Fixit Station

Sarah-Kate Splichal joined city parks department workers to install the first bike Fixit station along the city's trail system last week, bringing to life an idea approved by the Sidney City Council last August.

Splichal's project is part of work toward her Gold Award, the highest award for Girl Scouts and is equivalent to the Boy Scouts Eagle award.

Splichal presented her project to city council in August, explaining she thought about the project after she wrecked her bike going up a hill on the local bike trails. Sarah-Kate says that when she finally returned home with her bike she started researching Fixit stations for the bike trail as it would have been much easier to get home if she had tools to fix her bike after her wreck.

A Fixit is a stop at which someone stands their bike on the contraption and can use the tools to fix the bike or air the tire. Splichal will place two Fixit stations on the existing trails, one next to the college and one by the fair grounds.

Sarah-Kate's raised the money herself for the stations that run about $1,083 dollars per station. Additional spare tools are about $17. Each station also has a special finish so that it stays in good condition throughout Nebraska's weather conditions.