The team that coordinates the monthly Bikes on Rice pau hana bicycle rides has partnered with local bike shop Briggs Bicycles to refurbish and donate several bicycles.
Bikes on Rice rides are free slow rolls, open to the public, and explore Lihue’s quiet streets on the second Tuesday of every month.
“My customers donated their used bikes to my shop,” said Briggs Bicycles owner Briggs Knott. “Clearly these bikes were usable, and Jim and I had the idea of fixing them up, then passing them on to people in our local community who have need of them.”
He said the Bikes on Rice mission statement is to encourage and promote safe and fun cycling.
“These bikes are safe and sound, and should be enjoyed by people in our community,” Knott said.
Bikes on Rice coordinator Jim Benkert said they will be donating this first batch of equipment to the YWCA of Kauai. The fully operational bicycles include adult and kids size bikes.
Kauai Path is providing free helmets and reflective bands to go along with every bike as part of the Alert Today — Alive Tomorrow program.
“The YWCA of Kauai is extremely grateful to be the recipient of the first set of bikes from the Bikes on Rice Team,” said KipuKai Kuali‘i, YWCA of Kauai’s director of operations. “We’re sure that our clients will be excited to receive them and will put them to great use.”
The Bikes on Rice Team will be presenting the first set of bikes to the YWCA of Kauai this afternoon at the YWCA Women’s Center in Lihue.
The Bikes on Rice team described this community support project to the July Bikes on Rice riders. Since then the Bikes on Rice team has received several more donated bikes from participants and Briggs Bicycles’ customers.
“My customers are stoked — rejuvenating an old unused bike to roll again and make people happy is a great thing,” said Knott. “A customer buying a new bike is always pleased that their old bike will be put to good use. Since we are still receiving donated bikes, our plan is to make this an ongoing community program.”
Bikes on Rice and Briggs Bicycles intend to continue fixing and donating more bikes, and encourage friends and neighbors to drop off their old bikes at Briggs Bikes.
If you have a bicycle suitable for this program, bring it to the Lihue Civic Center at 4:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month for the community slow roll. You may contact Benkert or Briggs Bicycles and let them know you’d like your old bike to be donated, they will take care of the rest.
Not all bikes are suitable for use, but even nearly dead ones sometimes have usable parts, so if your bicycle has got any life left in it, it may still be of value to this program.
Info: www.bikesonrice.org, Benkert at jmbenkert@gmail.com 353-1889. Briggs Bicycles can be reached at245-7579 and is at 2955 Aukele Street.
Thanks guys. “It might help some!”