Special bikes donated to kids with physical disabilities

Riding bikes just got easier for children who love to ride, but have a physical disability that makes it difficult on a normal bicycle.

“Every child should have the opportunity to ride a bike alongside their peers or their family members,” said Kristy Mickelsen, director of Bike for Kids Idaho. “And just bring a little joy into their lives.”

It was an exciting day for ten kids who were given brand new bikes, but these aren’t just any bikes. They are specially made for children with physical disabilities.

“Some kids just need a little bit more stability, some kids need the pedaling motion just to be a little bit easier,” Mickelsen said. “Some kids need hand-powered crank bikes. And just for their different various physical limitations we just provide adaptions to make it a lot more possible.”

One of those recipients is Katie Womack. Her new bike has a lower center so she can get on easier, adult sized training wheels and brakes on the handle bars.

“This is going to be wonderful cause Katie has always loved to be outside and she loves to ride bikes and do things,” said Debi Womack, Katie’s mom. “But she hasn’t had one that she can kind of keep up with us on our bikes. She’s just really excited to have a little bit of freedom to do that.”

The bikes are donated by Bike for Kids Idaho. They say adaptable bikes are expensive and hard to come by. These bikes will give families more opportunities to spend quality time together.

“It’s gonna be a life changing thing,” Womack said. “It’s gonna give us a lot more openings to just spend time as a family.”

Bike for Kids Idaho is donating five more bikes next week. They have donated about 120 bikes over the past 10 years.