In yesterday's post, I talked about the importance of bicycles, sometimes modified, for people with disabilities. Some people, like a man I mentioned, can't get drivers' licenses because of their disabilities, but they can still pedal a two- or three-wheeler. That can allow disabled folks to get to jobs or classes, or exercise, they might not have otherwise. Being able to study, make a living and get exercise--or simply enjoy some of the other things normally-abled people take for granted--brings about a sense of independence and some semblance of control over their lives.
For some disabled people, such as Randy Bowling, simply getting a bike is an accomplishment. The 50-year-old Hamilton, Ohio resident suffered a traumatic brain injury at age 16. A few months ago, he spent $157 on a bike he rode four miles, each way, to and from his job at a Wal-Mart. "It was the first bike I ever bought myself," he said.
Now that bike is gone. On Saturday night, Bowling rode to the door of a nearby store. He stepped inside and, less than a minute later, a man rode up on another bike, grabbed Bowling's ride, and took off. The theft was captured on the store's video camera.
Although he needs the job and says he's prepared to walk to work if he must, Bowling says he doesn't feel angry toward the guy who took his bike. "I'd rather talk to him and help him get a job," he expains.
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