A Free Bike—But Only If You Do Your Homework

A group of kids assembled around Jay Garcia, director of the Hoboken Boys and Girls Club, Wednesday afternoon, waiting anxiously for the free bicycles they were about to receive. 

The NCAA donated 36 bikes, which were compiled by Stevens students. The bikes were donated to the Boys and Girls Club on Wednesday afternoon. Police officers were present to register the bikes and provide the children with helmets. The helmets were donated by the Jersey City Medical Center, police said. 

"You have to earn it!" Said Garcia, telling the kids that they had to do their homework if they wanted to keep the bike.

Mayor Dawn Zimmer attended and helped the kids with putting on their helmets. After the event she wrote on Twitter: "Had fun helping to fit new helmets!" 

Also present was Housing Authority Commissioner Jake Stuiver, who rides his bike all over town.

Zimmer, who said she had her bike stolen twice (once in front of City Hall), said she wants to push people to register their bicycles with the police. She said also that she would like to work on car-free initiatives such as closing off Sinatra Drive for part of the day in the summertime, which she said would also serve as a way encourage people to register their bikes.  

Sitting on the side of the Boys and Girls Club gymnasium, doing his math homework, was 9-year-old Anthony. 

"I wanted to get one, because my old bike broke down," he said. "It was blue with yellow flames."

Fifth-grader at Wallace Primary School  Jaeda, 11, said she was excited to ride her bike around and go on drives with her friend or her father. 

"It would be just so much fun," Jaeda said. She said she is most looking forward to driving her bike to Washington Street. 

Besides doing their homework, the students have to wear their helmets, Garcia told the group kids. Not a bad deal for a new bike.