This year’s River Forest Bike Exchange was the most successful one to date, organizers said.
River Forest families came out bright and early on a Saturday morning to participate not only in finding their kids new bikes for the summer but also to building a stronger sense of community.
Mani Taneja, River Forest resident and parent at D90, has been participating in the bike exchange for the past three years.
“Kids’ bike sizes change every year. It’s the perfect opportunity within the community to give and also find the next bike for my kids,” Taneja, father of four, said. “We are always exchanging and moving to the next size. This is an amazing place and a great opportunity for kids to see their friends and exchange bikes with each other.”
The event, in its fourth year, was held at Roosevelt Middle School April 13.
According to Lindsey Silver, chair for D90’s PTO Green4Good committee at Lincoln Elementary, 183 bikes went to a new home and $1,595 was raised for the River Forest School District 90’s Green4Good committee.
Last year, the event raised $1,125.
Aside from monetary success, this year saw 273 bikes donated in comparison with last year’s donation of 200 bikes.
Silver said they had 158 bikes dropped off in the week leading up to the event, which in itself was “pretty wild.”
“Even on Friday, the night before the event, we had 35 [bikes] dropped off,” Silver said. “On Friday night, I had 13 of us at my house and everyone was working on the bikes.”
The volunteers checked bikes, blew up tires, fixed handlebars, pressure washed — readying as many bikes as they could into tip-top riding shape.
John Grant, a volunteer, was at the event helping out.
“It’s a great event. Sustainability. Community. And any bikes that don’t get used get taken to Working Bikes,” Grant said. “It is just great in many ways.”
The servicing of bikes has truly increased Silver’s appreciation for not only the event itself but those who donate their time to get the bikes ready. What her husband paid $30 to have a local repair shop fix, people are able to have done for free at the event, she said.
“We are doing that on a complimentary basis for all of these bikes,” she said. “I think I saw the value even more this year, with what we are doing, and especially in the mechanic part of the volunteers.”
“Leftover” bikes were donated to Working Bikes, a full-service bike shop whose goal is to provide affordable refurbished bikes and accessories to local communities.
The nonprofit helps provide donated bikes across the globe, bringing reliable and sustainable transportation to people who need it. According to its website, they have given over 100,000 bikes across the globe “new life.”
The River Forest Police Department also were on hand to help residents register their bikes. More than 80 were registered, compared with last year’s 40.
While the program continues to grow, Silver said she hopes to not lose the “grassroot neighborhood feel” and be able to stay “community focused.”
“I want it to feel like a community event,” Silver said. “I like that there is no corporate feel to it whatsoever.”
Next year’s River Forest Bike Exchange is set for April 12, 2025.