Pleasanton Bike Build: 800 Needy East Bay Kids Will Ride In Style

PLEASANTON, CA — More than 800 East Bay kids in need will have a new mode of transportation soon thanks to some 300 volunteers who gathered Saturday at the Alameda County Fairgrounds to assemble and distribute bikes and helmets to local charities. Livermore-based nonprofit Kids Bike Lane spent nearly $100,000 on the materials, said nonprofit co-chair Cathy Griggs.

Families, companies, churches, civic organizations, and Boy and Girl Scouts troops were among those who pitched in at the fourth annual build. A "green team" was assigned to flatten empty boxes for recycling, and crews arrived with empty trucks every 15 minutes from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to haul away new bikes, she said.

"Volunteers all come with such a willingness to serve and give up a good portion of the day to help make dreams come true," Griggs said.

Kids Bike Lane purchases larger bikes — 20, 24 or 26 inches — that tend to be pricier, but can be used by kids for a longer period of time. Kids outgrow bikes quickly and larger bikes best serve kids who need help getting to school or an after-school job, she said.

"Our mission is to get kids on bikes so that they can lead a healthy lifestyle," Griggs said.

Many kids who receive bikes can't afford to get them fixed, so Kids Bike Lane also runs summertime repair clinics.

The organization collects donations all year long for its bike build. Corporate sponsors, civic groups and grants from foundations also supplement its budget for the event, Griggs said.

Livermore's First Presbyterian Church, the Rotary Club of Livermore, Therma, Altamont Cruisers and Livermore Cyclery are among the organizations and companies that make Kids Bike Lane's work possible, she said. The nonprofit is a grassroots organization that really relies on the support of the East Bay community.

San Leandro-based ACCO Engineered Systems is one of the most recent East Bay businesses to participate this year. Their team of ten people and a dog dog built 40 of the bikes.

Thanks to supporters, she said, "kids will have a wonderful Christmas."

See more photos of the bike build: