Turning Points Installs 1st Public FREE Bike Repair Station in Manatee County

Bradenton, FL – Turning Points recently installed the 1st public free Bike Repair Station in Manatee County at the Bill Galvano One Stop Center located at 701 17th Ave West in Bradenton.

The Bike Repair Station includes all the tools necessary to perform basic bike repairs and maintenance, from changing a flat to adjusting brakes and derailleurs. 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.

This Bike Repair Station fulfills an essential need of Turning Points clients and the community. Bike transportation is the main form of transportation for many of our clients and enables them to travel to their places of employment, school, doctor’s appointments, etc. In addition to the clients of the Open Door Resource Program, the Bike Repair Station is also accessible to anyone in the community to use!

Turning Points distributed over 700 bikes this past year to the community. These bikes are donated throughout the year from individual donors and several organizations such as: Bradenton Police Department, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, IMG Academy, Colony Cove, Christ Church of Longboat Key, and Cedars Tennis Resort. Turning Points is fortunate to have volunteer bike mechanics who work diligently to repair and maintain the bikes to distribute. The new Bike Repair Station will now allow anyone to perform simple maintenance quickly themselves, which leaves more time for the volunteer bike mechanics to work on the newly donated bikes.

Turning Points is proud to offer this FREE service to our community. This Bike Repair Service Station was made possible through a generous donation from one of our dedicated volunteers. We look forward to seeing this utilized by Turning Points clients and everyone in the community.

Please contact Margi Dawson for more information at 941-747-1509 or mdawson@tpmanatee.org

About Turning Points

Turning Points and our Bill Galvano One Stop Center partners provide a remarkable variety of services designed to assist individuals and families on their path to financial stability and independence. Turning Points is the one stop shop for preventing and ending homelessness in our community. We provide day resource services (such as hot showers, laundry services, clothing, food), employment services, rental and utility assistance, veteran’s services (employment, housing and childcare), and free medical and dental care for the uninsured and underinsured. 10,827 people received help last year with critical services targeted to the essential needs of people in crisis. Turning Points can only provide this high standard of service because of our caring, compassionate volunteers and strong community support.

For more information, visit http://tpmanatee.org/