Submitted photo Surangana Rijal of Youngstown received this free bike from Pedal Forward, a program affiliated with Thrive Mahoning Valley.

YOUNGSTOWN — For many residents of the Mahoning Valley, getting to work, school or a doctor’s appointment isn’t as simple as grabbing a car key.

Bus routes don’t always run when they’re needed. Asking a friend for a ride can feel like an imposition. And for international students or newcomers still finding their footing, simply getting around can be one more exhausting challenge in an already demanding new life.

Pedal Forward, a program run by Thrive Mahoning Valley, is working to change that — one bicycle at a time.

Thrive Mahoning Valley has been serving both newcomers and longtime residents of the region since 2018. Its mission is to create a more welcoming community by connecting people to economic, social and educational opportunities. Its vision is a Mahoning Valley recognized as a place that is welcoming to all — a community built on equity, belonging and shared opportunity. Pedal Forward is one of the most tangible expressions of that vision.

The program began modestly in fall 2022 under the name “Bikes for Students.” The first recipient was an international student at Youngstown State University — a violinist at the Dana School of Music — who simply needed a more reliable way to get around campus. The difference that one bike made was immediate.

“Having a bike made it much easier for him to get around campus and be more efficient in his daily commuting to and from school,” said Ariana Wyndham, program director at Thrive.

From there, the need became impossible to ignore. The team found parishioners walking hours to and from church, neighbors making late-night treks to and from work on foot and a growing number of international students with no local network to lean on for rides. By 2024 the program had grown into something larger — and earned a new name: Pedal Forward.

Today, the program does far more than hand out bicycles. Volunteers and a bike technician have repaired more than 180 bikes in a workshop in the basement of Thrive’s offices. The organization recently opened a showroom that stocks new and used bikes, tools, parts and accessories.

Thrive has become an authorized retailer for State Bicycle Co., with four new bikes in inventory alongside at least 14 donated and refurbished used bikes. The sales from this enterprise help to keep the giving side of the program running — allowing Thrive to continue offering free bikes year-round to those who need them. There are no fees or costs to apply and no costs to receive a bicycle.

The impact on recipients has been profound, organizers said. People describe the bikes as more than just transportation — they represent independence, reliability and dignity.

“I needed reliable transportation to get to work and appointments consistently. Having the bike has significantly improved my ability to access essential services and maintain my job without relying on infrequent public transport,” one recipient, who did not want to be named, said.

Wyndham noted the desire for independence is a common thread among applicants.

“I’ve noticed many who say they want the bike simply because they don’t want to be a burden to those around them,” she said.

For international students in particular, who often arrive without a car, without a local support network and with every logistical challenge still ahead of them, a bicycle can be the difference between struggling and thriving.

Pedal Forward has grown thanks to a wide range of community partners, including the Raymond John Wean Foundation, Walmart’s Community Spark Grant, Farmers National Bank, the League of American Bicyclists, Western Reserve Transit Authority, the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp., the Warren Police Department, the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, the Struthers and YSU police departments, Youngstown Solidarity and the Mahoning Valley Freedom Fighters.

Demand for the program increases every year, with many applicants hearing about it through word of mouth, flyers and social media. Anyone in the Mahoning Valley who is facing transportation hardship, the Pedal Forward waiting list is open — and the only thing required is a need for a bike.

Those interested in obtaining a bike or a repair can contact Thrive at https://thrivemv.org/ or call 330-595-6880.