Initiative provides free bikes to those in need in Moncton area for 13th year

Over the last 13 years, Krista Richard has given-out over a thousand bikes and trikes to those who need one.

Thirteen years ago, Krista Richard set off to find one lone bike a good home – a small gesture that ended up causing a huge ripple effect.

“I was biking through Europe and one of my friends messaged me and they said, ‘Do you know anyone that needs a bike? We have one here,’ and I said, ‘I’ll find someone,’” she said.

“I put it out on Facebook land and I had about 25 kids say, ‘I need a bike, I need a bike,’ and a lightbulb went off.”

That marked the start of Bikes and Trikes for Everyone – a community initiative that looks to connect gently used donated bikes with people in need in the Greater Moncton, N.B., area.

As of today, more than 1,000 bikes have been handed out, for free.

“When I first started there was, you know, 50 to 60 a year. Last year we gave out 350, or close to 350, and there was still some on the waiting list,” said Richard.

Richard has been an avid biker her entire life and it was a tradition she wanted to make sure everyone got the chance to experience.

“I didn’t get my drivers licence until I was 22. I biked every place and since then, I’ve biked through Europe, Vietnam, Cambodia, Holland, Belgium and I’m hoping to go to Sri Lanka next year,” she said.

“My dad was a travelling salesman, so I had to take my bike everywhere like if I played sports, I would bike to Kelly Field or I would bike here, bike there, and I think it’s the same thing. A lot of these parents don’t have transportation or they want to bike with their kids so I give bikes to the whole family.”

Richard says the biggest demand is bikes for middle-school-aged children, however, with the goal of providing a sense of freedom to everyone, she accepts donations of all sizes.

“When the kids get on the bike, it’s free. It’s freedom. They get two or three friends together and they go explore their neighbourhood which a lot of kids don’t do anymore,” she said.

“A lot of people ask me for bikes to get to work, like a lot of our new Canadians don’t have their car yet, so they’ll say, ‘Can I have a bike? I just started a new job.’”

Three years ago, Vernon Doucet joined the team, helping to fix up gently used donations before they find a new rider.

“Every week she would give me 10 bikes and I would bring her 10 bikes fixed and I didn’t expect to have to bring more, but it just kept going and it never stopped since then,” he said.

He first crossed paths with Richard when she came to buy a children’s bike.

“She explained to me her program and how she was receiving bikes that needed to be fixed, but she didn’t know how to fix them all, so I saw an opportunity to help,” he said.

Doucet says he’s probably helped fix more than 300 bikes to date.

The waitlist opens in April and usually wraps up at the end of September, but it all depends on how many gently used bike donations they have to give out.

“The kids are really excited, but it’s to see the parents,” said Richard.

“I’ve had so many parents just give me a big hug. I had one parent in tears, they just had come from Ukraine, and they had nothing and they said, ‘This bike has given my child a taste of childhood again.’”

This year’s waitlist opened on Monday and there’s already 20 people hoping to receive a new ride and a new sense of freedom through Bikes and Trikes for Everyone.

“The more we do this, the more I get excited because it’s a really good feeling and it’s nice to inspire others as well, that the small things you can do can make a big impact,” said Doucet.

Officials say the goal this year is that everyone who needs a bike receives one.

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