Ocean City Youth Brings Bicycle Repair Stations to Haven Avenue

What started last year as a community service project by Ocean City resident Joseph Tordella will yield two bicycle repair stations for the public to use along Ocean City's Haven Avenue bicycle corridor.

One station has been in place for more than a month on Haven Avenue between 17th and 18th streets, behind the Ocean City Community Center. Another will be installed soon on Haven Avenue between Ninth and 10th streets, near the Ocean City Transportation Center.

The repair stations include a tire pump, basic tools, a stand to lift bicycle frames and a QR code that directs smartphones to repair instructions.

Tordella, 18, is a recent graduate of St. Augustine Prep in Buena Vista Township. He first learned about the equipment in his environmental science class, and he saw a need for it in his hometown.

With the promise of a little extra credit in the class, Tordella raised about $1,200 through local businesses and organizations for a single repair station. The city matched the funds and paid for the second station.

The Dero Fixit is manufactured in Minnesota, according to Tordella. The station is a one-piece design for performing “road-side” maintenance on your bicycle. It includes commonly used bicycle tools such as wrenches and screwdrivers for changing out a tire or making a seat adjustment.

"The station also has a QR code on the front of it that users can scan with their smartphone," Tordella said. "It will direct them to BicycleTutor.com, a website that offers over 50 repair tutorials for bicycles. We ordered two red colored models to attract attention."

"Ocean City, a town which emphasizes the use of bicycles, especially throughout summer, would greatly benefit from this project," Tordella said last year when he started to raise money.

The push to buy bicycle repair stations is not Tordella's first public service project.

He worked with Ocean City Airport Manager Bill Colangelo to buy a "Welcome to America's Greatest Family Resort" sign for the airport.

The project was part of Tordella's work to achieve Eagle Scout rank with Troop 32 in Ocean City.