Helping NOTL's migrant workers one bike at a time.

Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Bikes For Farmworkers has been busy repairing used bicycles and providing tune-ups for migrant workers since 2015.

Migrant workers have been coming to the region since the 1960's and in some cases the same workers have come back for decades. Migrant workers have a large impact in the area because of the types of agriculture they support, such as nurseries, greenhouses, orchards and vineyards

With a crew of volunteers, Bikes For Farmworkers, have turned the basement of the old Virgil Public School into an assembly line that would make Henry Ford jealous. Downstairs, they set up a number of repair stations completed with a stand, mat and a variety of tools purchased with the help of a grant.

Their primary mission is to provide road safe bikes to migrant workers. Bikes don’t go out the door until they’ve passed a 50-point checklist the volunteers have created, plus a reflector to ensure the cyclists are visible as they navigate the country roads of rural Niagara. Bikes that can’t be repaired are stripped for their parts.

The group has developed a handbook for those looking to start a similar organization. They are also willing to provide training and other support to help them get off the ground. 

They’re always looking for bike donations, as well. Anyone with a used or repairable bicycle can call Weiner, at 905-321-8638, or Gaudet, at 289-783-1684, to arrange for a pickup or drop-off during workshop hours.