CAT Bike2Work Basics corporate presentation

CAT Youth Education in 2023

• 683 youth participants in 30 Bike Ed Events
• 15 sessions of weekly CAT Bike Club @ 3 local elementary schools
• 169 bicycle helmets fitted for youth

CAT Bike Rides in 2023

• 440 participants in 50 group bike rides
• Lehigh Valley Bike to Work Week Events in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton
• Monthly Mayor Rides in Allentown (July-November)

Donate today with a year-end gift that will carry CAT forward!

CAT Volunteers/Leadership/Staff

• 3,300 board volunteer hours by 16 board members
• 4,992 volunteer hours by 57 CAT Bicycle Cooperative volunteers
• 300 committee volunteer hours by additional CAT committee volunteers
• 256 staff-hours for community group bike rides contributed by CAT Ride Leaders
• 320 staff-hours of bike education classes taught by CAT Adult Instructors
• 380 staff-hours taught by 29 CAT Youth Education instructors, community staff & volunteers

CAT Membership

• 575 total memberships
• 189 memberships meeting or exceeding suggested donation ($50/year)
• 386 memberships, low-income/low-cost ($0-50)

CAT Partnerships

Adult Bike Support Partners: Lehigh County Department of Probation, Allentown Rescue Mission, Hogar Crea of Pennsylvania, Treatment Trends (Hope Center, Allentown Center for Recovery), City of Allentown, City of Bethlehem (includes Lehigh County portion), Victory House of Bethlehem

Bike Ride Partners: Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Lehigh Valley Greenways, PA Department of Conservation Natural Resources (DCNR), City of Bethlehem Recreation

Youth Bike Ed/School Partners: Calypso Elementary School (Bethlehem-Lehigh County), Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, William Penn Elementary School, Eastern PA Down Syndrome Center, Pennsylvania State Police Community Affairs, Bethlehem Area Public Library Fountain Hill, City of Bethlehem Recreation

Additional Programming Partners: St Luke’s Community Health, Lehigh Valley Hospital Network Trauma Prevention (Muhlenberg and Lehigh Valley Cedar Crest), City of Bethlehem Police Department, LANTA Bus, PennDOT, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) /Lehigh Valley Transportation Study (LVTS), Northampton Community College Earth Day, Lehigh University Car-Free Day, Muhlenberg College Earth Day.

Every dollar supporting CAT goes a long way to help the community. Every person who enters the CAT Bicycle Cooperative or who participates in a CAT program is treated with respect, dignity, and the intention of empowerment through knowledge. CAT partners synergistically with other community organizations on a weekly basis, because we know that working together strengthens everyone.

Donate today with a year-end gift that will carry CAT forward!