Rebecca Henderson never thought her bike would be the star of a community potluck for newcomers.

But it didn't take long for children to gather at her locked bike on Tuesday evening, wondering if they could ride it. Henderson volunteers with London's Cross Cultural Learner Centre and the group hosted a picnic at Gibbon's Park.

Henderson and her daughter pulled up on bicycles.

"The first interest came from one of the teenagers and the family that I specifically support with two other women. She just wanted to get on it and take it for a spin."

"I thought it was really interesting to watch as children queued in line and they negotiated how much time they would get with the bike. And the adults came over as well and they also made sure they had turns."

15-year old Esra Emin Haci was among the first to line up. In London just five months after leaving her native country of Syria, she says "if you have a bike you feel happy.' In Syria, she explains, the sight of girls riding bikes was frowned upon.

Who can help me get these kids a bike?! <a href="https://t.co/TSsJquNE6E">pic.twitter.com/TSsJquNE6E</a> —@rhbike

300 newcomers waiting for bikes

Esra is exactly the type of person a London initiative called 'Bikes for Newcomers" aims to help. Henderson also sits on the board of Cycle Link which runs the program. Volunteers collect used bikes, retrofit them and then donate them. So far the program has handed out 85 bikes, but there are another 300 bicycles on a wait list.

"For newcomer families there are multiple barriers to settling into a new environment and getting someone a bike is just one way to remove one of those barriers. We want newcomers to be integrated into our community. We expect newcomers to learn our language, we expect newcomers to get involved. And if they don't have a way to get around the city, it's really difficult."

And often, Henderson believes a bicycle can be the answer.

"A bike gets them to the museum. The bike can get them to the library, can get you a job or can get you to a classroom and school on time."

Henderson says a young man from Sudan, who was matched with a bike, said it meant he could reliably get to school on time, instead of relying on several buses.

In her slightly broken English, Esra explains the joy of two wheels.

New bike owner Esra Emin Haci (left) with Rebecca Henderson of London Cycle Link. (Kate Dubinski (CBC News))

"When I rode a bike I felt I was in heaven. Thanks for giving me this nice feeling and make me try again. Thank you to everyone who helped give us this feeling.'

Londoners wanting to donate either a bike or their time to help refurbish bicycles can contact "The Squeaky Wheel" at 809 Dundas Street.