June 5, 2024 – Students at Cook Literacy Model School were rewarded for their hard work this year with a massive fleet of free bikes provided by Cycle Recycle.
A function of the Love Out Loud ministry, Cycle Recycle is a program that expands access to bicycles for both children and adults who don’t have them. Volunteers find gently used unwanted bicycles in their communities, make any necessary repairs, and then distribute them with the help of community partners in the fields of athletics, wellness, and transportation safety. Cycle Recycle Founder and CEO Chester David says that there are many obstacles that can keep someone who wants a bike from having one, including financial concerns, maintenance problems, and even theft, and his team is intent on making sure as many of those people as possible still get to enjoy the hobby.
“It can be hard to get a bike and keep a bike,” David said. “Our mission is to promote the joy and freedom that comes from riding.”
This school year at Cook, students got to participate in a special challenge – anyone who raised their reading comprehension grade level by at least one year would be rewarded with a bike from Cycle Recycle. Dozens of students rose to the occasion, and when Cycle Recycle came to the school on Wednesday morning, they brought an incredible supply of 76 bikes with them. It was an exciting moment for the students, but the most exciting part is the new opportunities that will be available to them throughout their academic careers because they’ve become stronger readers.
“Riding a bike opens up a whole new world for you to explore,” David said. “In a way, that’s exactly what reading does too.”
David Johnson, Cook’s Dean of Students, appreciates the support of community partners like Cycle Recycle. Student success hinges on maintaining high levels of engagement and motivation. Having a big reward like a new bicycle serving as a light at the end of the tunnel as students tackle the arduous task of learning to read can and has made a world of difference in excellent scholarship at Cook.
“The incentive of getting a bike has been huge for motivating them to do their best in reading,” Johnson said. “I think it’s having a great impact on academics.”