Refurbished Bikes Expand Transportation and Recreation Opportunities for Taos Youth

Many Taos County youth lack access to a bike or a safe place to ride, which can make it harder to participate in programs that build confidence, teach safety skills, and offer independent ways to get around.

To expand these opportunities, the Bike Program Director at FIT Taos developed a solution and reached out to LOR. Her idea? Repair and refurbish a large collection of donated bikes so that youth across the county can reliably participate in bike-based programs—whether or not they own a bike at home.

With support from LOR, FIT Taos will purchase parts and complete repairs on 85–90 donated bicycles, making them safe and ready for use by approximately 100 additional youth each year. The refurbished fleet will support after-school bike clubs, summer camps, school-based bike rodeos, and the Building Bikes Building Futures program at Taos Day School.

Working alongside Taos Municipal Schools, local charter schools, Taos Pueblo Day School, and other community partners, FIT Taos will provide loaner bikes to any young person who needs one. Through these programs, youth will learn bike maintenance, practice safe riding, and build independence—and some participants will ultimately earn refurbished bikes of their own to keep.