Pierre’s Pedal Project (PPP) was established based on the recognition that there are way too many bikes discarded at the transfer station that with a little love, can be brought back to life or their parts used to save other bikes and that there are children in the Teton Valley who otherwise cannot access a bicycle for transportation or recreation. Since its inception, PPP has diverted well over 160 bikes from the dump, refurbishing some and parting out others. Our partners at the Teton County Transfer Station and RAD Curbside along with 2nd Act and See-N-Save thrift stores have helped collect bikes for the project. The project has refurbished over 83 bikes and has around 60 bikes currently in the restoration process. Completed bikes are being stored in the basement of Peaked Sports who, along with Fitzgerald’s Bicycles is also helping us obtain parts and tools.
The project has been equally successful in finding bikes new homes. During the Teton Valley Cares event, sponsored by the Community Resource Center of Teton Valley, the project gave away 12 bikes to kids and received requests for as many more. To date the project has found new homes for 31 bikes. The project is supporting Sub for Santa filling their requests for 12 bikes and also offering bikes through See-N-Save with the revenues helping to provide parts and tools. In addition, we were awarded a grant for $800 through the Community Foundation of Teton Valley’s Youth Philanthropy program to purchase helmets to be given with each bike. See-n-Save Thrift Store will be PPP’s primary “showroom” continuing to offer all bikes for extremely low cost and tuning up all bikes donated to the thrift store so they are all in excellent working condition when purchased.
As we move into 2022, we are pursuing grants and donation to help build the project into a sustainable program by establishing a “maker’s space” where the project can expand its ability to refurbish and distribute bikes while providing training and educational experiences. A centrally located maker’s space will allow the program to work with Teton High and Middle schools to offer training. Following similar programs elsewhere, PPP hopes to work with students to teach students how to take a discarded bike rebuild it into a useable cycle and hopefully not only learn to rebuild bikes for their own use or others but maybe develop valuable skills that they can employ at local bike shops in the valley. Please contact us if you have space or might no of space that might meet our needs.