Used bicycles from Palatine an incentive to Chicago honor roll students

Mikes Bike Shop in Palatine was accepting donations of used bikes Saturday to be used as an incentive to Chicago Public School students to make the honor roll.

The shop was one of seven different drop-off locations in the Chicago area for the student-run Pedal Power bike donation charity overseen by Nicole Basil of Wilmette. According to Marla Bradley of Palatine, more than 1,800 bikes have been donated through the effort in recent years. Bradley and her daughter Leah were at Mikes to accept donations

"Every year, the Chicago Public School system picks one school to receive around 200 donated bikes," said Marla Bradley.

"Every time someone walks through the door to donate a bike, it's better than selling it at a garage sale," said Leah, a student at Palatine High School. "These bikes can go to someone that's working very hard for them. I get a bike whenever I grow out of one, but these kids don't have that same opportunity."

More information is at www.gopedalpower.com.