Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park

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  • Home
  • Donate
  • Contact
  • Photo Gallery
    • Around the Park PG
    • Chocolate Tasting PG
    • Tour de Friends PG
    • Education PG
    • Visitor Survey
    • Holiday Boutique & Book Fair PG
    • Trail Days PG

The Gordon Reid Borrow-a-Bike Program

We Provide Free Loaner Bikes --

One of the most popular activities provided by FOCHSP is" Borrow-a-Bike". Here people can borrow a bike to ride within the park and see the sights for up to 2 hours...at no charge! That said, we do gladly accept all donations to help us offset the cost of new bikes, helmets and maintenance.  There is a  secure donation box  on the left front of the Barn.
Since its start in 1997, Borrow-a-Bike has always been operated entirely by volunteers and funded by donations. In 2014, bikes were borrowed by around  13,000 people and  that number  continues to  grow, reaching more than 14,000 in 2019
Please scroll down to see our opening hours, and for  how to borrow our bikes


            Local Bike Shops Support
​        Friends of CHSP Bike Program

 
 The Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park (FOCHSP) Borrow-a-Bicycle program received an early present last year. For twenty-six years, visitors have been able to visit the Bike Barn adjacent to the Nature Center and borrow a free bicycle to tour the Park’s paths. The Bike Barn holds a fleet of forty-four adult bikes, twelve kids’ bikes, and three commercial grade bike trailers.
 The bike fleet has always relied on donated equipment, maintained by the talented bike mechanics who are members of FOCHSP’s all-volunteer Bike Barn Ambassadors group, but these trusty cycles have been showing their age.
 FOCHSP performed  a major upgrade to the fleet in 2022.. Thirty-one of the adult bikes in the fleet were  replaced with near-new Electra and Sun cruiser bikes. (See below) All bikes are now outfitted with baskets and bike bells. Ian Friedland, the Bike Barn coordinator notes that this upgrade couldn’t have happened without assistance from the wonderful folks at Lewes Cycle Sports, Seagreen Bicycles, and Rehoboth Cycle Sports. All three shops continue to provide outstanding support for the program.
 
Twenty-six of the replaced bikes were  moved on to serve a different population. FOCHSP donated them to the Delaware Department of Transportation’s (DelDOT) J1 Bicycle program. This program gives bikes to the foreign students who come and work in local shops and restaurants during the busy summer months.

 
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​Early Fall  opening hours for the Bike Barn  are  now 6 days a week (closed Tuesdays) 10:00 am - 3pm   Bikes can be borrowed for up to 2 hours,  weather permitting, with last bikes out at 2 pm. 
​ All bikes must be returned to the Bike Barn by 2:45 pm
. Please check back here regularly, as days and hours of operation may be subject to change


Procedures are in place to ensure safety for our Bike Barn volunteers and  our visitors. This includes restricting access to the Bike Barn buildings – visitors pick up and return bikes and helmets outside the Bike Barn.
 Borrowers must complete the form provided inside the Nature Center, and leave a photo-ID there for up to 5 riders, prior to picking up bikes. 
Groups larger than 10 must email: FOCHSP@gmail.com or call us
at 302-858-6127.  At least a week in  advance to schedule their requirements 
  • ​All riders under 18 must wear helmets
  • At least one responsible adult must accompany children in each group
  • Bikes and helmets will be available for pickup at the bike racks located between the Nature Center and Bike Barn.
  • Bikes must stay on trails and in the Park at all times
  • Bikes must be returned within 2 hours, but no later than 2:45 p.m.
  • Please Note:  Due to concerns for their health and safety, children under the age of 12 months are not allowed on our bikes with infant seats, or in our trailers.
​       The American Academy of Pediatrics states on its website: “Babies younger than 12                months old have relatively weak neck structure.  Neither helmet nor bike travelling is              recommended for them”
       There  is also  a highly respected  international  organization called “Safe Kids” which             offers the same advice.  Click/ tap here for full information on this topic:   
​       Bike Safety for Babies | Safe Kids Worldwide

 

The Story of Borrow-A- Bike

The Borrow-A-Bike program began with a plan in 1997 and has always been operated by volunteers. In 1999, a $3,000 grant from The Delaware Bicycle Council enabled the purchase of 15 bikes that were housed in a shed built by the Lion’s Club. Additional donations — including $1,000 from Dupont — increased the program to 35 bicycles operated from a new shed supplied by the Friends. The current "Bike Barn"  which stands next to the Nature Center was built from scratch in 2009 by Friends volunteers under the leadership of Stan Lemiska, Chuck Moore, and Carl Lofgren. Today, the program includes  more than 40 adult  bicycles, including 2 with baby carriers, 12 children’s bicycles, and  3 double baby trailers.  Due to the  popularity of the program a second  Bike Barn was also constructed behind the existing one. This will also  free up much needed space  for the ongoing maintenance  and repairs of the bikes.

 
Interested in Volunteering? 

We always need  volunteers to  act as "ambassadors"  who help  our visitors select the right bike for their needs, and/or  as mechanics to service and make running repairs  to our fleet.   If you would like to volunteer and want to know more about what is involved  please stop by the Barn  which is next to the Nature Center anytime we are open ,  or  go to "contact us" on this site and   call or email us.  You will receive a very warm welcome to our group for however much or little time you are able to give.
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