LiveSmart BC Community Hero
U-Fix-It brings bikes to the community
Dave Ehle and the U-Fix-It Bike Works crew in Duncan like to think they're cleaning up the Cowichan Valley, one backyard at a time.
A Canadian Mental Health Association program, U-Fix-It Bike Works, started about three years ago and, because of their efforts to protect the environment, have been nominated for a LiveSmart award. And that goes to all its volunteers who've formed an eclectic crew that continue to produce new, funky-decorated and painted bikes from old bicycles and scrap pieces of metal.
"One of our main focuses is to do as much as we can using recyclable things," said CMHA Family Therapist, Child and Youth Coordinator, Dave Ehle. "Recycled cycles, I think was one of our best slogans."
Since U-Fix-It started, they've been able to grow, mostly through word-of-mouth and with a keen interest from local children and adults, to an operation that is able to put out two to three bikes onto Duncan's streets in a week.
They've called a recent project Community Bikes. Back in July, the U-Fix-It crew decided they wanted to try out a tradition in Duncan that's popular all over Europe. Strapped on the painted-blue bikes' sides are signs that read: Community bike. Free use in Duncan. Do not lock. Leave bike for next person, and, provided by U-Fix It. And, so far, 20 bikes have made it onto Duncan's streets.
Ehle and the crew always welcome people to drop off their old bikes at their shop, which is located on Trunk Road in Duncan.
"We live for recycled bikes," Ehle said. "People show up with their old bikes, bikes they've dug out of the prickle bushes in their backyard, and the kids and I will carry them in and it's just a lot of fun. If you get the right group of kids, it's a feeding frenzy. There are always kids going 'mine, mine, mine'."
The U-Fix-It program is open to anyone and there are no costs involved.
"Someone could come in here penniless and leave with a bike," Ehle said.
And they're also starting to see more people, instead of driving cars, using their bikes or their "creations" or even better "masterpieces."
"It's great, because they're not ending up in a landfill somewhere," Ehle said. "They're being put to good use."
