Saturday’s BIKE LIFE festival at Heaven did not start until noon, but kids were at the park hours in advance awaiting their new-to-them bikes.

Youth who took a bike maintenance and safety class at BiCi Co. over April vacation were eligible to receive free upcycled bicycles, along with new helmets and lights.



The eighty bikes were prepared — given tune ups and safety inspections — by BiCi Co. staff and volunteers.

At the festival, four bike mechanics offered free services to anyone showing up with a bicycle in need of help. This included adjusting many seat posts so that youth were riding safely and comfortably, and fixing numerous flat tires.

Also at the festival were vendors and community organizations, including Compass Peacebuilders. Blue Hills Civic Association helped students enroll for Summer Youth Employment. The afternoon event was well attended in a space where those bikes could immediately be put to use.



