Since 2021, Pelkey has put 1530 kids on a refurbished bike
By Andrew Harris, pictured is Hornell Mayor John Buckley with Pelkey in 2024
The impact of Larry Pelkey’s generosity is hard to measure. Would over 1200 local kids, and 300 adults be without a bicycle for having fun, getting to school, or getting to work?
With his kindness and love for his community, Pelkey has changed thousands of lives with a simple act.
Riding bikes with friends around the neighborhood or headed to the park is a part of American life that Pelkey has preserved for many. If you don’t have a bike, how could you enjoy that little freedom and means of travel ?
Many adults are have wheels thanks to the “Bikeman,” and his merry band of helpers. Would they still have a job without that bike to get to work ?
The impact has been real and has changed many lives, including Larry’s. He’s been recognized by the Mayor who called his efforts, “phenomenal and greatly beneficial to our community.”
Larry will be the first to tell you this has been a group effort. Besides her happy band of bike fixing family including his daughter and grandkids, the entire Hornell community has stepped up. In the last two years Larry reports that 371 bikes have been donated to his cause!
The Bikeman beams with pride explaining this generosity:
“Last year residents donated 172 bikes! I commented that it was a ridiculous number of bikes that were donated! Fully expected at least a slight drop off in bikes being donated. So far this year 199 bikes have been donated by individual people! Unbelievable!” Photo by Steve Harrison
Thanks to this spirit of giving, Larry can stop buying old bikes out of pocket and focus on repairs:
“As of now looking I can stop purchasing of bike. With such outpouring from local residents and RCB bikes of Rochester and Martin’s Bicycle of Dundee the outlook looks great for 2026!!
I started in May of 2025 gathering bikes for spring of 2026. Takes a year to get bikes and all winter preparing them.”
Now celebrating five years of operating at the superhero “The Bikeman,” he expects to celebrate putting 2000 bikes in the hands of those who need wheels.
On top of the bikes, and the riders, don’t forget the helmet!! Thanks to the partnership with the Hornell Police Department, Larry has been able to provide a quality, brand-new helmet with his bikes!
Stay tuned for the next big bike and helmet giveaway from The Bikeman and his crew. Larry is excited for 2026: “So onward we go!!“
Read more about Hornell’s “Bikeman” and how he got started on this incredible mission:
