Local Government TV

Monday, October 09, 2023

Community Bike Works Updates NorCo Council

Kim Schaffer, Executive Director of Community Bike Works, made it to last week's community and economic development via bus as opposed to bike. She's a county alumnus and I can remember that she was a frequent bus commuter when she worked here. She updated County Council about Community Bike Works, which has existed since 1995. It is located both in Allentown (235 N Madison St, Allentown) and Easton (will soon be at 921 Spruce Street in the west ward). 

This is primarily a youth mentoring program, connecting kids with adult mentors through both bikes and books. 

The program allows kids to pick a bike, and then they spend a month learning how to ride it safely and more importantly, how to fix every component. Through learning bike mechanics, they learn the importance of teamwork and communication. Bike mechanics still elude me, to say nothing of Easton's hills. 

Over the first two years of operation in Easton, 211 kids have participated. This year, another 100 are expected.

Shaffer noted that kids on bikes are physically more fit and feel better about themselves during a time in which teen mental health is at a crisis level. She said 30% of the students stay involved. Over the past three months, they've ridden 808 miles on the trails and streets of the Easton area,  

Bike Works does insist on helmets. 

The county and state have assisted BikeWorks with several grants. 

It also operates a food pantry for 350 families on Allentown's east side. 

Bike Works has been chosen to host the national youth bike summit in 2024 for 400 kids and adults. 

It will accept any bikes in any condition. 

9 comments:

  1. Amazing Bethlehem & Allentown still do not have bike lanes. Why is this region consistently behind 20-30 years? Embarrassing.

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  2. I personally think bike lanes are unnecessary. They are ignored by motorists and create a false sense of security among cyclists. Motorists the get angry when they see a cyclist who is not in a bike lane, even though those would be few and far between. I prefer sharing a road.

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  3. CBW is an excellent program with measurable results. Kim has done a fabulous job building that program. They reward good grades with bike donations, offer an "Earn a Book" program, a food bank, adult mentoring and more. Hats off to that non-profit!

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  4. That was the logos behind the sharrows painted in Allentown 10 years ago. The result, minimal adoption of bicycles as a viable option of transportation.

    I disagree with your opinion that bike lanes do not work. They do work, particularly separated bike lanes (between parking and the curd). Many of our streets are wide enough. No political will or vision.

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    Replies
    1. What fantasy land are you living in? 😄

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  5. 12:37, I'm no traffic engineer and am just a cyclist who has only ridden them a few times in Philly.

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  6. Community Bike Works or Communist Bike Works? Cyclists have on average a high propensity for espousing socialist/marxist viewpoints, then you have the deep staters like deranged Jack Smith, Scary John Kerry, Sleepy Joe, and about 900 million foot soldiers of the CCP.

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    Replies
    1. I think you are a little off base here. Republican cyclist here. I ride a lot and think our groups are really diverse.

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  7. I would expect that most cyclists are a bit left of center and perhaps they are. But that has not been my experience. I've ridden with conservative Rs, born-again Christians, Mormon missionaries and Mennonites.

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