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East Village Bicycle Non-Profit Introduces Membership Perks for Donations

By Serena Solomon | December 5, 2011 6:04pm
Natalie Feliciano works on a bike in the East Village store and workshop of Recycle-a-Bicycyle
Natalie Feliciano works on a bike in the East Village store and workshop of Recycle-a-Bicycyle
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DNAinfo/Serena Solomon

EAST VILLAGE — An East Village nonprofit group that trains young people to fix bicycles is introducing a membership donation system at its fundraiser Monday evening.

Recycle-a Bicycle will be holding its annual fundraiser at Housing Works at 126 Crosby St. in SoHo and unveiling a membership system that will allow supporters to benefit from its services. The organization, established in 1994, trains hundreds of young people each year in bicycle mechanics while providing teen riding programs and refurbished bikes to underprivileged kids.

"It is a way for people to get closer to us as an organization," said Patrick Tomeny, the 28-year-old Director of Youth Programs at the organization. "And you get some perks as well."

While Recycle-a-Bicycle has always accepted donations of any amount, the new tiered system allows for certain benefits to come with different levels of giving. For example, a "Friend" donation of $25 secures 12 months of bicycle tune-ups at a 15 percent discount, with 5 percent off all new bicycle accessories. An "Ambassador" level gift will get a Recycle-a-Bicycle hooded sweater and the same discounts as a "Friend".  The memberships also support a “Bike Bonanza” — a one-off day in each borough where kids are taught to ride and can swap their outgrown get-ups for bigger bikes.

"Sometimes the interns will complete the tune-ups, other times it will be our professional mechanics," said Tomeny, who is based at the nonprofit's East Village location on Avenue C, between East Fifth and Sixth streets.

"Regardless, it all gets checked by a professional mechanic," he said.

The organization began as an outgrowth of the advocacy group, Transportation Alternatives. It started out by teaching young people in the East Village and Lower East Side to restore discarded bicycles. The intern program has grown to include workshops in Long Island City and DUMBO, where Recycle-a-Bicycle now has its headquarters.

The organization has also expanded to encompass in-school programs where students can get credit for bicycle mechanic classes that are taught at workshops within the school. Recently the in-school program landed in its eighth location at Landmark High School in Chelsea.

Currently more than 100 youths are enrolled in the “Kids Ride Club” which introduces kids to the joy of riding while burning a few calories. The program starts each year in April and goes through September with the rides getting longer as the summer continues.

"We start small with rides from Long Island and around Central Park," said Tomeny. "The final ride is a 50-mile ride from Piedmont, New York."

Natalie Feliciano, a 20-year-old East Village resident, participated in the intern program four years ago and is now an assistant manager of the neighborhood location.

"I really did grow up here," Feliciano said of the nonprofit, as she worked on a bike with her hands covered in grease. “I learned to be independent. I learned responsibility.”

Feliciano is mentoring other young people and teaching them bicycle mechanics.

“It is great to see people getting their hands dirty,” she said.     

Recycle-a-Bicycle’s annual benefit begins at 6:30 p.m. on Monday Dec. 5 at the Housing Works Book Store and Cafe, 126 Crosby Street. Tickets are $25, which guarantees the minimum level of membership for the year.