Bicycles for International Workers
In the summer of 2006 Seth Hedgcock, a member of the Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club, noticed one of the many international workers, who are in the Boothbay Region for the summer, walking to get to their second job. International workers are critical to the Boothbay Region as they fill many of the seasonal jobs required to support the personnel needs of the numerous hospitality related businesses found on the Boothbay peninsula. So Seth offered the worker a ride and it was at that moment that the idea of providing bicycles for these workers to more easily move around the area was born.
Rotarian Seth Hedgcock collects and refurbishes bicycles for redistribution.
From 2006 until 2017 the Boothbay Harbor Rotary Bike received used bikes to support this effort. Members of the Rotary Club fixed and maintained these bikes so they would be safe for the workers and loaned them out for the season free of charge. Over the years this program grew to the point where it was felt that a more standardize bike, that was easier to maintain and could hold up better in the elements, was needed. So in 2017 the Rotary Club was able to purchase 115 bikes, which met these needs. The bikes we have now are easier to maintain, can better handle the elements and are easy to ride.
Costa Rica's Rolando Mora Segura shows off his new wheels.
The Rotary Club continues to lend bikes out free of charge to the seasonal workers (domestic and international) who are here for the summer. Many of these workers have been back for several seasons. The only requirement is that a deposit be made which is fully refunded upon the return of the bike in good condition.
Information and notices on how to obtain a bike will be found in the Boothbay Register and with the Chamber of Commerce generally in the beginning of the season or by clicking on the link found on the Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club web site https://boothbayharborrotary.org.