A Texas bike shop founded by Lance Armstrong says it will no longer sell and service bicycles for the Austin Police Department.
Mellow Johnny’s in Austin is ending a five-year contract worth up to $350,000 with the police department to purchase, resell and service bikes for a downtown patrol unit used to manage large crowds and events.
The bike shop made the decision after discussing with employees and the community ways “we could best do our part to keep our customers safe and this city moving in the right direction,” a Facebook post said.
“Businesses can no longer be non-participants in the communities they serve,” the statement said. “We chose what we think will do the most to suture these divides and place our community on the right side of history.”
Mellow Johnny’s has a location in Fort Worth. That location says it’s under different ownership and management and not connected to the Austin bike shop’s decision.
“Mellow Johnny’s Fort Worth supports our community as well as responsible and ethical law enforcement,” a Facebook post said.
The Austin location says it has received threats after the decision was publicized.
“We are not anti-police. We do believe our local police force will protect us from the very threats we are receiving right now,” the Facebook post said.
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