Dec 29 '05 - 284 W - Vote Good + 7 :: Bad - 9 Bike Exchange Burglarized on Christmas
Published December 29, 2005 by C.I.C.L.E.The Kalihi Valley Instructional Bike Exchange (K-VIBE) workshop was burglarized Christmas night. The discovery was made by the program coordinator Gary Gill early on Sunday morning when he opened the workshop and warehouse. Thousands of dollars of specialty bike tools, bicycles, and cash were stolen from the shop and will certainly pose a significant setback with regards to the services that the shop provides to the local community.
The good hearted mission of the shop is to promote bicycles as a form of transportation and excercise, and to teach the community bike mechanics and instill pride in the Kalihi community. Bicycles are donated to the program from various sources. Bike specialists then refurbish these bikes so that they may be redistributed into the community. Since the shop opened its doors last February 2005, nearly 300 donated bikes have been fixed up and given a new life. Most of these bikes were 'earned' by children who have donated their time fixing bikes and learning bike mechanics at the exchange.
Gill stated in an interview that the non-profit shop does not have the funds to replace what was lost in the burglary, and that they'll have to get by with what they've got on hand. Some types of repairs, he added, just won't be done.
If you'd like to make a donation to K-VIBE, make checks payable to Kokua Kalihi Valley at 2239 N. School St.
If you have any information about the theft, call the Kalihi police at 808-529-3128 or Gill at 808-227-9218 or ggill@kkv.net
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