Southern Tier Bike Project News
In This Section:

Here is what you'll find in the News section of our website:

  1. Project Highlights
  2. Testimonials
  3. STBP visits BOCES
  4. Ins and Outs; Bikes and Bucks
Follow bikeproject on Twitter

Southern Tier Bike Project News

Project Highlights

February 20, 2012
  • We received 11 bikes from the Endicott Police Department. These are bikes 77-81, 84 and 86-90. You can check them out on the inventory page. We've put most of them in the "in-process" section until we can take a closer look and see what kind of shape they are in.
  • We received 6 bikes from Babcock Bicycles. These are bikes 74, 75, 76 82, 83 and 85 on the Inventory page. Next time you're in, tell Kevin and John we appreciate their support.
  • Newly received bikes 080 and 081 have been donated to Vestal BOCES. You can read about their program in the "Testimonials" section of this page below.
  • Bike 053 was given to Leah, a BU student living on Binghamton's west side. We hope she enjoys her new transportation.
  • We got a request for a bike from another BU student, Alexandra, for transportation to/from work. We were able to provide a bike that wasn't in the Inventory yet. Thanks Steven for fixing Alex up. We hope the bike works well for her.
  • Bike 087 was fixed up by Rob and delivered to Joshua, a BU freshman who wanted a means to explore outside the campus and bus routes. Good luck Joshua, we'll be watching for you on the road.
  • One of our recent arrivals, Bike 090, has some significant mechanical issues, so we have removed it from the inventory. It will be used for spare parts.
February 4, 2012
  • The latest edition of the Newsletter is now available by clicking HERE.
  • The classic 1950 Humber restoration is complete. Check it out on the Bike Art page. It really turned out quite nice.
January 16, 2012
  • We received a very generous $50 donation. Thanks for helping keep us afloat Linda!
  • On Dec 16th, we were able to provide a nice 24" bike (Bike 051) to a young girl in Endicott via Catholic Charities.
  • Also on Dec 16th, we were able to provide a nice BMX bike (Bike 071)to a 12 year old boy, again via Catholic Charities.
  • Just before Christmas, we got a call from the man who got Bike 028 for his granddaughter about a year ago. At the time, she was just learning to ride and this nice BMX was the perfect size for her to start riding on the rail trail. Well, it turns out that she has outgrown the bike and Tim wanted to trade it in on another one. We were happy to get Bike 070 all fixed up so Tim's granddaughter could have it for Christmas. We even had a nice Christmas bag to wrap it in, thanks to a a previous donor.
  • So, because of the above, Bike 028 is back in the inventory. It was very well cared for and is in "like new" condition.
  • We spent $11 on various sizes of wire brushes to attack the rust on some of our more challenging bikes.
  • In early January, Bert, from Union Center, stopped by to drop off two interesting bikes. One is a 1950's Columbia Twosome. This 26" tandem (Bike 072) should be a fun ride for a couple who live on flat ground. It's very heavy and it's a single speed. Hopefully we can get some of the rust scrubbed off and get the rear hub repaired and it will be ready to go. The other one we got from Bert is Bike 073, a solid Murray 10 speed from the 60's or 70's. This one needs tires and cables as well as a lot of elbow grease to get rid of dirt and rust. It should be decent transportation once we get it done though.
December 12, 2011
  • The Shopping section of the Bike Art page has been updated to include additional categories and more cool cycling related stuff. Check it out. Any proceeds earned through our association with Amazon benefit the Southern Tier Bike Project.
  • We found a front wheel for Bike 043, the Western Flyer, and it turned out to be a very nice machine when all cleaned up and adjusted. Emily, a BCC student in need of transportation, is now the proud owner of this bike.
  • Thanks to our friends at Babcock Bicycles, we have two more 24" girls bikes in our inventory. Rick from Endicott was looking for a worthwhile place to give away two 24" girls bikes he had been storing in his garage for quite some time. Keven put him in touch with us and we've added Bike 069 and Bike 070 to our Inventory. Thanks so much Rick and Kevin!
  • Steven Bard recently gave us a nice 20" BMX that we already have a request for. At the moment Bike 071 is in the inventory but we're holding it for Craig at Catholic Charities.
  • We spent $8 on some BMX hand grips for Bike 071.
October 31, 2011

As we look back over our first 2 years of operation, it is both exciting and scary to see the trajectory we are on in regard supplying bikes to the community. As you can see from the chart at the bottom of this page, we have given away significantly more bikes this year than last year. During all of 2010, we donated 15 bikes. So far this year, we have given away 66, with 2 months left to go. For the most part, we have been able to satisfy all requests. Unfortunately, if we see a similar 4X increase next year, we probably won't be able to come up with over 260 bikes.

Generally, we have been trying to fill requests as they are received. If demand outpaces supply next year, we may have to come up with some kind of qualification criteria. We will be considering options over the winter, so please let us know if you have any ideas. You can e-mail your comments to Webmaster@SouthernTierBikeProject.com and we'll put your ideas in the pot as we stir it.

In the mean time, now is a good time to make that donation of $$ or Bikes. Winter time brings prime bicycle restoration weather to the Southern Tier, so bring them on.

Special thanks go out to the Southern Tier Bicycle Club and Steven Bard for their efforts to make the first 2 years of the Southern Tier Bike Project a success. We wouldn't be where we are without their support.

It's been a few weeks since the news and inventory have been updated, but lots has happened. Perhaps that's why I haven't gotten around to doing an update. At any rate, here's the latest:

  • We gave Bike 046 to a BU student. Hopefully it will be a suitable replacement for his stolen bike.
  • Another BU student picked up a bike that was not yet in the inventory. We hope David enjoys his "new" wheels.
  • A BU student who enjoys a combination of on and off road riding received bike CS017. Hopefully Kevin will get many enjoyable miles from his new machine.
  • Sasha, another BU student got a nice machine from Augie via Steve. From all reports, she loves her new bike.
  • Yet another BU student, Michael, picked up a non-inventory bike from Steve.
  • We received a "like new" Schwinn Skyliner from my friend Andrew. Before this bike even hit the inventory, we matched it up to a BCC student who just moved back to the area to begin a new career. We're sure Christina will love this bike for some time to come. Thanks so much Andrew.
  • A Binghamton resident donated some BMX bike frames, wheels and other various parts. Thanks so much Devin.
  • A BU student stopped by to pick up Bike 056. Since it was a beautiful day, Ray immediately took it for an off road ride at the BU nature preserve.
  • A young man from Binghamton stopped by Steve's house and picked up a nice Mountain Bike that was not in the inventory. We're sure Ryan is enjoying his new bike.
  • And still another BU student scored a non-inventory bike from Steve. Enjoy the bike Sarah.
  • A high school special education teacher who recently moved to Binghamton received another non-inventory bike from Steve. We hope David gets a lot of use out of his bike and also that he finds a permanent teaching position soon.
  • A BU student stopped by Steve's house and picked out a non-inventory bike to get him around campus. Thanks for helping Rong out Steve!
  • A young Binghamton woman requested a bike to get to work and around town. We were able to provide Melissa with a non-inventoried bike. We hope she is putting it to good use.
  • Bike 068 found a new home via Broome County Catholic Charities. This was a very nice bike and we're sure the recipient will enjoy it.
  • We spent $51 on 3 tires and some handle bar tape.
October 6, 2011
  • We received a very nice 26" Free Spirit PhysioFit women's bike this morning. Thanks so much Mike and Cindy. Bike 068 should find a new home soon.
October 3, 2011
  • Bike CS027 has found a new home with a very happy BCC student. We hope Mary enjoys her new mode of transportation. Thanks, Steve, for helping get her on her way.
  • Robb, a BU student, stopped by and picked up Bike 052. At the same time he dropped off Bike 067, a nice 24" Montgomery Ward road bike. This bike is in pretty good shape and should be ready soon. Thanks so much Robb.
  • We have now received 100 donated bikes. We have distributed nearly 70 of them. Thank you to the many of you who have contributed to our efforts.

More Highlights

Testimonials

Normally, we give bikes away and we have no contact with the recipients. That's fine with us, however it is especially nice when we get feedback.

We recently received the following e-mail from the grandfather of one of our young recipients:

Gary; Just wanted to let you know how thrilled the little girl is that received bike #028. She and Grampie went out yesterday and she started riding it for the first time. She has always ridden with training wheels. Within an hour she was riding and having so much fun. We were in an old abandoned parking lot and she got confident enough that she made 11 1/2 laps before she had to put a foot down. She was so proud of herself. This morning the two of them went to the rail trail and she rode half the distance of the trail and then back. She is feeling so good about herself that I just wanted you to know what a wonderful thing you are doing for people. She wouldn't have a bike if it wasn't for this project.

Thank you so much for being such an understanding human being. She told me this morning that it was so nice of you to give her a bike for free, She knows she wouldn't have a bike, because her Mom can't afford one. Now she is ridng and having so much fun. I wish you could see the smile on her face. She told me we have to go tomorrow morning too. haha

We also received a very nice e-mail and some photos of the triplets that we were able to provide 20" bikes for.

Gary, we can not say thank you again enough, you and your cause have made the Kelly Triplets the happiest children in practically the entire upstate NY area! Thought that we'd pass along a picture of them with their toothless smiles as the were able to take a 15 second break from riding their new bikes just long enough for a quick snapshot! Keri, myself (Don), and the Kelly triplets (Madison, Makayla, and Tristan) will never forget you!

STBP visits BOCES

On Friday February 25th, the Southern Tier Bike Project took a field trip to BOCES "Recycle Bike" program. This activity, run at the Vestal BOCES Learning Center, located in the old Vestal Junior High school building near five corners, teaches bicycle repair along with bicycle riding to interested, qualified Learning Center students.

Instructor Dan Wells says the program started some years ago and has developed steadily. He accepts donations of bikes in any condition as well as bike related parts and tools. Mr. Wells and his students often find abandoned bikes along the road. Bikes in the worst condition are used for salvage parts, while the good ones get finished to quite usable condition. Some of the fixed up bikes get ridden by students and staff on outings to the Rail to Trail and other destinations. Other bikes are given away when people request them. So far Mr. Wells has been able to meet all requests.

People interested in donating or requesting a bike can call Dan Wells at (607) 763-3644.

Following are some examples of the bikes the Recycle Bike program had available when we took the visit:


20" BMX style bike with coaster brakes

Motor Bike style with rear hand brakes

24" 10 Speed Magna Mountain Bike

Ins and Outs; Bikes and Bucks

This section will be updated periodically to show where the Southern Tier Bike Project stands. We will report income and expenses as well as inflow and outflow of bikes.


Date Income Expenses Bikes In Bikes Out
Oct 2009 $31 $12 3 0
Nov 2009 $30 $47 3 0
Dec 2009 $0 $0 2 0
Jan 2010 $20 $1 1 1
Feb 2010 $0 $11 0 0
Mar 2010 $0 $0 0 0
Apr 2010 $0 $0 3 0
May 2010 $0 $0 1 0
Jun 2010 $0 $50 2 0
Jul 2010 $110 $40 1 8
Aug 2010 $0 $18 5 0
Sep 2010 $125 $10 1 0
Oct 2010 $0 $60 6 1
Nov 2010 $20 $81 5 3
Dec 2010 $70 $25 4 2
Jan 2011 $20 $23 7 0
Feb 2011 $500 $37 1 1
Mar 2011 $0 $174 3 2
Apr 2011 $75 $31 5 10
May 2011 $90 $85 6 6
Jun 2011 $60 $148 19 9
Jul 2011 $0 $0 6 5
Aug 2011 $75 $114 10 15
Sep 2011 $0 $0 5 4
Oct 2011 $0 $51 11 15
Nov 2011 $0 $0 1 1
Dec 2011 $50 $8 3 3
Jan 2012 $0 $11 2 0
Feb 2012 $0 $0 11 6
Total $1276 $1037 127 91
If you like what we do, click the coffee cup above and buy us a coffee (or two or three or four).
Design template downloaded from free website templates.