On August 27th, John Burkitt, from Gate City Bike Co-op, addressed the Rotary Club of Nashua regarding, “Let’s Put People on Bikes” and the “Gate City Bike Co-op”. While working for Hewlett-Packard, he travelled extensively through Europe, Asia, South America and Africa before his retirement in 2005. John returned to cycling in 2000, mostly utilitarian biking such as commuting, grocery shopping and cycle touring. In 2009, he attended the United Bicycle Institute in Oregon to become a certified bicycle technician and in 2010, working out a friend’s basement, he began rescuing and repairing discarded and unwanted bicycles and giving them away through groups like the Nashua Soup Kitchen and the Boys and Girls Club. Between 2010 and 2017, his organization Let’s Put People on Bikes delivered about 600 bikes throughout the Nashua area. In 2017, John teamed up with Donald Pare to start Gate City Bike Co-op.
John started his presentation by asking the Club how they arrived at today’s meeting. As was no surprise virtually everyone came by car and most see bikes primarily as recreational vehicles. By contrast. John pointed to the many people in the area who look to bikes as their primary means of transportation – particularly those unable to afford cars of their own.
John recounted his early days with Let’s Put People on Bikes, including its expansion to include bike clinics to both repair bikes and help bike owners learn to repair their own bikes. Last summer, Don Pare came to the Nashua Public Library with 2 bikes to be repaired. When John refused Don’s offer of payment, Don looked around and saw people who needed help, and jumped right in. He’s assisted with finding more permanent space at St. Patrick’s for both storage and clinics, and has also worked with the Telegraph on feature stories to raise awareness.
John walked the Club through what it takes to keep Gate City Bike Co-op moving. The two biggest needs are volunteers and donations. Volunteers are key, especially those with bike repairing / mechanics skills, bike repair tools, logistical / organizing skills, or marketing skills to help them promote awareness of the group. Donations are always welcome. They have about 150 bikes waiting to be repaired and given away, and each bike takes approximately 2-3 hours of work and 40 in supplies and parts.
They are also looking for new space that might have both water (there’s none in their current location) and heat (their current space is pretty chilly in the winter). They are always accepting bikes – but do not take children’s bikes and their ideal adult bike is a mountain-bike style with an upright seat rather than something like a 10-speed.
John concluded his presentation with the story of a Rwandan boy from the Boys & Girls Club who will be a junior in high school this year, and who recently got a job at Goodale’s because of the skills he learned through this program.