YDU Helps Open Three Bike Libraries
Youth Development United (YDU) has been actively engaged in increasing access to cycling for the Greater Chester community through its annual spring and fall Bike Rodeos. These events have enabled YDU to collect, repair, and distribute well over 100 bicycles and helmets to children. Additionally, we've provided riding lessons and bike safety instruction.
With bicycle donations continuing to come in throughout the year, YDU has partnered with three local organizations in Chester to temporarily loan out bicycles. This ensures that the bikes aren’t left sitting unused when they could be enjoyed by others.
YDU’s first Bike Library was established at Fairgrounds Community in January 2023. Another Bike Library is set to open on August 26 at Eyre Park, adjacent to Chester High School, in partnership with the 9th Street Youth and Community Center. A third Bike Library has recently been stocked at J. Lewis Crozer Library, adjacent to Memorial Park, and will open soon.
As an important complement to safety, the Widener University Interprofessional Health Sciences Program has generously provided bike helmets to all "Bike Library" locations.
Barron Lacy, Executive Director of the 9th Street Youth and Community Center, shared his enthusiasm: “To have a park with different recreational activities including a Bike Library is really good for community health and for family time together. Thanks to a grant from the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and cooperation from the City of Chester, Eyre Park is continuing to layer on more attractions. It now offers an .8 mile flat paved walking loop, picnic tables, a baseball field regularly used by the Puerto Rican Baseball League for regional games, and multiple dog waste bag stations. There is a vision for even more attractions, but we are already starting to see families enjoy the space.”
The 9th Street Youth and Community Center will inaugurate its Bike Library for the first time on Saturday, August 26, from 11am-1pm, in connection with its Eco Explorers program, being co-run by Delaware County 4-H. Participants will engage in hands-on activities centered around wildlife, plants, water and more. Registration is required for the program and can be completed by contacting lyr5015@psu.edu. Any questions about the program may also be directed to that email address.
Youth Development United’s efforts have been bolstered by the support of many volunteers and organizations who have helped increase access to cycling. Very special thanks go to James Bergman, Emilia Crotty, Erin and Tyler Ewell, Nick Kaplinsky,, Mike Minor, Marty and Meredith Molloy, Patrick Monahan, Swarthmore Recreation Association and Swarthmore Hardware, whose ongoing support has been invaluable.
The 2023 bike rodeos are supported by the Circuit Trails Coalition Community Grant Program, funded by the William Penn Foundation and administered by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC). The Circuit Trails is a vast regional network of hundreds of miles of multi-use trails across nine counties in Greater Philadelphia and southern New Jersey. The trail network, which will cover 800 miles once complete, connects urban, suburban, and rural communities, providing endless opportunities for recreation, relaxing, and commuting.