Teenagers from low-income schools have a chance to earn a new bike and learn a new sport at the San Diego Velodrome in Balboa Park.
The San Diego VeloYouth Program reaches out to more than 100 students every year. Program director Matt Hoffmann said they work with at-risk teens from around San Diego and the South Bay.
“If they've gone through the program, done their community service, they had positive participation and great attendance, they earn a bike, a lock and a helmet at the end of our program,” Hoffmann said.
Hoffmann teaches kids how to ride bikes on the Velodrome track. He helps motivate them off the track with lessons in teamwork, personal responsibility and healthy competition.
According to the VeloYouth web site, more than 500 students have earned bikes through the program since 2006.
