Lawrence Township E-Bike Shop Gives Back To Mercer Co. Youth, One Bike At A Time

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — What if buying a bike could do more than get you where you're going?

That's the idea behind Princeton eBikes, an electric bike shop in the Lawrence Shopping Center where the profits go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County.

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The shop has sold more than 1,000 bikes since it opened. It also repairs and services every bike it sells, so customers get help long after they leave the store.

For founder Russ White, the goal was to build something that would keep helping kids for years to come.

"I got excited about creating an ongoing business that would generate income for the Boys & Girls Club on a permanent basis, long after I'm gone," White said.

He had seen what bikes and a good cause could do together. More than 15 years ago, he started the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County Bike Exchange, known as BEX. Donated bikes are fixed up and sold, and the money goes to the Club.

BEX worked, and it gave White the idea for a second project built around electric bikes. That became Princeton eBikes.

White is a serious cyclist himself. He saw why e-bikes are catching on. They help riders climb hills, go farther and keep riding when they need an extra boost.

At the shop, customers can look at different models, get advice and take test rides before they pick one.

White said shoppers have come from all over New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. Some come in part because they want their purchase to support the Boys & Girls Clubs.

The model has a name, social entrepreneurship, which means using a business to support a social mission. White learned about it through his work with the Club. Instead of a one-time fundraiser, Princeton eBikes is meant to give steady support year after year.

"Princeton eBikes is focused on maintaining a first-class bike shop while supporting the amazing young people served by Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County," White said.

The money helps pay for programs and services at the Clubs. These include education, mentoring, recreation, and college and career preparation for young people in the community.

Reginald J. Coleman, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Mercer County, said giving back is part of how the shop works.

"What makes Princeton eBikes so special is that giving back is built into the business," Coleman said. "Russ and the Princeton eBikes team have created an innovative model that turns their passion for cycling into ongoing support for the young people we serve."

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