The bikes will be tuned up later this month.
BikeLane in Lethbridge is teaming up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lethbridge and District to get more kids out on two wheels.
Owner Mathew Hellawell says on Saturday, May 24, BikeLane will be doing 20 free tune-ups for kids involved with the local non-profit.
“We reached out to them because we were basically looking for a new way to incentivize some people to get their bikes fixed in our low times of the year, and [wanted to know] how we could also turn that into [some way of] giving back to the community,” Hellawell says.
He notes BikeLane set aside $10 from every tune-up done between December and March for the upcoming event with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Hellawell says for him, fixing up and riding his bike was such an important part of his upbringing.
“A lot of us here had people in our lives who taught us how to fix bikes or fixed bikes up with us when we were younger. For me, it was my grandfather,” he remarks.
“The real driver behind doing something like this for me is that not everybody’s got that grandfather, so we want to try and make BikeLane fill that void in their lives if we can.”
He is also hoping to boost awareness about bike safety and sustainability.
“Especially at young ages, bikes are freedom for these kids.”
Part of the tune-up event will feature an educational component. Hellawell says team members will teach kids about safe bike practices and maintenance.
“While we’re repairing their bikes, we’re going to be teaching the kids what to do if their chain falls off or if they hear a weird sound,” he notes, adding having that knowledge can really help anyone if they find themselves in a tricky situation with their bike in tow.
“We’ll also talk about how to ride safely, how to tighten your helmet, and why helmets are so important.”
AFFORDABILITY
Hellawell says BikeLane also hopes to implement a more permanent trade-in style program. He says parents can donate their kids’ bike, if they no longer need it, and the staff will many any necessary fixes, before making the bike available to another child.
“We had about five or six that worked out this year,” Hellawell notes.
“So, we had bikes going for like $60 to $80 this spring … which makes it so much more available for parents to get bikes for their kids.”
The tune-up event will take place at BikeLane on Saturday, May 24 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. and is only open to ‘Bigs’ and ‘Littles’ selected by Big Brothers Big Sisters staff.
