Pre-owned bikes will get a new lease of life after being restored in a community project which is setting up an Oamaru ''bike library''.
The Waitaki Community Bike Project was announced in April, prompting a burst of donations of bikes to the Waitaki Resource Recovery Trust's park in Chelmer St. On Wednesday, volunteers started shifting about 40 bikes in various states of repair from the park to a shed in France St made available by Aoraki Polytechnic for the project to start.
Co-ordinated by the trust's Trish Hurley, with mentors Jim MacDonald and Dave Mackay, the project is aimed at providing recycled bikes, and a new safety helmet, to children from ranging from preschool to high school. Community volunteers and offenders on community sentences imposed by the court will refurbish the bikes to meet safety standards.
Then these will be made available to disadvantaged families on a loan basis.
Once a child outgrows a bike, they can bring it back and exchange it for another. In some circumstances, a child might be given a bike. In addition to bikes - of which more are required, particularly for preschool and primary-age children - the group is seeking donations for materials and helmets. Shelving for parts is also sought.
About 20 volunteers are already involved in the project, which will also run courses on bike maintenance and repair.
Young cyclists who need a bike to be repaired can take it to the group, who will show them how. Trust manager Marian Shore said the project brought together several groups, including the Department of Corrections, the Waitaki District Council, police, North Otago Literacy, Aoraki Polytechnic and the Menz Shed.
Modelled on a successful bike library project in Dunedin, it will train the Oamaru mentors, who will then pass on their skills in Oamaru.
''Local children get to learn bike safety skills and to own a bike they may not have been able to afford otherwise,'' Mrs Shore said.
''Most importantly, we get to contribute to promoting healthy lifestyles to local children in a very real way.''
Initially, the project will use space made available by Aoraki Polytechnic on its Oamaru campus, then the Menz Shed and the resource recovery park once additional space is created.
To get involved
Contact the Waitaki Resource Recovery Park to:
• Donate bikes, particularly for preschoolers and young children
• Become a volunteer
• Help restore bikes
• Offer bike repair skills
• Make donations for new helmets, parts
• Borrow a bike
• Learn bike repair skills
