Bed-Stuy Cyclist Embarks On National Tour To Bring Bikes To Kids

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — The way John Shackelford sees it, a bike is far from a toy — it's a tool for a better life.

It was because of a bike that the Washington D.C. native got his first job, propelled into exploring his own city while delivering burritos to places he otherwise never would have gone.

The two-wheeled tool eventually would take Shackelford, who started riding professionally, on a plane for the first time, bringing him around the country and the world to compete.

Now living in Bed-Stuy, he still explores the city from behind his handlebars, working as a full-time messenger.

"I became addicted to being able to leave my environment and get into a positive one," Shackelford said. "[A bike] can literally change someone’s life for the better — I’m a prime example."

Shackelford now hopes to bring that example to thousands of kids who, like him, might unlock a new life with the help of a bicycle.

He and a team of cyclist friends will kick off a cycling tour of the country this month with the goal of bringing bikes to children who wouldn't have access to them otherwise.

The "Smiles 4 Miles" project will tackle two states each month, starting in August with Shackelford's native Washington and Baltimore, M.D.

The tour will use donated bikes and those purchased with money from a fundraiser to distribute the bikes with the help of local shops and organizations, Shackelford said.

"Your old rusty bicycle might be completely worthless for you, but for someone with a less privileged background, it could be the most unforgettable and precious gift they have ever received," he writes on the GoFundMe.

The Smiles 4 Miles tour follows a similar cycling trip Shackelford embarked on last summer, when he and others rode to landmarks on the Underground Railroad and stopped to donate 80 bikes to kids in D.C. on the way. That tour will be featured in a documentary Shackelford hopes will come out in the near future.

Shackelford originally planned to visit all 25 cities on the Smiles 4 Miles tour in the month of August, but decided to scale back the timeline while he waits to finalize resources. He will instead aim to visit two states each month.

So far, his team has 50 bikes ready to go for the first trip. They also hope to bring handlebar grips, tires and other bike parts to repair kids' existing bikes that might be broken.

"We're going to have this stuff on site to educate [kids] on how to keep their bike running safe," he said. "If their bike needs a tube or a tire, we'll come there and fix it."

The money raised through his GoFundMe will be used to purchase more bikes, bike parts and figure out the logistics of the ride, like securing a truck to transport the bikes to distribution spots, he said.

"It’s been a little slow, but people are hearing what we’re doing and are giving," he said.

If you are interested in donating a bike or helping with the tour, find more on the Smiles 4 Miles website or contact John at (347) 304-6708.