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Sustainable Community Impact

Having a Sustainable Community Impact

Since our inception in 2001, we have kept the environment and our community at the forefront of what we do everyday.  Selling bicycles alone is a pretty joyful, green way to make a living.  Here's how we go beyond that and do more.



Recycling

Safely transporting all of these high quality products to our store requires a significant amount of packaging.  We strive to recycle everything we can thanks to Emmet and Charlevoix County's Recycling Programs.  Each week we haul on average a 380 cubic foot van load of sorted recycling, with a total estimated annual impact of 20,000 cubic feet avoiding landfills!

Green Energy

100% of the electricity we use is generated by renewable resources via Petoskey's Voluntary Green Pricing Renewable Energy Program.

Green Products

From stocking products made from recycled or upcycled materials, to choosing brands that strive to minimize their packaging and make their companies more environmentally sustainable - it is vital that we spend wisely with an uncommon path in mind.

Staff Commuter Program

We encourage our crew to ride to and from work by paying them to do so.  Riding bikes is good for the planet and good for the humans riding.

TOMTC Board Member since 2002

One of our owners and founder, Christian Janssens, has served on the Top of Michigan Trails Council (TOMTC) since the early 2000's.  TOTMC is the chief advocacy group for both paved and non-paved bicycle trails in this region.

Kids Biking Initiative

The Kids Biking Initiative (KBI) takes between 350 and 400 fourth graders from Emmet and Charlevoix county on all day educational biking field trips each spring.  Latitude 45 has been involved with KBI since its creation and continues to provide countless hours of annual support.

Bicycle Safety for Kids

Latitude 45 has been presenting free 25 minute bicycle safety talks in elementary classrooms throughout Emmet and Charlevoix Counties since 2011.

Latitude 45 Cycling Team

Team Riding, teaching, trail maintenance, and having fun is what we are all about - plus a little racing of course! Crafted in early 2011 by Steve Schultz, Christian Janssens and Uli Rabeiro, the Latitude 45/Twisted Stone Cycling Team has grown to 40+ members.