Reedsburg family takes bikes to people in need

A Reedsburg family, in conjunction with the local Bike Shop program, made an important trip to El Paso this summer to support less-fortunate children.

Arthur and April Hyzer, as well as their seven children, took it upon themselves to transport used but fixed-up bikes to Texas in July. The Reedsburg family knew of the Bike Shop as well as how it was affected by coronavirus.

Due to COVID-19, it hasn’t been a normal year for the Bike Shop, which operates out of Pineview Elementary School. The program, run by Gary Williams, introduces children to bike repairs, encourages them to fix them for donation and work on a bike of their own. Bicycles are then transported to support impoverished areas both within the U.S. and overseas with help from another Williams-led program, the Summer Outdoor Adventure Club.

Last school year, however, buildings were closed due to the pandemic, leaving the Bike Shop devoid of activity. As a result, the Shop was not able to do its usual trip to deliver bikes. That’s when the Hyzers stepped in.

The family towed more than 50 bikes on a trailer to the Lone Star State. It was 108 degrees the day of the drop off, but the Hyzers kept at it. In addition, they filled bags of rice to fill weekly food bags for the poor.

April Hyzer said she cared about bicycle safety and reached out to Rob Fullmer, a Reedsburg resident who works for Pacific Cycle in Madison. Fullmer coordinated the donation of 55 bike helmets in various sizes and colors to the benefit children.

The bikes themselves come from donations, with residents, families, businesses and groups providing unwanted cycles.