Free Bicycles for the Less Fortunate

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Free Bicycles for the Less Fortunate

By RYAN LIGHT
Video Report By GARY LIBERATORE

Story Created: Jul 19, 2008 at 8:54 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 20, 2008 at 12:59 AM EDT

UTICA - About 300 kids in the city of Utica have big smiles on their faces this weekend. This weekend those children are all riding around on their new bicycles.

The program is called "Lets Go Ride A Bike." Bicycles were donated to children by either the Utica Police Department or from many folks of the community.

For those children that didn't receive a bicycle on Saturday, they might still be able to get one in the next couple of days. Children can still sign up on paper or contact the Utica Police Department.

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Tuesday, Jul 22 at 10:01 AM Greg Lemond wrote ...

Now all we have to do is teach them to do drugs and we can get them into the Tour De France!

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Tuesday, Jul 22 at 7:35 AM no jealous observer wrote ...

how can ppl who see the reality of the situation be jealous? i would be embarassed to accept a free bicycle. bicycle's aren't even that expensive. work at a local pizza and wing joint on the first of the month and see how ppl who are on SSD spend their money. it is an absolute travisty. the "less fortunate" could buy their children a bike -there is no need for this type of give away. this is enabling the parent not to be a parent and many lessons of sacrafice are being unlearned.

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Tuesday, Jul 22 at 12:14 AM worried wrote ...

Were there helmets given away along with the bikes? It's the law and these officials should be aware of that....However I hope that this nice gift of a bike doesn't increase bike accidents....>?

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Monday, Jul 21 at 2:32 PM we pic what we print wrote ...

Wow if you write something that shows a bad side to a company that advertises with wktv they dont print it! Great job keep up the third world type news cast!

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Monday, Jul 21 at 1:59 PM Face fur where? wrote ...

Wow it is back.The Face full of fur! Yes how sad that someone would find something wrong in taking care of kids. I mean if the bike is big enough dad could use it as a get-a-way vehicle! Or a crack pic-up ride!

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Monday, Jul 21 at 12:04 PM facefur wrote ...

How sad that when generous people provide something free for someone else that there is always a jealous observer ready to criticize.

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Monday, Jul 21 at 8:32 AM Yep wrote ...

Good job! Just be carefull of young white girls on drugs going to visit their loser boyfriends(in jails) who like to run over people on bikes!(they also have lawyers who work out plea deals because the DA's dont have time to do what we voted them in to do! And the Helmets.come on this is Utica

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Sunday, Jul 20 at 9:45 PM i agree with tom wrote ...

I've paid for my all my son's and daughter's bikes. you appreciate things worked for and earned. these programs cross the line. let the parent save to buy their kid a bike. giving them a sense of accomplishment and allowing the kids to see the sacrafice that goes along with attaining a goal. many people who received a bike today celebrated by ordering out pizza and wings tonight! here's a suggestion - perhaps the parents can sell their gold and buy their kid a bike!

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Sunday, Jul 20 at 8:35 PM For Grandma wrote ...

contact Carbone Auto as they were a partner in this as well - perhaps they can get you in touch with Mr. Crever in Rome - the Utica PD is not the only entity that contributed to this program. I wish that the story was complete. please check Uticaod.com where there is a full story and credit is given to those "many folks of the community" that WKTV.com couldn't fit in their story

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Sunday, Jul 20 at 8:35 PM parent wrote ...

i would like to say tom on here has the point what they get but middle class working family cant get nothing ,I see when these parents get there money they drink there money away. I sick everything handed out. work for your things that what we have to do .

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Sunday, Jul 20 at 2:00 PM grandma wrote ...

Is this just for city children? If it is than I think someone should host on of these for the children out near Clayville Sauquoit Chadwicks area we do have children out this way who could have a smile put on their face with a new bike . somebody please help with this request ok.

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Sunday, Jul 20 at 1:58 PM Girard A. Plante wrote ...

For the citizens of Utica, who fled their native countries since the early 1980s beginning with Ameri-Asians, and apoted Utica as their home, giving generously has forever weaved its way into the fabric of the community. Visit Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute to learn about the first families of giving. As a native Utican who lives in Boston, Mass., I witnessed the selfless acts of kind Utica folks for many years. Obviously, the good-deed doers still give selflessly. God bless each of you!

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Sunday, Jul 20 at 1:06 PM tom wrote ...

Free bicycles? In Utica, the kids receive free breakfast , lunch and dinners at school and in the summer as well. Free healthcare at school. Free backpacks filled with school supplies. Free clothes. Free weeks at camp, free toys at Christmas, free everything. What exactly do the parents do? Nothing but drink and hang on porch rails.

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Sunday, Jul 20 at 10:43 AM what? wrote ...

no mention of Mr. Ron Crever of Bikes for Kids in Rome who had a big part in this bike give away? thank you Mr. Crever

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Sunday, Jul 20 at 9:10 AM nice wrote ...

I thinks thats great good job. BUT i noticed on the news 3 kids riding there bikes around a UPD car isnt there a law in NYS that kids have to wear a helmet while riding a bike?

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