Manatee’s first free, public bike repair station opens at Turning Points

Thanks to a donor who felt there was a pressing need, Manatee County’s first free, public, outdoor bike repair station is up and running at Turning Points at the Bill Galvano One Stop Center.

“One of our dedicated volunteers just felt our clients would benefit greatly for having this available for free at basically any time, so he donated the item and the installation,” Margi Dawson, a Turning Points spokeswoman, said Wednesday of the thin, metal structure.

The station, or kiosk, is available to any one in the public who needs emergency do-it-yourself bike repair, Dawson added.

The station is at 701 17th Ave. W., Bradenton, and includes all the tools necessary to perform basic bike repairs and maintenance, from changing a flat tire to adjusting brakes and derailleurs, said Jim Hassett, who is manager of Turning Points’ critical bike “pit stop” where clients come in during working hours to get treatment for their ailing bicycles, which are often their only means of transportation.

“When I came here close to 20 years ago, Martha Childress was the leader and I asked her why she wanted me to fix up old bikes,” Hassett said. “She told me, ‘If you had to walk every place you need to go you would ride an old bike.’ ”

Manatee County government on Wednesday applauded Turning Points’ new addition and indicated it will soon add a second kiosk, said Deidra Greene-Larkins, in the county’s Redevelopment & Economic Opportunity Department.

“Congratulations on installing the very first bike repair station in Manatee County,” Greene-Larkins wrote to Turning Points recently. “That is absolutely amazing and is a much needed initiative. I was recently awarded a grant from the Knights Foundation to install another bike repair kiosk here in Manatee County.”

The placement of the second station is yet to be decided, Greene-Larkins indicated in her letter.

A boon to those without cars

The bike repair station even has a bar code so someone with a smart phone can access “how to” information on bike repair.

The tools are securely attached to the stand with stainless steel cables and tamper-proof fasteners.

Hanging the bike from the hanger arms allows the pedals and wheels to spin freely while making adjustments. An air bike pump is also included at the station and is necessary to keep bicyclists’ tires filled with air.

Turning Points distributed more than 700 bikes this past year to the community, Dawson said.

Turning Points’ bikes are donated throughout the year from individual donors and several organizations such as the Bradenton Police Department, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, IMG Academy, Colony Cove, Christ Church of Longboat Key, and Cedars Tennis Resort, Dawson said.

“This new Bike Repair Station will allow anyone to perform simple maintenance quickly themselves, which leaves more time for our volunteer bike mechanics to work on the newly donated bikes,” Dawson said.

“We are fortunate to have volunteer bike mechanics who work diligently to repair and maintain the bikes to distribute and we could use more volunteers for bikes and other areas,” Dawson added.

This story was originally published May 17, 2017 at 11:51 AM with the headline "Manatee’s first free, public bike repair station opens at Turning Points."