Family Bicycles opens in Kansas City

One of three bicycle shops to open in the Kansas City area in just one week this spring, Family Bicycles caters to a slightly different audience than many bicycle shops in the area, according to a recent KC Community News article.

Family Bicycles has an interesting selection of bicycles that are not found as often in Missouri bicycle shops (folding bikes, for instance) and have been great supporters of local advocacy efforts, even before they opened for business.

Theresa Van Ackeren wants people to experience Kansas City from a different driver’s seat – that of a bicycle.

“It’s part of the whole philosophy of ‘stop and smell the roses,’” Van Ackeren said. “When you’re on a bike and going slower, you tend to look around and see things you don’t typically see from the hermetically sealed confines of a car. You come in contact with more people and hear the sounds of the city.”

Van Ackeren quit her day job in 2007. After working on a business plan during the summer and fall, Van Ackeren opened Family Bicycles, 7140 Wornall Road, on March 1.

Van Ackeren said she weighed location heavily.

“Frankly, it’s close to my home, and it’s close to a large population of people who appreciate cycling,” Van Ackeren said. “It’s close to the Trolley Track Trail, one of the few trails in Kansas City, and that was important to me as well. This is not a huge cycling area but it’s beginning to show popularity in Kansas City.”

Van Ackeren lived in Lee’s Summit for 11 years before relocating to Brookside in 2001, when she got back into the habit of cycling short distances.

“I’m a big proponent of using your bike instead of a car for short trips, like to the grocery store,” she said. “I’m somewhat of an environmentalist but I also support it for the physical fitness aspect, for getting people outside and enjoying the fresh air.

“I plan to ride to work everyday.”

Family Bicycles targets three types of customers, Van Ackeren said: people who have not ridden in a long time; people who ride infrequently and want to increase their number of rides; and people who use bikes to commute.

Paul Dorn's Bike Commute Tips blog recently covered Family Bicycles and the recent progress in the Kansas City area.