Our Friends at Buddy Bike announced that the company has donated five of their alternative inline tandem bicycles, called the Buddy Bike, to adaptive cycling programs and special needs organizations. These donations were to support adaptive cycling, with the goal to put more people on bikes – especially riders with special needs who may feel they don’t otherwise have a safe option for cycling.
Shelley L. Patterson, the director of marketing and business development of Buddy Bike, said they also donated the bikes because it made them feel good. Here is a recap of the company’s recent giveaways according to Patterson:
The most recent Buddy Bike donation was to the Bay Area Outreach Program (BORP), a non-profit organization that advances the lives of people with physical disabilities through sports and recreational activities in Berkeley, California. Patterson of Buddy Bike knew of the adaptive cycling program at BORP and decided to donate the bike upon meeting Greg Milano, their Cycling Program Coordinator, while attending Recumbent Cycle-Con with Adaptive Cycling Fair 2013 in Pomona, California in early November 2013. Patterson found Milano to be supportive of the Buddy Bike and felt the program at BORP would provide a location for families to be able to try the Buddy Bike with knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff and volunteers.
Due to Patterson’s involvement with adaptive cycling through Buddy Bike, she also served as the Show Coordinator for Recumbent Cycle-Con with Adaptive Cycling Fair 2013. Patterson contributed to the growth of the recumbent industry expo, added an Adaptive Cycling Fair and coordinated the second Adaptive Cycling Roundtable. The Roundtable brought together several knowledgeable organization leaders and medical professionals to discuss the needs of adaptive cyclists and how dealers and manufacturers can help serve those needs. Patterson states that, “Recumbent Cycle-Con is an event that is supportive of cycling for riders of all ages, sizes and abilities.” The next Recumbent Cycle-Con is being planned for September 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. Learn more at recumbentcyclecon.com.
Earlier in the year, Buddy Bike provided bicycle donations to Steamboat Adaptive Recreational Sports (STARS) in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and Granite State Adaptive Sports in Mirror Lake, New Hampshire. Families will be able to try and enjoy the Buddy Bike by participating in the programs at these non-profit organizations who use adaptive recreational activities to empower and enrich the lives of individuals who have a disability by providing the opportunity to develop independence, confidence, life skills and fitness.
In April 2013, Buddy Bike participated for the second time in the Great Bike Giveaway sponsored by The Friendship Circle of Michigan, a non-profit organization that provides programs and support to the families of individuals with special needs. The Friendship Circle created the Great Bike Giveaway to give adaptive bikes to as many special children as possible and to offer them the same freedom, confidence and pride that everyone feels when the ride a bike for the first time.
Buddy Bike joined other adaptive bicycle manufacturers such as Rifton, AMBUCS, Triaid and Flaghouse to support the contest. Buddy Bike donated two of their alternative tandems but a total of six Buddy Bikes were given away due to fundraising in the online social media contest.