Caroline Springs police are calling on residents to donate old bikes for its Fix the Cycle program.
People serving community-based orders involved in the program breathe new life back into old bikes which are then donated to underprivileged families.
Officer in charge Sergeant Robin Dampier said the drive started as a co-operation between the department of justice and Victoria Police to reuse bikes that had been handed in to them and not claimed.
“This is a program that’s been running for several years across Sunshine, Keilor Downs, Caroline Springs and Melton police divisions,” Sergeant Dampier said.
“We also accept bikes from Bacchus Marsh, Sunbury and a number of other service areas.”
He said the initiative benefited all involved.
“People who are doing community-based orders refurbish the bikes on the weekends by restoring them, painting them and fixing them up and then we donate them to sections of the community with underprivileged families.
“Those restoring the bikes are usually people who have got some mechanical expertise and they love it.
“It ends up being a win-win situation because the bikes get a second life, rather than mouldering away in the garage and being thrown out. It also gives the offenders in the justice system something productive to do.”
Sergeant Dampier would like more donations saying “the more bikes the merrier”.
“We’d like bikes in a whole range of sizes …most often we receive little ones that children have grown out of but we accept all sorts of bikes,” he said.
Details, contact Caroline Springs police on 9361 4700.
