September 2013

Asbury Park Kids Give Bikes a Second Life

Bicycles on a Jersey Shore BoardwalkBicycles on a Jersey Shore Boardwalk

Bicycles on a Jersey Shore Boardwalk
New Jersey’s beach towns are fun places to ride bikes.

In Asbury Park, New Jersey, some kids spent their summer vacation working in a bicycle shop called Second Life Bikes. They didn’t work for money. They worked to earn a bike of their own. Any kid who works for 15 hours at Second Life Bikes earns a bike of his or her choice from the shop. The Second Life Bike shop is filled with bikes that were donated and need repairs. The kids who work there are giving the bikes a second chance, or a “second life.”

Second Life Bikes is a not-for-profit business run by Kerri Martin, a former investment banker. The business’s motto is “We rescue bikes. We fix bikes. We sell bikes. We earn bikes. We ride bikes. We love bikes.” At first, Martin thought that it might be hard to find young people who want to work on bikes. That hasn’t been the case. Kids keep spreading the word about Second Life Bikes. They bring their friends to the shop.

Many young people who have already earned their bikes want to keep working at Second Life. They want to learn more about repairing bicycles. They also like to feel that they are a part of something. They enjoy helping the community by helping other kids earn their own bikes. So far, about 400 kids have earned their bicycles at Second Life Bikes. Martin says they don’t just earn bikes. They also learn life skills and responsibility.

Image credit: ©Laura S. Kicey/Getty Images

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Question 1
How many hours do kids have to work to earn a bicycle at Second Life Bikes?





 
Question 2
What job did Kerri Martin do before she started Second Life Bikes?






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