The
Concept Trans-Atlantic
BikeShare is a member supported, member driven organization
focused on motorcycle touring. The key difference between Trans-Atlantic
BikeShare and other touring options is the cost. With traditional
choices you can spend thousands of dollars to ship your motorcycle
or sign up for a structured tour with predetermined destinations
each day. For me, those options just didn't seem like much of
a choice. To
help you understand what Trans-Atlantic BikeShare is all about
I need to back up a few years. In 1991 I responded to a letter
in the BMW Motorcycle Owners News. The letter was from Tony
Wood of Leicester, England. Tony and his wife, Shirley, had
toured in the states previously and wanted to return. However,
the cost of shipping their motorcycle a second time was a less
then enticing concept and renting a motorcycle in the U.S. is
costly and not easy. In Tony's letter he proposed an arrangement
where he would borrow a motorcycle here in return for use of
his motorcycle in the UK. I had been looking at all of my options
for touring in the UK and this looked like an excellent opportunity. In
1992 I was on my way to Leicester, England to borrow Tony's
motorcycle and see Scotland. The next year Tony and Shirley
came to the states and borrowed my motorcycle. They rode to
Memphis to enjoy some Memphis blues and then headed east to
enjoy the Blue Ridge Parkway. Throughout both of our tours we
often heard from other motorcyclists we met about how they would
like to find a similar arrangement. The problem was locating
other motorcyclists with the same interest. They were out there
and needed a central place to make a connection. Another
feature of Trans-Atlantic BikeShare is the great sense of a
global community. Neither Tony or I could have imagined how
the members have helped each other out. International friendships
have developed along with lasting memories. There is no price
you can place this feature.
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