A letter from Aaron, Fayrouz, & Ian
In 2025, Community Bike Works will celebrate 30 years of Earn a Bike. Since 1995, our programs allow students to earn a bike of their own while they also:
- Build protective relationships with adult mentors in a safe space;
- Learn life and STEAM skills;
- Learn healthy living habits that support physical and mental health; and
- Learn to be engaged citizens and leaders in their community.
Here is how three students describe their Earn a Bike journey:
Aaron, 11, Easton
COMING TO COMMUNITY BIKE WORKS
I know about Bike Works because two people came to talk to me and my brother about activities we could do after school instead of fighting with each other. I decided to come, and it was a little bit scary because I didn’t know a lot of people. But later that day, I started to know people, talking to them and becoming their friends. The first day we got to know everybody, got to talking, and then we started learning about bikes. We talked about what the bike tools are and how to use them, and then we learned bike parts. So then we got our bikes and we started repairing them, and then a bit after that, we tried them out in the parking lot.
FIXING & RIDING BIKES
The bike that I picked, the brakes didn’t work. We had to take off the fender and replace the cable. I liked fixing the cable because it was fun and I got to take things apart. I’m good with engineering and technology. I’m good at taking things apart and building things. My favorite part is taking things apart.
Then we started going on rides during Drop-in. I think the first big ride we went to was the D&L trail. And then later we went to Bethlehem Skate Park. I liked riding bikes there and trying to do a wheelie. Riding my bike makes me feel happy, calm, and relaxed. Mostly I ride when I’m with Bike Works. One time since I’ve come to Bike Works I talked to a man who was going to throw a bike away and he said I could have it. It was missing a brake but I knew how to fix it. Still to this day I ride that bike. I rode it all the way to the store to get Nana’s chips.
BONDING OVER BIKES
One of the most important things I’ve learned at Bike Works is bonding--getting to know people and getting along. Fixing our bikes and being at Earn a Bike was fun and exciting, and I think it was fun for everybody else, to get off their electronics and do something. Before Bike Works, I had poor behaviors. But since Bike Works, I’ve been behaving and I’ve been looking forward to coming down here every day. My brother and I behave so we can come here. Nella and Yotzael taught us to think about our actions, to think before we do. That way we have a better chance of coming here.
Nella told us about how in the future, we can help other kids learn how to ride bikes. I like to see people happy and to see them smile, because it just makes me happy.
GOOD FOR KIDS…& PARENTS
Community Bike Works is a place for kids who don’t know how to ride, or who don’t have bikes. It’s a place for kids to hang out after school and in the summer, and it’s free. And it’s good for parents to get free time.
Fayrouz, 11, Keck Park
People Can’t Argue Over Bikes
I have participated in Earn a Bike, Girls’ Earn a Bike, and I have volunteered in Junior Earn a Bike. The most memorable part is the first time we could ride our bikes in Earn a Bike. I kept falling, and Ms. Reilly and Ms. Sadie encouraged me. I kept trying and trying, and then I got it. Afterwards, when I got my bike, my mom was so excited. She said, you can do it, finally!
Ever since I came to Bike Works, I feel like my health has improved a lot because riding my bike is like a sport to me and it’s something that I want to do now. Also I feel like my mental health has also improved. Before I came here I was always shy and didn’t talk much, and when I came here, people were so nice I could talk and not be judged.
I have learned a lot here about how to be myself, how to help others, and how to ride and fix a bike. Learning to fix a bike is a crucial skill that you will use throughout your life. I think people can’t argue over bikes. People can talk about bikes and just say, yeah, that’s cool. It’s something you can talk about and be grateful that you have.
Ms. Sadie asked me to volunteer in Junior Earn Bike. In the first lesson, I got to meet everyone, and they were learning about parts of a bike and how to use tools. When kids would ask to be in my group, it made me feel that I was important to these kids—they were trying to have me be their little teacher, and I loved that. Now that I have volunteered in JrEAB I feel like I have made a big change in the kids’ lives that I taught. They now come up to me at school and hug me and it’s just so heartwarming to me. It’s good to see that I’ve done something.
When I turn 12, I will volunteer in Earn a Bike. I think it will be exciting, because when I did Earn a Bike with other youth volunteers, they seemed super excited to be there, and said they loved it.
Ian, 12, Franklin Park
A REAL-LIFE SITUATION
When I first moved here, Key’sean told me about Bike Works. I decided I should probably try it out so I could get a free bike. All the staff was very nice and accepting, even though I was brand new to Allentown, not just Bike Works. They were very helpful. My old bike would break all the time, and they would help me fix it, before I did Earn a Bike, because I didn’t know how to fix it yet.
Then I did Earn a Bike. I just couldn’t wait to get to the next class. As soon I got home, and in school too, I would think about what was going to happen in the next class. I especially liked Tubes & Tires, because I wanted to learn how to do that. I have a bike at my mom's house and the tube was popped, and I thought I couldn’t fix it. I went back and took all my knowledge and applied it to a real-life situation.
Since I moved here, I didn’t know anyone, so I had to make friends. Bike Works taught me how to do that. I hope to help with Bike Works’ vision plan and the new Franklin Park building. And probably become a staff member later on.
