RecycleWorksBikeRe-UseEvent

Recycle Works: Bike Re-Use EventResidents dropped off their old bikes at nine locations throughout the County, while SamTrans, the Police Activities League, and several city police stations contributed large numbers of used bicycles. On Saturday, October 19, the bicycles were shuttled to two locations where they were fixed up by volunteer mechanics. In San Mateo, sixty volunteers including mechanics from Pacific Bicycles, Bikestation Palo Alto, Chain Reaction, REI and The Bike Hut spent the day fixing up 160 bicycles. The volunteers shared tools they brought from home, and scavenged parts from bicycles destined for metal recycling to use for repairing higher-quality bikes. Among the volunteers were thirteen men from Project Ninety, a drug and alcohol rehab center, who each took home a bicycle at the end of the day. The other restored bikes are headed for the Samaritan House and the Childrens Fund in time for the holidays. In East Palo Alto, Major Taylor Cycling Club members and other assorted volunteers worked alongside children from the Human Services Agency and Clara-Mateo Alliance to fix up 60 bicycles. Each child participated in the Sheriff-sponsored bike rodeo and went home at the end of the day with a recycled bicycle and brand new helmet. Overall, the Bicycle Re-Use Event resulted in 280 bicycles being repaired and many frames and parts recycled for metal. The remaining unfinished bikes will be funneled to Major Taylor Cycling Club, the Mt. View Community Service Agency Bike Exchange and the Bike Hut for further repair. Event PhotosMichael Ayala, Pacific Bicycles Regional Bicycle repair in progress.Manager, does quality control on a kids bike.Children learn biking basics at the Sheriff-sponsored bike rodeo.Poems from the Event Poems by youths who participated at the Major Taylor Cycling Club event: Bikes are fun To ride in the sun It can be even funner In the rain puddles. -Rawena Bikes are good to ride & it gives me such a good vibe give me one please & you might see me outside. - Quinton Temon Gipson Bikes are tight & when Im down they