Abandoned bicycle club gives 122 bikes to community in 2023

Abandoned bicycle club gives to Korean service members in community — 1 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Korean service member picks out a bicycle at the U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys Abandoned Bicycle Club giveaway on Dec. 16 at Bldg. 5550. The club gave away about 30 refurbished bicycles to Korean military serving on Camp Humphreys or Korean Augmentees to the U.S. Army (KATUSA).

The Abandoned Bicycle Club hosts these giveaways with the assistance of the garrison’s Directorate of Emergency Services to provide opportunities for community members to select from abandoned bicycles and register them as their own. (U.S. Army photo by Patrick Bray/Released) (Photo Credit: Patrick Bray) VIEW ORIGINAL

Abandoned Bicycles Find New Owners for Veterans Day — 11 / 16 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of the community pick up hot dogs and burgers during a bike giveaway, Nov. 11, at building Bldg. 5550, a warehouse across from Humphreys Middle School. The Humphreys Abandoned Bicycle Club distributed more than 80 refurbished bicycles during their giveaway event. (U.S. Army photo by Richard Kim) (Photo Credit: Richard Kim) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea – The Humphreys Abandoned Bicycle Club distributed 122 refurbished bicycles in 2023 to the Camp Humphreys community.

The first bicycle giveaway took place Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2023, and focused on junior-enlisted Soldiers. Then again, Dec. 16, 2023, the club gave away bicycles to Korean Augmentees to the U.S. Army (KATUSA) and members of the Korean military community on Camp Humphreys.

“Last time we gave aways bicycles to junior-enlisted Soldiers. This time we wanted to make sure our Korean counterparts could get a bicycle,” said Dan Melton, a U.S. Army retiree who leads the Humphreys Abandoned Bicycle Club. “They are part of our community too.”

The club has been in operation since September but has quickly grown to become a symbol of community support and service, said Melton.

Melton and his team of volunteers collaborated with the garrison’s Directorate of Emergency Services to legally obtain abandoned bicycles from around the installation. Using registration numbers, the directorate determined if bicycles were abandoned by the previous owner and transported them to the club’s warehouse at Bldg. 5550 to be refurbished.

Once the community members picked out their bicycles DES personnel were on-site to register the bicycles to their new owners.

“All bicycles operated on-base need to be registered with DES per U.S. Forces Korea regulation. Not only does it help determine if the bicycle has been abandoned but it also helps locate the rightful owner should it be stolen,” said Maj. Paul Coleman, provost marshal for USAG Humphreys.

The Humphreys Abandoned Bicycle Club is accepting new volunteers and donations. A bicycle, regardless of condition, can be donated at Bldg. 5550 across from Humphreys West Elementary School the first or third Saturday of the month from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., when the club is meeting. The club is also looking for parts such as inner tubes, chains, etc.

“Any donations we can get will help,” said Melton. “It doesn’t have to be a bicycle or parts. We’ll also accept cleaning supplies, WD-40, lubricants – anything at all to get these bikes serviceable again.”

Melton anticipates the next bicycle giveaway to be in April. For more information on the club or how to donate, please email drmahmi@gmail.com.