More than two years ago, Ted Hanson, Allen Turnbull, and others on the BikeWalk Williamsburg board began envisioning a new way that BikeWalk could reach out to the community: through a bicycle cooperative. A bicycle co-op receives donated bikes and retrieves discarded bikes, refurbishes them, and offers them to the community at discounted prices. For the Bicycle Co-Op of Williamsburg, those looking for bargain bikes and who can pay the asking price enable the Co-Op to meet the monthly expenses. This makes it possible for the Co-Op volunteers to pursue their real mission: providing bicycles at very low or no cost to individuals referred by social service agencies or trusted persons in the community. For those in need, a safe, reliable bicycle is often necessary transportation to hold down a job, or to get to school, or to get to medical appointments.
In November, the Co-Op opened a storefront in the James York Plaza on Merrimac Trail, a few hundred yards into York County from the Williamsburg city line. Open hours are limited during these “soft opening” months. But the immediate response from the community has been surprisingly strong! A Grand Opening will happen in early Spring.
“We sold 17 bargain bikes after opening to the public on November 13, plus we sold 3 to William & Mary students where we delivered to campus while working on the certificate of occupancy for the retail operation. Between our Christmas kids bike “give away” and free bikes to individuals who needed them including an Afghani immigrant family, we delivered an addtioinal 21 bicycles in 2021.” - Ted Hanson
Here are a few highlights from last year:
20+ bicycles provided at no cost
7 bicycles to Bacon Street Youth and Family Services to use in their outreach programs
3 discounted bicycles to William and Mary students
21 bicycles sold of various sizes and types
30+ community volunteers
To keep up with the Co-Op, follow the project on Instagram @bikewalkwilliamsburgva, and on BikeWalk Williamsburg Facebook page. To donate bicycles, or funds, or your time, or to ask questions, e-mail bikecoop@bikewalkwilliamsburg.org or call (757) 603-8594. You ca also visit their website at bikewalkwilliamsburg.org
The local online news source, WY Daily, ran an article on the Co-Op recently. Check it out by clicking below:
BikeWalk Williamsburg Opens Storefront for Donated Bicycle Refurbishing Project in James-York Plaza by WY Daily
Written by Trail Ambassadors: Andy Ballentine and Ted Hanson
