Contributed by: Michaela Bouck at yourhub.com on 4/3/2008

Community Cycles teaches San Juan Del Centro kids how to refurbish bikes and keep as their own.

Community Cycles recently wrapped an eight-week Earn-A-Bike program for children at the Family Learning Center in the San Juan Del Centro area. At the conclusion, five kids rode off with bikes, know-how and gear to keep them on the road. The program is for girls and boys ages 10 to 14 who are enrolled in the Family Learning Center's elementary after school program. The program is led by representatives from Community Cycles, a nonprofit organization that educates and advocates for the safe use of bicycles. Earn-A-Bike consists of a weekly class that teaches bike safety instruction; practice rides; bike repair instruction; mechanical, map reading and ride planning skills; and a general interest in bicycles.

At the end of the most recent program, Martin De Santiago, Jordan Thomas, Isaac Gonzales, Jose Lopez and Jose Bautista were the five graduates who were able to refurbish a bike to keep as their own. They also rode away with a new shirt, helmet, tool box with everything needed to fix a flat tire, and more cool gear.

"Community Cycles has worked with the Family Learning Center and its programs since the shop was established in the summer of 2006," said Rich Points, director of Community Cycles. "Our goal is not only to get kids excited about cycling but also to help them understand that the bicycle is an inexpensive, viable, easily maintainable way to get around town. If we do our job right, when they come of driving age, they may prefer riding a bike instead of driving a car."

The Family Learning Center, 3164 34th St., was founded in 1981 with a mission to help families break out of the poverty cycle, learn English, succeed in school, avoid drugs and prepare for a lifetime of education and productivity.

New Earn-A-Bike classes begin in April. For more information, please contact Rich Points at Community Cycles, 720-565-6019. To learn more about Community Cycles, visit their Web site at www.communitycycles.org.

Five kids recently graduated from Community Cycles' Earn-A-Bike program in the San Juan Del Centro area. The eight-week program teaches kids proper bike maintenance and rules of the road, and they are able to ride away with a free bike at the end of the program. From left, Martin De Santiago, Jordan Thomas, Isaac Gonzales, Jose Lopez and Jose Bautista are the proud new owners of refurbished bikes.

Michaela Bouck works with Community Cycles.