Before Bicycle Stations Stephen Harrell was involved in commercial real estate, as well as helping out small business owners in Washington, DC and the Northern Virginia area. Not too long ago he decided to take a much needed break from the everyday hustle and bustle of city life. His travels led him to Guatemala, where he spent a year riding bikes through the beautiful mountainous terrain. Although Stephen has always had a passion for bikes it didnʼt take him long to realize that this was the sort of life he wanted to lead.

When given his first bike he remembers feeling like his parents had given him his first car; he had the freedom to go where he wanted as long as he did so responsibly. Now, being a father himself, he realizes how much more comes with giving your child their first bike. Itʼs a pragmatic give-and-take situation. You give them security and then let go, give them balance and let them take their first fall. You give them a sense of responsibility and hope they donʼt take it for granted, and a sense of independence and hope they appreciate it. One of the moments Stephen greatly appreciates is being on his bike, looking beside himself and seeing his kids right there with him, knowing he taught them to ride.

Being in a business where you can give something back to the community was also a factor. Stephen believes in staying healthy, and hopes to influence the people around him to stay healthy as well. As if staying healthy werenʼt enough, bicycles are great for the environment, and help people spend quality time together and have a sense of enjoyment only achieved through riding a bike. A very good friend of Stephenʼs for over
25 years has always been in the bicycle business, and Stephen could tell how much he loves his work. Now, Stephen feels he has the same thing; the same passion for his work as his friend.

Passionate or not, some people think 14th Street is an odd location for his first store, but when asked why this location was picked, his answer is simple: “14th Street chose me. It makes me feel at home”. He loves the people, the noise, and “sometimes I even like the names they call me”. But, truth be told, thereʼs no better place in DC to walk down the street with a smile on your face, enjoy the characters, and take in the scene. Itʼs diversified, and thatʼs what Stephen aims toward with Bicycle Stations.

Stephen believes that without his mother; her rules, her dedication, her words, and her demands, he would not be where he is today, and Bicycle Stations would not be possible. Every child should be as lucky to have a mother like her, teaching us thereʼs no mountain too steep to climb. We shouldnʼt go through life wearing two gloves, we all have to give a hand. That being said, this store, itʼs creation and itʼs purpose are dedicated to Ms. Linda Harrell who passed away on October 30, 2007 after a long battle with lung cancer.