More than 150 freshly-tuned and repaired bicycles for teens and tweeners were given away at East York Town Centre today (Sunday, October 5, 2014). It was the third annual Morning Glory Cycling Club and Gears Bike Shop donation of bikes to the families of Thorncliffe Park. It is an event that seems to achieve many excellent goals, not least the delivery of a bicycle into the hands of a youth who might otherwise never have one. But it is also an important liaison between communities. Part of the process requires the new bicycle owners to learn about their vehicles and register them with the police in the event of theft. The kids got a free bicycle lock and helmet as well as the tuned-up two-wheeler. The lineup of teens and families began about noon in the shadow of the Target store at the north end of the centre. There were many police officers both regular and auxiliary to assist but the interaction was mostly social. Many Leasiders were there. Geoff Kettel, David and Lise Sparrow and others were present. At shortly after 1 p.m. the first in line was asked to come forward to register. The lucky guy (his name is Sailil) is seen upper left with his choice from the entire inventory of bikes. Two little girls in the centre picture watch apprehensively as their mother records her request for a bike. Everything worked out okay. Bottom row of photos shows a new bicycle owner getting some instruction on how to record the identification of his bike from a volunteer from the Evergreen Brickworks. Also present were members of the Pedal Heads school with a short bicycle course set up to give new riders some lessons. At bottom right is the man who conceived of this program. He is Fraser Chapman, president of the Morning Glory Cycling Club. He is seen with his children (from left) Sadie, Tiggy and Sullivan. Sourcing of the bicycle donations is done through the Gears service which receives bikes from the public and corporations. One firm making a donation was Apex Public Relations. Tara Benjamin, Agency Administrator of Apex, told The South Bayview Bulldog that her employer put together a collection of 16 bicycles for this year’s event.
