Detroit man with medical needs asks for help after custom bike was stolen

Man contacts Help Me Hank

DETROIT – For Brian Craddock, his bike was everything.

Due to his physical challenges, it's difficult for Craddock to ride public transit. His bike, with extra shock absorbers helped cushion his ride.

Craddock's bike is his method of transportation. It gets him everywhere, including to and from his medical appointments.

But a few weeks ago, as he was laying on a park bench to relax his neck for a minute, his bike was stolen.

Craddock has filed a police report and has been search for it, but hasn't had any luck.
He now walks about five miles to get to the doctor.

Craddock called Help Me Hank in hopes to get help finding his bike.

Our consumer investigator, Hank Winchester, got in touch with an organization that's spent the last 10 years helping those in the Detroit community.

The Hub is a community-owned bike shop and jumped at the chance to help Craddock.

Jeff Getten, the general manager of the shop, said it can do things that other bike shops can't.

"We have the lowest labor rates in town. We have a free flat fix program for people who can't afford a flat fix. We give them the patches, glue, tubes -- and we set them up at a work stand to fix it themselves," said Getten.

The Hub also has used parts that can be sold at low rates to keep people's bikes moving. The store will often take old bikes, fix them up to get them in moving order and then sell them. That money then goes back to the youth programming nonprofit called Back Alley Bikes.

Back Alley Bikes has been in existence for the last 17 years, giving free bikes to children 18 years of age and younger.

The organization created The Hub to keep doing youth programs and to keep fixing up bicycles.

Getten and his team at the The Hub found a bike that fits Craddock's height. They then added shock absorbers and new handle bars.

Craddock was so surprised and happy to get the bike, and it was just in time -- he had a doctor appointment that same day.

If you're interested in checking out The Hub, click here.

The shop is located at 3611 Cass Avenue.

Back Alley Bikes has a lot of programs and events coming up.

Check out the calendar for a list of events.

You'll also find information about the event Bike the Blizzard here.

You can also click on the Youth Programs tab to find out more about the organization's ride club, Earn a Bike Program, as well as the Mechanics in Training Program.


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