Something cool I've been doing....
 

I guess I might be tootin' my own horn but I've started doing cool and I'm only relaying this to maybe motivate some other folks to do the same.

I a pretty regular commuter and as such have had many conversations at work about why I ride. Most people I talk too won't have anything to do with commuting but every now and then I find someone with a spark so I ask them "Would you ride a bike if you had one?" and if the answer is a sincere "yes", I give them one.

Now I'm a retired enlisted man so I don't have a ton of money, but I can fix just about anything on a bike. So I scrounge the pawn shops and Goodwill stores and pick up any good quality bikes I can get my hands on. Most hardtails with a rigid fork can be bought (around here) for les than $50.

Anyway, here are my results;

Wendy: Single mother/grandmother mid- 40s. I gave her a Schwinn Sierra and she rode it alot. Somebody stole it off her porch and she was so heartbroken that she mised a day of work. I found a pink Specialized Crossroads and fixed it up for her. She rides to work just about every day.

Larry: Married, works part time. I had him buy a Diamondback that I'd found in a pawnshop and fixed it up for him. He rode it for a year and wanted a better bike so I found him a Schwinn Paramount and bought the Diamondback from him to give to

Tony: Single, no drivers license(!) walks to work. Gave him the Diamondback and he was so, so happy. I thought he was going to cry. He'll ride a bunch, I'm sure.

Brion: I found a Specialized Allez at the Goodwill and bought it for almost nothing. Brion asked me about getting a bike so I gave him the Allez. It had been spray-painted and removing the paint had also removed some of the original finish. He likes it so much that he's sent it away to be powder-coated. Now rides with clippless pedals.;)

Connie: Married with two boys. She wanted to ride with her boys and maybe to work now and then so I gave her a Specialized Rockhopper in perfect condition. We'll see how this one turns out.

This has taken place over the last two years and has brought me much pleasure.

Most people want two things: To lose weight and save money. Commuting does both.

Anyway if youy have some spare change and can fix up a bike, find someone to give it to and see how great that makes you feel.

That's an awesome story...thanks for sharing!

Now that is one of the coolest stories I've read in quite awhile. Kudos to you. Very inspiring read.

You are a better man than me. I am surrounded by freaking millionaires that would not use a bike for 5 miles to go to work and back.

Now that you've got all of those other people commuting you can start driving and still have a net lose in the amount of driving overall!

Just don't let them catch you. :)

(Seriously though, great job. You are an inspiring example to both people on this forum and the people you've gotten onto two wheels.)

That's great, Tdub! :beer:

I wonder if you could built that into an organization? If you are interested in doing so, that is.

You are very inspiring! Thank you for doing all that you do!

I'm having similar experiences. I find an old but decent bike left out for garbage at one house so I fix it up and give it to someone down the street who's looking for a bike to ride. I've now shifted numerous bikes around the neighborhood. Sometimes the original owner sees it spruced up and working perfectly and takes back an old friend. I have to get rid of them because I don't have room to store them anywhere (already more than a dozen bikes hanging in the garage and workshop). Overall the neighborhood is riding bikes more and more. It is definitely contagious. And I get the experience of working on all these bikes. When someone tries to pay me I tell them I only accept payment in liquid form. And sometimes I get a really expensive bottle of wine (it is a slightly upscale neighborhood), which is nice. It feels good too.

One of my good friends goes by the same philosophy, and is the reason I have a reliable commuter bike now. Keep up the good work! Hopefully I can do the same eventually.

Well Done

WOW! A lot of people just complain about people being too lazy to ride to work or to ride at all and you are doing something constructive about it! awesome!

Good man! In NYC we have an organization that takes your philosophy and applies it via a youth program: http://www.recycleabicycle.org/

Cheers to you man! Thats awesome... and a great story! Sounds like a wonderful chairty you have started! Its like the "Pay it forward!"

love it. great story. way to go!

Good job. I like the idea. I just don't go out much to see a bike at the curb.

Ok, I'm WAY too emotional. Reading this thread has me crying at my computer here at work.

I've had to stop reading the annual "BikeTown" issue of Bicycling magazine for the same reason.

This is the best story I've read in weeks. Thank You...for the story and for doing it.

you're a hero man!!:) :beer:

Wow, what a hero. You have a whole bucket of karma. Makes me want to go check out the goodwill around here.

A friend of my Dad's did this for me when I was about 11 and got me into a road worthy 5-speed racing bike instead of a banana seat tank. I've been using bicycles as transportation ever since, and will never forget that.

Your examples made it happen for people, and will probably multiply themselves in the future. I'm setting a goal right now to create one commuter this summer using your idea. Thanks.

That is excellent

Way to go Tdub -- you are an inspiration!

That was nothing short of inspiring. Way to go.

Maybe one day life will pay you back with a cushy job or great friends :) Or maybe it already has

That's incredible Tdub! Keep making the world a better place.

This is great. You've embodied the philosophy of being the change. I tip my hat (well, helmet) to you, sir.