Watch Kingsville second graders take home free bikes

KINGSVILLE – For days, second-graders at AD Harvey Elementary School have been eagerly awaiting “Bike Day,” which marks Oct. 17 on their class calendars.

Finally, at lunchtime on Thursday, the children walked out of the school cafeteria and saw about 80 shiny blue bikes lined up for them. At the end of the school day, after each bike and bike helmet had been fitted to each child, the bikes went home with their proud new owners – one of whom bragged about having “the best bike in the world.”

The bikes were assembled at the King Ranch Museum by volunteers from King Ranch and 1PointFive, an Occidental subsidiary that is developing a direct aerial capture hub at King Ranch in Kleberg County.

The effort was made possible through a partnership with Wish for Wheels, a nonprofit organization that works with companies to build and distribute bikes in their communities.

The 1PointFive initiative built 340 bikes to distribute to six schools in Kleberg County, Kingsville and Riviera.

As they waited their turn to choose one, the students discussed the shiny blue bikes.

Some were surprised at the lack of training wheels, others were a little more nervous but determined to master the art of cycling. As they chatted, they realized that it was inevitable that they would skin their knee and fall. That’s what knee pads are for, said one girl. And helmets, another boy agreed.

Janae Wadley, Assistant Director of Build-Giving for Wish for Wheels, explained the importance of wearing helmets for students. The children, perhaps already informed by family members, teachers or friends, anticipated her message and recognized that helmets protect the brain, which helps them “think well and make good decisions,” as one child proclaimed.

“I promise to wear my helmet and tell an adult where I am when I ride my bike,” the children vowed solemnly and simultaneously.

The second graders came prepared for the distribution, with stickers with their names on their T-shirts. After a volunteer made sure the bike seat was properly adjusted to the child’s size and the helmet fit, students removed the stickers from their clothing and retrieved the bike marked “theirs.”

“It’s a time when they learn to ride without training wheels and also develop new relationships outside of their home that are more like friendships,” Wadley said. “It’s a very important age for children’s development.”

“Every child remembers their first bike,” said Trey Fournier, director of development at 1PointFive.

“I think everyone has a visceral memory growing up of taking their bike to a friend’s house and then leaving it on the lawn,” Fournier said. “For a lot of these kids, it’s freedom at age 8 or 9.”

The kids already know where they want to go – to the park, to the trash can at the end of their driveway, to a friend’s house, or even to school.

Occidental has been working with Wish for Wheels since 2014. 1PointFive completed its first bike building and distribution with the organization last year.

“It’s a really great opportunity for us to be part of the community,” Fournier said.

Through Direct Air Capture, 1PointFive aims to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it underground through geological sequestration.

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