We love helping out organizations that have a great cause. From youth cycling to trail building, there are plenty of bike-centric efforts to get behind in our home town of Traverse City. Last week, we pitched in on another project that has a long history of providing an important service in our community.
Recycle-A-Bicycle is a run by Don Cunkle, an absolute legend in Traverse City and an outspoken advocate of healthy, outdoor activity year-round. An avid cyclist himself, Don's work offers a cost-effective way to offer increased mobility and access to a healthy activity for individuals and families in the community. For some, access to free or inexpensive bicycle means opening up a world of opportunity, making things like shopping, employment, and social interaction possible.
The program works with donated bicycles that come in from the community. Once in the shop, they're tweaked, fixed, cleaned, and readied to for someone who really needs some wheels. These bikes range from old ten speeds to brand new kids bikes, mountain bikes of all description, and cruisers and townies that offer a more comfortable ride. Don works hard to match the person with a bike that suits their needs. Especially if this may be the person's sole transportation, it's important that they have the right fit, the right drive train, and the right racks that will make it work for them.
Don also makes sure all bikes that leave Recycle-A-Bicycle are in good hands. He shows the rider how to clean and maintain the bike, how to use a lock, and how to watch for signs of wear. It's another way the program helps to promote responsibility and appreciation for the incredible tool a bicycle can be.
With the new remodel at the Recycle-A-Bicycle workshop, we helped to install plenty of Wall Rail and mounts to make storing the dozens of bikes in stock easier. The modular mounts also help Don and his volunteers to shift mounts to where they're needed, moving them closer for more condensed storage or apart to make them easier to access. Dan and Rob managed the install, and also got to peruse the current inventory, which included some beautiful old bikes. It's not unusual to find a few gems bouncing around Don's shop!
If you like what Don and his team are doing, you can learn more here, as well as make a donation to support the mission of making everyone more mobile, more healthy, and more happy on two wheels.