“Blimp My Ride” encourages Akron residents to ride their bikes to work in honor of Earth Day; donation to be made to local nonprofit

AKRON, Ohio, March 30, 2011 – Blimp City Bike & Hike (“Blimp City”), an Akron-based retail shop specializing in offering quality bicycles and outdoor specialty products, today announces the introduction of “Blimp My Ride”, its Earth Day initiative to benefit Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

For this corporate social responsibility undertaking, Blimp City pledges to donate $5 to Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park for every Akron-area resident who rides a bike to work at least once during the week of Earth Day, April 18-22*. Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging public support for and enhancing public enjoyment of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio’s only national park.

“Like Blimp City Bike & Hike, we have a strong commitment to bicycling and healthy lifestyles,” said Deb Yandala, CEO for the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. “We appreciate this partnership with Blimp City which will benefit exciting projects within the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.”

Akron-area residents who participate in “Blimp My Ride” will be entered into a raffle to win a bicycle courtesy of Blimp City. The process to demonstrate participation is easy – simply email Blimp City at BlimpMyRide@BlimpCityBikeandHike.com with a photo of you and your bike in front of a sign from your place of employment.

“The environmental, economic and health benefits to biking are numerous,” said Blimp City owner Andy Bixenstine, noting that gasoline prices in Akron recently exceeded $3.50/gallon. “To ‘Blimp your ride’ is to rethink how you commute to work, and we urge Akronites to consider trading in their car keys for a bicycle this Earth Day to pay respect to our planet.”

*Limit $5 donation per rider. Blimp City reserves the right to institute donation cap.