Eleven-year-old Jafiya Birdling earned a new bicycle about one month ago and it has been life changing for him. He is exercising every day and spending more time outdoors with neighborhood friends. “It’s really fun riding the bike. I ride it every single day,” he said, enthusiastically. “It’s really easy to get to places and you just get there faster.”
Jafiya, who lives in the Edgewood neighborhood in East Lawrence, says he rides his bicycle to lunch at the nearby East Lawrence Recreation Center, and when he does, he parks it in the bicycle rack and locks it up so it isn’t stolen. He learned how to do this during a bicycle rodeo June 20 that was held through the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority’s Full Circle Youth program, which provides tutoring, games and activities for youth ages 7 to 18, and Lawrence Unchained Bicycle Co-op, a nonprofit community bike shop that exchanges and repairs bicycles and provides education.
During the bicycle rodeo, Jafiya and 10 other children received refurbished bicycles, bicycle helmets, lights and locks. Then, they learned how to properly put on a helmet, use and care for their bicycles and equipment, and ride safely. The three-hour bike rodeo culminated with a group ride to the children’s schools Liberty Memorial Central Middle School or New York Elementary School. Lawrence Unchained members and League of American Bicyclists’ League Certified Instructors gave the lessons. “They taught me a lot — like signaling,” Jafiya said, and then he demonstrated the hand signals for stopping and turning right and left. “It’s really important so you can show cars where you’re going.”
Jafiya’s mother, Juliana Birdling, is grateful her son received a bicycle and helmet and all of the safety features because they couldn’t afford them. “Some kids like to ride bikes, but the affordability is out of reach,” she said. She said the bicycle has been beneficial to Jafiya’s physical and mental health. “He’s making new friends and learning to be more responsible,” she said. Before the bicycle, she said Jafiya spent more time inside playing video games.