In my line of work and research, I hear many stories about community bike projects and bike NGOs working in developing nations. It is always humbling.

This post comes courtesy of Sagita Adesywi, ChildFund’s Indonesian Communications Officer.  It follows 12-year old Aisyah, who is one of 125 recipients of a donated folding bike.  This story is interesting as Aisyah’s experiences echo many of those that rural African girls (where my research is based) also encounter. Also, this project was one of the rare ones I know of, that uses folding bikes.

What a great way to start addressing critical issues like increasing urban congestion and lack of access to services, like schools and health clinics.

Many children who receive bikes through ChildFund’s Dream Bikes program are in isolated communities and face long journeys across rough rural terrain. It’s a little different for children in Jakarta, the huge capital city of Indonesia. Children there live in dense, crowded slums, and to get to school, they have to walk or take the public bus or a motorbike, a big daily expense for families living in poverty.

Because their homes are small, 125 children in Jakarta’s slums received foldable bicycles from ChildFund’s local partner organisation, Perkumpulan Marga Sejahtera, which hosts after-school activities.

“When they fold the bike, it won’t take up as much space,” explains the organisation’s director, Liest Pranowo. “These children walk every day to school and their after school activities. Having a bike hopefully will help them to get to school easier, get in on time and be more active in out-of-school activities. It would save their parents some money too. Usually, it costs about US$2 for a rental motorbike. It is just too much for them. As children are very active, we also provided them with helmets. If they fall, their heads will be protected.”

Let’s meet Aisyah, a 12-year-old girl who likes watching the news and hopes to be a doctor one day. She received a bike and helmet, and it’s making a difference already.

Aisyah. Image: ChildFund

These are her words: “I walked to school and back every day with my younger brother. He’s in the second grade. I leave home around 5am and get to school by 5:30am Often I came late to school, especially on Mondays and Fridays. On Mondays, we have a morning ceremony where we need to be ready a bit early, and on Friday we have group study and exercise that I need to come early for too.

Once, there were other kids in the street from another school who made fun of me. They would say something bad, like “Oh, you are a hobo! Even your school is the school for hobos!” They were boys, four of them. I would tell them to please not say something like that, as they wouldn’t want other people to say something bad in return, right?

Another time, when I came home from school, these boys said something bad to me again. One of them pulled my hair from the back and pushed me down. I fell down and cried. A taxi driver stopped them. When I got home, I told my mum, and she then went to their house, but they still didn’t want to say sorry.

I am not afraid of them, though, and I try hard to ignore them. My brother always says to ignore them.

Aisyah and friends. Image: ChildFund

Since I am in the sixth grade now, there are days where I stay longer in school for extra classes. That’s fine, as I need to be prepared for the exams. I take extra classes in math, science and Indonesian language. But sometimes when I got home, I was too tired from walking under the hot sun to study again or do my homework.

When I finish school, I am going to be a doctor! I want to help people who are sick. But if they don’t have money, I will do it for free. It’s all right. Even though our government has health insurance, it is not enough to cover everything.

One day I saw in the news that a mother had just given birth. The hospital kept the baby longer as the baby was born premature, and the family couldn’t afford the cost for the treatment. That’s why I want to be a doctor, to help people in need like that.

I am really happy I was given the bicycle by ChildFund. I will ride the bike to school. The bicycle lets me get to school on time, and now I have more time to do my homework. I will even take my brother in the back saddle!”

Read about two young girls from Jakarta talking about how their lives have changed since receiving their new fold-out dream bike.

This story was originally posted on the ChildFund Website (15th Sept, 2015).

This guest blog post is by Adam Harris – Owner of Happy Bike Sales & Service, LLC. Here Adam shares his story, biking history, family, inspirations, business development and hopes for a more active and positive future for all on two-wheels.

Bicycles have always been a major part of my life.  As a youngster, my bike was a source of both fun and freedom.  I’d spend hours jumping curbs and laying down big rubber scorching skids.  It was only natural to go in search of fresh curbs to jump and streets to skid, so I began to explore well beyond my neighborhood, finding new friends and new adventure.

One of the great discoveries of early childhood was the three trail systems that I could pedal to.  It inspired me to scratch and save for my first proper bike, a blue Schwinn Sidewinder.  It stoked my passion for bikes and with it I also got my first taste of wrenching on a bike, learning basic maintenance and repair.

As I neared driving age I remember telling my parents that I wanted to buy a Trek hardtail mountain bike, complete with a Rockshox fork no less!  While they believed my interest in bikes would wane due to automobiles and girls, they reluctantly agreed to split the cost for my beloved anodized purple beauty.

My Dad

After getting my new bike, Dad was interested in riding more, so he began piloting the trusty blue Schwinn.  He joined me often for dirt time in the woods.  Those rides with my Dad are some of the best memories of my youth.

My Dad is a big inspiration for me and someone I’ve always looked up to.  He was best man when my wife and I were married.  He is also one of the main reasons for pursuing my passion once again as I spin into mid-life.  Angelo Chapman Harris III was a successful athlete and coach.  Track and Field and Cross-Country running were his passion along with the students he taught for the 40+ years of his career, all spent at the one high school!  He was offered opportunities to advance his coaching career many times – some offers for bigger programs and at the university level.  I’m sure he pondered them all, but he always turned them down.  I never understood why as a young man.

My Dad passed away three years ago this past September.  Life can be a cruel lesson, but I finally figured out the “why”.  My Dad knew where he wanted to be and what he wanted to do.  He helped many people along the way.  Passion is the fuel that drove him.  As they say, “you never work a day in your life when you do what you love”.  What a gift.  I am trying to follow his lead.  I want to always feel that satisfaction of being right where I’m supposed to be when I get ready for “work” in the mornings.

The family dream

We fulfilled one of our family’s dreams when we moved to Maryville, Tennessee last Spring.  As our lives became more bike-centric and we connected the greenways and neighborhood roads on our frequent excursions about town, the thoughts bouncing around in my head became too persistent to ignore any longer.  I started doing some research and soon a plan was formed to fulfill another dream.

We were going to open a bike shop.  One that would be focused on family and fun and be the ultimate in convenience, a mobile bike shop, and Happy Bike Sales & Service, LLC was born.

Too many times traditional bike shops can be intimidating for those who just want to ride their bike and don’t necessarily need or care for the latest and greatest. And frankly, sometimes it’s just hard to find the time.

I’m a father of two young girls and I know how hectic life can get for me and my wife. I value family time and many of our family’s best times involve bikes. I want that for my customers as well – I want to make it as easy as possible. Time is valuable, spend it riding bikes not figuring out the logistics of how to get to the bike shop.  Let the shop come to you!

Goldie – the mobile shop

The shop glides along in a customized 1985 Chevy Step Van.  Its former life was spent delivering Golden Flake potato chips, hence the name of the steed.  Goldie!  The irony of driving a diesel step van around while working on and selling man’s most efficient machine is not lost on me.  Despite that, I think the end justifies the means.  It helps me accomplish my mission: more people spending more time on bikes.  I also do my best to minimize my impact on the environment.  I recycle all possible materials, use eco-conscious cleaning and lubrication products, and run the super-efficient LED lights off a power-bank that will soon be set-up to be recharged by solar panels.

More bikes, more community

Bikes have given me a lot in my lifetime.  Not only fitness, transportation, clarity, and plenty of fun, but comfort and purpose.  I am passionate about the positive impact that bikes have on people and community.  I want to see more kids riding bikes and more families riding together.  I want to be part of the movement.  I want to be involved in my community and get my community involved.

Partnerships and Events

I have some great partners that share my vision and passion for bikes, the outdoors, and sustainability.  One such is Mountain Challenge, a group of like-minded, fit, green, and happy dudes and dudettes over at Maryville College, which has been named a “Best in the Southeast” college by The Princeton Review.  Mountain Challenge continues to do great things for the college and the local community in a progressive and inviting manner and are an inspiration for impacting people in a positive way.

Another is Brooklyn Bicycle Co., who have gone out of their way to help me along and are a great model for excellent customer service.  Both were willing to take a chance on me and my business of bringing bikes to the people and for that I am grateful.

Starting a business is a lot like a long climb. Like any long climb, I’m seated and in it for the long haul, turning over the pedals.  It’s been steep – and at times I’ve felt like I’m spinning out on a low gear and only making incremental progress.  But it’s progress and I’m building momentum and shifting up the gears!

Contact us and say hi!

Follow my journey on Instagram and Twitter: @1happybike and Facebook:1happybike.

It’s sure to be interesting and I have big plans for the Spring of 2017!

More miles, more smiles!

Adam is a lifelong cyclist and lover of all things bicycle.  He worked in the industry previously as a mechanic and shop manager before ultimately pursuing another career, but he never stopped riding or dreaming. When his family moved to the beautiful town of Maryville, Tennessee where the infrastructure allowed a more bike-centric lifestyle, the wheels started spinning, literally and figuratively!  In a world where you can order nearly any product or service online to your front door, why not expert bicycle knowledge, sales, and service?  Adam is the owner (and driver!) of Happy Bike Sales & Service, LLC, a completely mobile bike shop, where he does just that.  His mission is to get more people spending more time on bikes and he does that by providing the ultimate in convenience and a completely customized experience right at your doorstep.