PRINCETON, W.Va. (WOAY) – In Mercer County, a small nonprofit is giving old bicycles a second life and giving those in need a new way forward.
The Mercer Street Bicycle Co-Op runs on donations, accepting bikes in all conditions. Whether slightly used or deeply rusted, every bicycle that comes through the door has a chance to be rebuilt, repaired, and ridden again.
“Our big mission is to put kids who don’t have access to a bicycle on a bike,” said Tom Morgan, founder of the co-op.
Morgan, a retired HVAC technician, spends more than 40 hours a week breathing new life into bikes. It’s not just about fixing chains and replacing tires, it’s about restoring freedom.
“All these bikes have come in here through donation. They’re coming in various stages of disrepair. Some of them are in better shape. We call those low-hanging fruit. And then some of them, you know, need a lot of effort,” Morgan said.
For many residents in the region, a bike isn’t just for fun. It’s a lifeline.
“To some people, it’s a car. It’s how they get their laundry to the laundromat. It’s how they get to the grocery store, and it has the potential to really make a difference in a person’s life,” Morgan said.
Upstairs, he calls it the Boneyard, a storage space packed with frames, wheels, and parts waiting for a second chance.
“This is a room where pretty much everything in here is going to be a bike again,” Morgan said.
Morgan’s ties to West Virginia run deep. His family has lived in the Mountain State for more than 200 years. His father, like many before him, worked in the coal mines before seeking new opportunities out West in Idaho’s silver and gold mines. After his father’s passing, Morgan found his way back to West Virginia, searching for property and a way to reconnect with his roots.
What he found was more than a building in Princeton. It was a chance to give back.
“When you get the chance to take a kid who’s in a situation where their day-to-day life may not be great and give them something that has the potential to really be a happy moment and for them to have a lot of happy times on that bike, it’s just it’s amazing,” Morgan said.
“You’ve probably had the opportunity in your life to give someone a gift, you know, in the way that you see how they react to it, how it makes you feel. Imagine putting yourself in a situation where you get to do that almost every day,” Morgan said.
For Morgan, the work is deeply personal. Growing up in a low-income family, his first bike, a secondhand gift from his grandmother, was his first taste of freedom. Now, he’s making sure others get the same chance.
“Your first bicycle is a big deal, and when you get the opportunity to be the presenter of a kid’s first bike, it’s awesome for them, it’s awesome for us, and it kind of fills up your heart,” Morgan said.
But restoring a bike isn’t free. Morgan says almost every bicycle needs new parts before it’s road-ready.
“Almost every bicycle that comes in here gets a seat, gets it. Quite a few of them get a chain. Every bike that gets a seat almost always gets grips,” he said.
It typically costs about $35 in parts to rebuild a bike to be donated, without counting labor. To help fund the work, the co-op also operates a small gift shop selling accessories, T-shirts, and other cycling essentials.
Still, donations are essential to keep the co-op open.
“Keep those old bikes coming through the door so that we have the building blocks that we need to get bicycles out,” Morgan said.
From 1940s classics to today’s rides, the bikes in the shop carry decades of history and a few surprises.
Through countless hours and hundreds of bikes, the Mercer Street Bicycle Co-Op is giving more than just rides. It’s giving control back to people, one bike at a time.
HOW TO HELP:
The Mercer Street Bicycle Co-Op accepts bicycle donations of all sizes and conditions. Monetary donations can also be made through their website here.
