Yakima Partners With Zipcar for the TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour in NYC

BEAVERTON, Ore. (April 28, 2011) – Yakima (www.yakima.com), an innovator in vehicle racks for boats, bikes, camping and winter sports gear, today announced its continued partnership with Zipcar (www.zipcar.com), through the 42-mile TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour Presented by Eastern Mountain Sports, organized by Bike New York (www.bikenewyork.org) in New York City, May 1. Supporting over 32,000 riders in this sold out event, Yakima has outfitted 20 Ford Escapes with its FrontLoader rack. After the ride, the Ford Escapes with Yakima racks will remain in Zipcar’s New York City fleet, 15 at Manhattan locations and five at Brooklyn Zipcar locations. In addition to the Yakima racks, each Ford Escape will have Empire Passport decals giving drivers unlimited vehicle access to most facilities operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to partner with Zipcar, a forward-thinking company, and to ramp up our commitment to the cycling community,” said Joel Grabenstein, marketing and promotions manager at Yakima. “This alliance enables Zipcar’s members to easily transport their gear to their favorite cycling and outdoor destinations.”

Cyclists will experience New York City by pedaling through the car-free streets through all five boroughs taking in views of iconic landmarks like the Empire State building, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. The ride ends in Staten Island at a lively outdoor festival, including bike demos, giveaways, games, food concessions, product sampling, stretching demonstrations, massages, a photo booth, and vendors selling official merchandise.

“The timing of the TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour and our partnership with Yakima couldn’t have come at a better time,” said Charlie Irons, general manager of Zipcar New York City. “Our New York City members are getting ready for the summer and are gearing up for their weekend getaways and vacations. Yakima has provided us with an easy solution to help our members pursue their outdoor passions.”

About Zipcar: Zipcar is the world’s leading car sharing network with more than 560,000 members and over 8,000 vehicles in urban areas and college campuses throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Zipcar offers more than 30 makes and models of self-service vehicles by the hour or day to residents and businesses looking for an alternative to the high costs and hassles of owning a car. More information is available at www.zipcar.com.

About Bike New York: Bike New York is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to promote and encourage bicycling through education, public events, and collaboration with community and government organizations. Best known for producing America’s largest cycling event, a 42-mile, traffic-free ride for some 32,000 cyclists known as the TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour, Bike New York also offers regional rides outside NYC, free classes to the public, and development of customized bicycle safety and education programs in and around New York City.

About Yakima: Yakima is the world leader in the design and manufacture of cargo management equipment solutions for outdoor enthusiasts. Yakima’s products include: vehicle racks for bikes, boats, ski equipment and gear, a line of cargo boxes and bags for a variety of needs, as well as high performance multi-sport trailers. Yakima Products is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon. For more information, visit www.yakima.com.