Do you want to ride a bicycle?

By Sherry Larson

People’s Defender

“I want to ride my bicycle – I want to ride my bike.” If you’re a fan of the band Queen, that song is likely going through your head this entire day, and maybe you decide – “I want to ride my bicycle.”

Don’t have a bicycle? No problem—you can borrow one from one of the four Adams County libraries. Seriously, it’s no joke. If you don’t know how to ride one, you can borrow a book on how to do that, too. Books, bicycles and who knows what else will be coming to your local library and lent out to you.

Through the efforts and collaboration of the Adams County Libraries and Adams County Creating Healthy Communities Program, this innovative program encourages individuals to get out and move more.

Debbie Ryan, Coordinator of Creating Healthy Communities, described the program’s kickoff as a professional development ride with two Toole Design Group representatives contracted to help with active living strategies. The ride included two coalition members, the Mayor of Peebles, Stephanie Harper, and two library staff.

“The bike ride went very well,” said Ryan. The ride was about four miles long and completed in stretches. The Toole reps would stop after each stretch to lead a conversation on various topics, including bicycle safety and anything they encountered along the way, like traffic and the difficulty of riding on sidewalks due to pedestrian rules. The riders said that people were very kind and did not encounter any problems. “It was a good launch for the library staff to know what people might encounter when they get a bike. It was also good for the coalition members and Mayor Harper,” said Ryan. Harper has many short- and long-term goals for her streets and sidewalks. She also discussed other ventures with Toole Design, who provided helpful resources.

There are two bicycles available at each of the four library branches in Adams County—West Union, Peebles, North Adams, and Manchester. Ryan said they purchased bikes that would be easy for “anyone” to ride. To check out a bike, you must have a library card. Youth under the age of 18 must have parental or guardian consent. All riders are given a helmet and provided with a list of guidelines. Executive Director of the Adams County Library, Nick Slone, said, “Our library staff and patrons are incredibly grateful to the Adams County Health and Wellness Coalition for providing these bicycles for sharing in the community. Cycling is a great way to get exercise and have fun in the community, and sharing is what libraries do best!”

The bicycles have all been purchased through Creating Healthy Communities grant funding. Ryan said other counties inspired them with bike lending programs at their libraries. She reported that she was surprised to learn that different counties have seen mainly folks who want to ride for recreation, and most are not using the bikes out of necessity.

For questions about the bike lending program, contact the Adams County Library at (937) 587-2085 or visit adamscolibrary.org. Other lending programs may be available in the future, opening doors of opportunity and allowing everyone access to beneficial items and experiences.