With 50 bicycles in their fleet, Cochair and Spokeswoman Courtney Bennett said ValloCycle is in the process of adding 19 more. To accommodate the growing number of bikes, there are currently nine bike racks around town. The first of five sculptural bike racks, designed by Lily Montgomery, a former UM art major, was just installed behind Bloch Hall in what Montevallo Mayor Hollie Cost, who is also a Vallocycle board member, described as “a very unique way to connect health initiatives with art initiatives.” Co-chair Aaron Traywick said he feels that the biggest struggle facing ValloCycle today is the reluctance of people to get out of their comfort zones. “Our biggest obstacle may just be people taking advantage of the resource in front of them. It takes a hell of a lot to get out of your car and experience the world, experience your community,” he said. Part of this community engagement comes from the spotlight ValloCycle places on Montevallo businesses, which are invited to sponsor bicycles and have signs supporting their businesses mounted to the front of the bikes. To further encourage members to explore the area, ValloCycle offers a map of local businesses, completely researched, written and designed by Traywick, Bennett and fellow board member John Nicholson. “Like many of my cohorts, I didn’t start enjoying Main Street until I was a junior,” Bennett said. “We wanted freshmen to know right off the bat that Montevallo was a great place to study and hang out, too.” Registration is open to any resident of Shelby County, and forms are located at three in-town locations — UM Carmichael Library, Parnell Library and the City Police Department — and turned in to City Hall. “We’ve institutionalized the program,” Traywick said. “Many of the responsibilities that were volunteeroriented before are being handled by city officials now. We’ve made it so the program can stand without us when we’re gone. That’s what a good program does, it lives on.” As it lives on, members believe it will
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