Community Cycles collects, distributes bikes

By Laura Snider - Daily Camera
Tuesday, December 4, 2007

What: Holiday bike swap

When: Drop off bikes of all types and conditions from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Adult bikes are accepted, but the focus is on kids' bikes. Anyone can pick up a bike on a first-come, first-served basis from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Outlook Hotel, 800 28th St.

Cost: Free, but Community Cycles is requesting a $10 donation when a bike is picked up or dropped off.

Community Cycles wants to see Boulder's kids out and about on bikes — and it's willing to give them away free to make it happen.

"We've been putting kids' bikes away all year," said Rich Points, director of the nonprofit Community Cycles. "I wouldn't be surprised if we have about 200 by Sunday."

On Friday and Saturday, Community Cycles will be accepting bikes of all types — and in any condition — for its inaugural holiday bike collection drive and giveaway. Volunteer mechanics will tune and repair the bikes before they are given away Sunday to anyone who wants one, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Community Cycles — which was founded to encourage biking as a sustainable form of transportation — has been around now for almost 1½ years. The organization does everything from sending bicycles to Africa to advocating for policies that are bike-friendly, and recently, the group has made a push to educate kids about bike safety and the benefits of biking.