By Andrew de Souza

Recycle Your Bicycle begins for another year

Apr 26, 2011 | 6:16 AM

A bicycle is a great way to get around the city and has the added advantage of contributing to a healthy lifestyle.

That’s why, for the third year in a row, the city’s Active Transportation Committee, in conjunction with the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore, have started their Recycle Your Bicycle campaign.

The two groups are looking for donations of gently used bicycles from now until the end of June.

Already, they’ve received 20 bikes from the Prince Albert Police Service.

Once the bikes are collected, they’ll be distributed to various community organizations such as the Bernice Sayese Centre who gives them to kids who might not be able to afford one, said Peggi-Lynn Gatin, with the committee.

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“Of course, bikes are an excellent vehicle in order to get from point A to point B,” she said. “And the key outcome of that is that we have increased physical opportunities for people in our community.”

“We know in the province of Saskatchewan, only 15 per cent of (people) are active enough to get any health benefits. So this is another way of getting physically active.”

It’s not only a benefit to children, Gatin said the YWCA’s Newcomer program has helped recent immigrants by providing them with bicycles from previous year’s campaigns.

“(New immigrants) use them for transportation to get to jobs, to get to groceries, because often when newcomers come to our community, they can’t get a driver’s license,” she said.

“So it’s been really key to supporting them in regards to helping them get around the community.”

In the past two years, the campaign has helped hand out almost 50 bicycles into the community.

In addition to a providing a bicycle, the campaign also gives out helmets to promote the safety of the new owners.

Anyone interested can bring their gently-used bikes to the ReStore on Marquis Drive.

adesouza@panow.com