PASCO, Wash. – It doesn’t matter if people have picked up a bike for the first time or have been riding for years. This might be in your Wheelhouse for those who love to ride bicycles. A local nonprofit is trying to impact the community through cycling.
Wheelhouse Community Bikes is looking to give back healthily and inexpensively. Maggie Shearer, the President of Wheelhouse Community Bike, said she’s been with Wheelhouse since 2019 with a mission to increase biking in our community.
“We support the community through our bike recyclers,” said Shearer. “Those bikes that are repaired are then donated to the community through various organizations. We teach bike safety, bike skills, commuting and bike mechanics.”
According to Shearer, Columbia Basin College donated a space in the V building on campus to teach the community how to repair bikes if they want to know how.
Shearer said the bikes go out to organizations such as Kadlec Crisis Center, many schools in the area and local police jurisdictions. Through these donations, Joshua Burbank got involved with the nonprofit.
Burbank said Wheelhouse was dropping bikes off at his son’s school, and he knew immediately this was something he wanted to be a part of.
“I fix bikes and find people to give bikes to,” said Burbank. “I’ve been doing a lot of the calling to the schools and the police stations. Creating relationships there and getting some bikes out to people that need it.”
Burbank said he’s a former BMX racer and an accident while he was practicing nearly cost him his life. This is the reason he wanted to get involved with Wheelhouse.
Burbank said he’s still learning how to do repairs himself but thinks it’s essential for the community to have another transportation option.
“It makes you healthier,” said Burbank. “It makes you happier and there’s just something special about being a part of a community that bikes together.”
Shearer said there are ups and downs when it comes to Wheelhouse, but feels like they’re making a difference in the community.
“We’re providing transportation to people who need it,” she said. “We’re providing independence and responsibility to children who don’t have those kinds of opportunities to be outside and active.”
Shearer said this year, the nonprofit donated over 200 bikes to those in need.
