International Bicycle Centers donated 51 youth bicycles and helmets to children ages 5 and 6 at the Boston Housing Authority’s Ruth Barkley Apartments in the South End. The donation is part of the Boston Bikes initiative called Roll it Forward, which collects and distributes used bicycles to low-income residents of Boston and has donated over 2,600 bikes to date. This includes hundreds of bikes to BHA through giveaways at other BHA developments including Archdale, Franklin Field, Alice Taylor, Lenox-Camden, Orient Heights, South Street, Whittier Street, Old Colony, Maverick Landing, Bromley-Heath, Commonwealth, Orchard Gardens and West Broadway. Bike repairs were also offered free of charge to the Orient Heights and West Broadway residents.

The Roll it Forward initiative is one of several Community Bike Programs funded by a stimulus grant administered through the Boston Public Health Commission. While working with local business partners such as IBC to coordinate donations of new bikes, Boston Bikes will also be collecting donated bikes to refurbish and redistribute to low-income families. A number of retail partners will also be collecting donated bikes on behalf of Boston Bikes. All children receiving bikes at the Ruth Barkley Apartments participated in a bike safety class instructed by officials from the City of Boston Youth Cycling Program.