A bicycle repair station was put up by the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of Barangay 870 in Pandacan, Manila to help bikers free of charge.

SK chairman Nomi Carel Cortez, in an interview with the Philippine News Agency Thursday, said as a biker himself, he saw the needs of bikers, especially that the number of individuals using the bicycle as a mode of transportation rose since the start of the community quarantines due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

“Naisipan namin na maglagay sa mga barangay ng mga bike repair station para merong pwedeng ipambomba pag na-flat yung gulong o kaya naman mga tools para higpitan yung mga parts ng bisikleta at maayos (We thought of putting up bike repair stations in different barangays so in case one needs to inflate his tires or may need tools to tighten his screws and his bike parts),” Cortez said.

The bike repair station officially opened on November 22. It is a do-it-yourself shop but in case one needs help or assistance, the SK officials are ready to help as the barangay hall is just beside it.

He said they have furnished their bike repair station with an adjustable wrench, a plus and minus screwdriver, and a bike handle that can be used to hold the bike so it becomes stable and may be properly repaired.

The use of the bike repair station is free and may be used by anyone, Pandacan residents or not, that needs to have their bicycles repaired.

For security reasons, Cortez said they attached the tools to special wiring that cannot be easily cut and a CCTV was installed at the station.

Currently, the SK groups of different barangays in Pandacan came together and installed 12 bike stations in the areas.

Cortez said about PHP2,500 was spent on the installation of each bike repair stations.

To ensure the project’s sustainability, the bike repair stations would undergo monthly maintenance. (PNA)