Youth Bike Summit: Q&A with Ever Franco and Evelyn Muricia

Recently I had the pleasure of chatting with two youth from Arlington, Virginia: Ever Franco and Evelyn Muricia.

This year will mark Ever’s third trip to the National Youth Bike Summit! He is an 18-year-old student and attends Washington Lee High School. Ever says he would describe his role in the bicycling community as a youth bike mechanic. He works at Phoenix Bikes where he first got involved through their Earn-a-Bike program.

“I got involved [in the bicycling movement] through court," he told me. Although Ever wasn't required to do community service, someone recommended he volunteer at Phoenix Bikes and he signed up for the Earn-a Bike program right away.

Ever described the Earn-a-Bike program as one where you “donate 25 hours of your time and then you earn a bike for free.”

Evelyn is a junior at Washington Lee High School. She works at Phoenix Bikes which she describes as a “non-profit youth program [which] teaches kids how to build bikes.”

Evelyn got involved as a youth participant at Phoenix Bikes and now says she “works on bikes and helps around the shop.”

What is a memorable moment from last year’s Youth Bike Summit?

Ever: The environment. You don’t get to go to many places where people talk about bikes and have ideas that you don’t.

What are you working on this year in preparation for the summit?

Ever: I’m working on a video about the Phoenix Bike shop.

Evelyn: We’re going to talk about how to get girls more involved in cycling.

Why is gathering youth around bicycling important to you?

Ever: Mostly for new ideas… last year I learned how to screen print… and then it’s always nice to meet other people who have the same interest as you from around the U.S. Who and/or what inspires you about the youth bike summit?

Evelyn: I think the fact that a lot of people from across the country are going to be there. That’s really cool.

What are you looking forward to about the YBS this year?

Ever: This will be my first time traveling across the U.S. and my first time on a plane. [I’m looking] forward to meeting new people. Last year I met a lot of new people. [I’m] looking forward to learning about [others’] environments. For example, bike trails and how they get around.

Evelyn: It’s in Seattle… I’ve never been to Seattle, so it’ll be my first time going. I’m looking forward to seeing what other people prepared, and the hands-on workshops.

If someone asked you “Why should I attend the Youth Bike Summit?”, what would you tell them?

Evelyn: Well I think it’s important for everyone… It’s more about staying healthy and staying fit and being green. I feel like it would be a cool experience.

Ever: Because it’s the most awesome place to go to. I’m looking forward to it!

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I’m looking forward to meeting Ever, Evelyn and other inspired youth at YBS next week! Register for the Youth Bike Summit: youthbikesummit.org