“Cycling promotes life skills, reduces screen time, increases independence, longevity, family fun, a new hobby, new adventures, and road safety awareness,” states Beyond Bikes. Bernadette R. Bogerty is the executive director of The Healthy Child and Adolescent Network, the agency that runs the Bike Giveaway Program.

It is the next level of the Bicycle Man, Moses Mathis.

Moses Mathis, the original Bicycle Man, gave away approximately 250,000 bicycles from 1990 to 2012. Mathis passed away in 2013. Ann Mathis, his wife, resumed the Bicycle Man tradition until her retirement in 2022.

Bernadette Bogerty, in her professional capacity as Cumberland County social worker, facilitated the Bicycle Man’s distribution program during the thirty-two-year period.

“At the height of the program, we were providing bicycles for 2,500 kids over the holiday. I could not in good conscience just let the program die when I had the opportunity to step up to the plate and continue Mr. Mathis’ legacy,” said Bogerty.

The late Moses Mathis bicycle giveaways empowered more than 250,000 neighborhood children. The children’s quality of life can be enhanced by:

1. “Reduced stress.
2. Improved Cognitive function.
3. Increased attention span
4. Health Body Mass Index
5. Social connection
6. Positive and effective coping skills
7. Reduces loneliness.
8. Enhances wellness.
9. Personal proficiency.
10. Community Solidarity,” states allkidsbike.org

“Teaching kids to ride a bicycle at a young age will instill positive coping skills, and protective tools against anxiety,” according to allkidsbike.org.

Bogerty is a graduate of Methodist University, a retired United States Air Force nurse, special education instructor and a retired Cumberland County Social Worker.

She has a neighborhood moniker, Ms. Bernie, The Bike Madea. She received the name from her grandchildren. The name became popular with the residents of the community.

Bogerty shared with the writer the long-term plan for the program is “to build the inventory to 2,500 for distribution each year, establish a partnership with Bike Clubs in Cumberland County, and the bicycle distribution expanded to age 17. Bicycle distribution programs are available for ages 18 and over.”

The writer asserts a primary quality of life benefit is the joy of receiving a bicycle. “As a kid, I had a dream I wanted my own bicycle. When I got the bike, I must have been the happiest boy in Liverpool. I lived for that bike. Most kids left their bikes in the backyard. Not me. I insisted on taking mine indoors and on the first night, I even kept it on my bed,” said John Lennon.

There are feel-good feelings accompanying bicycle donation.

“One of the key factors that motivate people to donate is a feel-good factor. The act of giving activates the release of feel-good hormones such as dopamine and oxytocin in the brain. These hormones are associated with feelings of trust, happiness and social bonding.

"Empathy allows us to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes and feel their emotions, which can trigger a desire to help,” according to Pride Philanthropy.

The Healthy Child and Adolescent Network-The Bike GiveAway Program requests donations of bicycles to the warehouse at 786 Blue Street.

Volunteers are welcome to the program. Contact Bernadette R. Bogerty by phone at 910-745-8008 or 910-929-0951 or by email at BikeGiveAwayCoordinator@ gmail.com.