When Matthew McKay decided to open a Pedego Electric Bikes store in Central Florida last November, Baldwin Park was his first choice for the location. He picked the Orlando market for its 12-month environment – a place where you can spend time outdoors all year round. And he chose Baldwin Park because of its central location, and the bike trails.
“When you get to Baldwin Park, there’s hundreds of miles of bike trails just 50 feet from our front door. It’s a spectacular place to ride a bike. Whether our customers are purchasing or renting, we’ve got lots of places for people to go.”
Because of its downtown location overlooking Lake Baldwin, the store gets a lot of foot traffic and is just steps from a wide, paved bike path that goes around the lake. This path, called Lake Baldwin Trail, offers a relaxed, neighborhood ride that runs 2.5 miles through shaded areas and connects via a short spur on the opposite side of the lake with Cady Way Trail. It’s a local favorite, partly because of a section of cycle track that separates bicyclists from motor vehicles. There’s also a short, paved side trail through Mead Botanical Gardens that’s used by bikers as a link between the Orlando Urban Trail and Winter Park.
“The freedom that Pedego allows gives you freedom to see areas of Florida that you may not be familiar with, because you’ve only done it by car,” Matthew notes. “I discovered Orlando by bike, and it was because of the Orlando Urban Trail, Cady Way Trail, Wekiva Seminole Trail, and the Cross Seminole Trail. I like being able to listen to a podcast while riding, and having the freedom to breath the fresh air that Florida provides. It’s just fun.”
With the abundance of bike trails available to area residents, Matthew’s store is a popular stop for locals. Part of his business is bike rentals. “We have people who own bikes but want to try an electric bike, and they like it that we’re so close to the trails. We also see people who’ve never been on a bike, or haven’t been on a bike in 30 or 40 years, but want to keep up with their grandkids or get a little bit more exercise, and an electric bike is their choice.”
Pedego offers 17 different models of bikes and has over 230 stores across the country, all dedicated to being able to ride before you buy. “People want experiences. A lot of times they don’t necessarily want assets. So being able to come and rent a bike and enjoy the day, and then a month later have another date day, rent a bike and go in another direction with a picnic lunch. Those are fun things that we can provide – something different and something fun that promotes a healthy lifestyle.”
Whether customers want to purchase or rent, Pedego has a variety of bikes to fit a wide range of needs. “If someone has ankle, knee, leg, back or arm problems, we have bikes that are easy to get into. You only have to raise your leg nine and a half inches to get onto the bike,” Matthew explains. “If you like a relaxed cruising style and just want to enjoy the outdoors, there’s a cruiser-style bike for that. If you’re the type of person who wants to hang out on wooded trails in the back country, we have bikes designed for that, too. And all of them are electric.”
Matthew takes pride in being able to serve the community. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a request or need that we couldn’t fill,” he shares. “Some customers come to see us once a month or even once a day! They love their bikes, and they’re enamored with the freedom they enjoy to get outdoors and live a healthier lifestyle.”