A simple commute around the Classic City to the supermarket or to work may seem like a simple task, but for some, it is a difficult one.

A non-profit in Athens, called Bike Athens is helping those in the community that do not have transportation. The organization does this through their Bike Recycling Program, which takes bicycles that people have donated and redistributes them to someone in need.

Tyler Dewey, Director of the organization, “We work with about 10 social service agencies here in Athens; Athens Area Homeless Shelters, Action Ministries, Salvation Army, Aids Athens.”

Through working with the social service agencies, Bike Athens can match someone recently employed and without transportation with a bicycle. The bicycles that come to the organization are not always in the best condition. They work on the bikes to replace handlebars, tires, brakes, and anything else that needs to be replaced to make sure the bike is safe for use.

They rely solely on volunteers that come in each week to repair the bikes that have not been deemed “safe.”

Since the programs launch, the organization has donated 2,000 bikes back into the community to those in need.