Making old bicycles into new ones

Grove Street Bicycles opened in downtown Jersey City last March and has since offered services such as bike sales, repairs, and bicycle maintenance classes. Add another activity to their already busy agenda: fixing up old bikes for a good cause.
The store, located at 365 Grove St., started a used bike donation program this month. Their plan is to accept old bicycles from the public and fix them up. Then those bikes are donated to local organizations such as churches and homeless shelters. The bike shop is also partnering with a non-profit organization in Short Hills called Good Goes Around, which has offered to distribute the refurbished bikes to needy children around North Jersey. They have offered to pick up the tab for any bike parts that are needed.
People who donate bikes receive $25 off the purchase of a new bicycle.

_____________

People who donate bikes receive $25 off the purchase of a new bicycle.
________

Mike Wilson, co-owner of the bike shop with Rodney Morweiser, said since the program started, a dozen bikes have been donated to the shop. Wilson said the idea sprung from a customer last year who donated a bike that was in good condition because he wanted to purchase a new bike that suited him better.
“The customer said ‘Here, give it to someone in need,’ Wilson said. “We knew someone who was a perfect candidate for it and we offered him the bike, and he was very grateful.”
Wilson added, “He started to cry a little bit and thanked us. It even made us choke up a little bit, and we began to think that we should do more of this.”

The cycle of good

Wilson said customers can bring their old bike into the shop, or Grove Street Bicycles will arrange to pick up the bike from local residents. He said his shop will accept any bike in any condition as long as it’s in almost complete form.
Wilson said that once accepted, the bike will be evaluated to determine which repairs are needed. Once the bike is repaired, it is set aside for an organization that is in need of a new bike.
The bikes that cannot be refurbished will be utilized for their parts, to fix other bikes.
Wilson said the program will take place year round. Both Wilson and Morweiser are planning in the future to host a public presentation to show how the donation program has progressed and where the bikes have been donated.
For more information about the program, call Grove Street Bicycles at (201) 451-2453 or visit the website: www.grovestreetbicycles.com.
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.