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Bicycle Co-Op of Williamsburg Officially Opens to Refurbish, Sell Donated Bikes

The Bicycle Co-OP of Williamsburg officially opened its doors Friday, April 1. (WYDaily/Molly Feser)

WILLIAMSBURG — The Bicycle Co-Op of Williamsburg, a project of the nonprofit organization BikeWalk Williamsburg, held its official grand opening ceremony on Friday, April 1.

The Co-Op, which is located at 601-E Merrimac Trail, is a collective of volunteers that refurbish and repurpose old bikes and then sells them to individuals based on ability to pay. 

The project’s mission is to provide access to bicycles for youth and adults in the community who otherwise cannot afford them.

The co-op is fully made up of volunteers who refurbish and repurpose donated bikes to make them rideable. (WYDaily/Molly Feser)

“This was the brain child of a few men and ladies that saw a need to have a bicycle shop that could provide bicycles at a very cheap price for folks that needed bicycles,” Will Ameen, a volunteer with Bicycle Co-Op, said. “These are all donated bicycles, and we refurbish them to make them safe, put reflectors on them, make sure they apply with state regulations.”

The volunteers receive the donated bicycles and refurbish them in order to make them into reliable transportation. After this, the volunteers mark the bicycles at bargain prices.

Around 50 to 60 percent of the bicycles are available for voucher clients, who are referred to the Co-Op by social service agencies, including Avalon Center, FISH, Inc., Williamsburg House of Mercy, James City County Social Services and Williamsburg Human Services.

“Many times, having a reliable bike is the difference between being employed or being unemployed,” Andy Ballentine, communications director of the Bicycle Co-Op of Williamsburg, said.

The Bicycle Co-Op of Williamsburg is located in James York Shopping Plaza behind Shorty’s Diner and to the left of Food Lion. For more information, visit its website.

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