Organization History
What is your biggest memory from being a youngster?  For Kurt Clark -- lifelong cyclist and founder of B4TPS -- it is the fun summer days in the early 1970s straddling the seat of a bicycle doing nothing more than goofing off with friends.  Kurt's small neighborhood in Shoreline WA grew larger simply by hopping on his bike and pedaling to some destination.  Convenience stores and cheeseburgers were only a few pedals away, and warm summer nights were just more fun with two wheels.  A popular attraction in the Puget Sound area has always been Hydroplane Racing on Lake Washington; during that time of year bikes all over the neighborhood became impromptu tow vehicles for homemade boats pulled with string.  Bicycling helped Kurt learn early on the importance of maintenance, security, and safety -- lessons which have tempered his current attitudes about cycling in general as well as safe riding practices.  Bicycling remained an important part of his life as he got older, and Kurt bought his first mountain bike in 1992 to take advantage of the local trail system.  One bike turned into two bikes, and the lure of the spoked wheel had taken hold.  By 1996 he was commuting to work by bike and working part-time in a local bike shop to support the various bicycle projects he had brewing in his garage. 

About that time Kurt got the idea that all kids should be able to have as much fun on a bicycle as he did growing up.  Building bikes for children whose families couldn't afford them sounded like a great way to get the word out about the freedom of owning something with two wheels.  After building two bicycles, he discovered that he alone could not get the project off the ground and the idea went on the back burner.

In 2002, Kurt once again felt the tug of community service and a tap on the shoulder from God.  While riding to work one morning it occurred to him that he could try to build bikes for kids once more.  But this time, he told his bike-loving friends and suddenly had a number of people who wanted to be involved.  One of them gave him a link to Bikes for Tykes of Collier County FL, as a information source to get the project off the ground.  That link led to a wealth of data, and a partnership in name with their organization.  Bikes for Tykes of Naples FL offered the use of "Bikes for Tykes" for the organization's name, which provides a nationally-known moniker by which to associate with other like-minded organizations across the United States.

Since those first days, the organization has given away many bicycles through local charitable causes and directly to needy families.  The result is always the same: big smiles and warm hearts.  It's what drives us all to continue.

How You Can Help

We welcome the following items to further our work in the community:

Bicycles -- New or used, built or unassembled.

Bicycle Parts -- Did you upgrade your shifters or brake system a while back?  Are those old brake levers still sitting out in your garage?  If so, Bikes For Tykes can use those parts!

Holy Bibles - We like to share the love that Jesus Christ has shown us, and offer free Bibles to those in need.  If you have extra Bibles please contact us!

Gift Certificates to Local Bike Shops -- We welcome the donation of gift certificates to bicycle shops around the Puget Sound area.  Sometimes they give us discounts too when we tell them what we do, which makes your donation go even farther!

Funding -- We always welcome monetary funding. It helps us acquire new helmets, new parts, new unassembled bikes for kids, and also helps us refurbish older bikes that need a lot of work. 

Volunteer Time -- Do you live in the Puget Sound Area?  Are you looking for a way to use your experience with bicycles to reach out in the community?  If so, Bikes For Tykes is a great way to get involved and make a difference!  Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering.

The Importance of this Program

While this program isn't new -- or even unique -- we feel that it is necessary work.  The mere glimpse of a happy face upon receipt of a new or rebuilt bike is enough to tell volunteers that what they did was right.  In fact, this type of program is well represented by over 120 other like-minded organizations across the United States.  Bikes for Tykes of Puget Sound does more than get a kid rolling around the neighborhood.  Consider the following:

Recycling -- Bikes For Tykes salvages items that would typically go into our nation's landfills.  It's just good stewardship to consider the uses of a bike part before throwing it away.  Sometimes the donated bikes we receive cannot be rebuilt.  Despite this, a bike hulk can often provide even a set of pedals that we would have to purchase.  Some parts we receive are sold in online auctions to fund our work, while other parts are stored for future projects.  Any metal that is not used goes to the local metal recyclers.  

A Sense Of Service -- Building and rebuilding bikes for other people helps establish a strong bond between our volunteers and the community we serve.

Creates Future Cyclists -- A kid who has a bike turns into an adult bike-riding consumer, which supports the local economy.

Green Machine -- Bicycles are one of the cleanest forms of transportation that a person can use.  Bikes For Tykes puts a lot of these on the road each year, which helps our environment.

Bicycling for most people is a childhood rite of passage.  By providing these bikes to kids, we hope to bring early exposure to important things like:

Responsibility -- Maintenance and security are two things that a bike rider learns about early on.  It's a simple rule: if you don't care for the bike it will let you down from lack of repair.  Another lesson is that "if you leave you bike out overnight, don't be surprised when it's gone in the morning."  Many have learned about bike theft the hard way (including each B4TPS Volunteer), and its impact on a child can be devastating.  Kids can learn from others when the message is clear -- "Take care of your stuff and it will care for you."

Creativity  -- The desire to decorate or accessorize is universal.  Boys and Girls both enjoy making something unique, and a bicycle makes a perfect easel for their ideas. 

Coordination & Balance -- It is sometimes difficult to figure out how to keep a bike rolling straight with the rubber side down!  Learning these things creates an environment for higher self-esteem and confidence in a child.

Safety -- Owning and operating a bicycle is a big deal; if you are going to ride, it's important to know what's going on around you.  Children can learn valuable lessons about crossing streets, variable terrain, and riding near pedestrians, which ultimately will help them be better connected to their surroundings.

Independence -- A kid with a bike can practice a measure of freedom that some kids cannot.  Suddenly, with two wheels underneath, a boy or girl is much closer to friends, classes, parks, shopping malls, movies, after school activities.  No longer do they look to TV as a way to escape; a bike can take them to REAL destinations.

Activity -- A video game rarely gets the blood pumping like a ride through the local park.  Getting a kid on a bike is a great way to be outdoors and away from the trappings of a sedentary lifestyle.  This is more important as people grow older; once a person knows how to ride a bike, they can fall back on this type of activity in the future and find ways to do things that are healthy.

These are all attributes a child can use in later life, and a bike is a fun way to learn about them.  A child's world expands on a bicycle, and the lessons learned from that seat can expand their horizons as well.  It is unfortunate that many kids in our area don't have the opportunity to experience an afternoon spent riding a bike, even if it's only in a parking lot or on a sidewalk. 

In Conclusion

Bikes for Tykes of Puget Sound is dedicated to the idea that every kid should have a bike.  This is rewarding work that we do, often with setbacks and challenges.  We may not be able to provide bicycles for all children, but we can sure try.