Earn-A-Bike Program Rolls Out in Watsonville

A new program founded by local nonprofit Green Ways to School is helping teens in Watsonville earn bicycles, gain skills, and make a difference. This summer, the Watsonville Earn-A-Bike Program is up and rolling at Pajaro Valley High School. Through the eight-session program, middle school students learn about bike mechanics, on- and off-road bike safety and earn a bicycle and other accessories. To earn the bikes, students participate in community service-learning projects such as helping with school gardens, monitoring wetland water quality, and volunteering at local youth-oriented events.

The program takes place in the Bike Tech classroom, a professional bike shop environment on the Pajaro Valley High School campus. Teen mentors, many of whom are graduates of the Bike Tech program, support middle school students to refurbish donated bikes, learn basic repairs, bike safety, and participate in on-bike field trips in Watsonville and beyond. Earn-A-Bike is made possible through a grant from Community Foundation Santa Cruz County and numerous community partners including Santa Cruz County Regional Occupational Program (ROP), Project Bike Trip, Trips for Kids, and donations from local bike shops and individuals.

Over the last few years, cycling has grown tremendously in Watsonville, especially among youth, but local community leaders cite the need for more access to bicycles. Roxanne Harrison, president of Trips for Kids Santa Cruz, says that this year they will take more than 300 Watsonville youth mountain biking. She estimates that at best, 10-20% of their participants own a functioning bicycle.

 “We launched the Earn-A-Bike Program because we want to get bikes to students in need, help young people gain leadership skills, and build a culture of safe cycling in Watsonville,” says Tawn Kennedy, director of Green Ways to School. “We want all our participants and mentors to realize that they are ‘roll’ models; to obey traffic laws, and spread the message that cyclists have both rights and responsibilities while on the road.”

The Earn-A-Bike program is still in need of bikes to go to local youth. To donate a bike or find out more information, contact Tawn Kennedy at (831) 428-5109 or GreenWays@PeoplePowerSC.org.

Green Ways to School, a project of People Power of Santa Cruz County, works to encourage local teens to use active transportation whenever possible through assemblies, presentations, group rides and other events. For more information, go to GreenWays2School.org