How Metro’s Adopt-A-bike program is bringing mobility and joy to families impacted by the fires 

On the night of January 7, Rafaela Márquez’s home in Altadena lost power due to the 70+ mph winds. The signal was weak. She couldn’t watch the news or hear the radio clearly. Later that night, she received an evacuation order due to the Eaton Fire. 

“The fire looked far away, but the smell of smoke made it hard to breathe,” she recalls. She quickly packed a change of clothes, a pair of shoes, and a toothbrush for herself and her 6-year-old son Sebastian, who only had time to grab his favorite stuffed animal. After midnight, they fled with several relatives in one car, thinking they’d return the next day. 

Hours later, Rafaela learned that her home had burned to the ground. “I cried so much and felt so powerless. We had lived there for 30 years,” she says. The flames also destroyed her car, her bikes, and the homes of the families where she worked taking care of other kids. In a matter of hours, she lost everything: her house, her transportation, her job. 

After spending 11 days in an Airbnb, Rafaela and her family managed to rent a home in Pasadena. But without a car, getting around was difficult. “At first, I took my son to school by bus and then walked 40 minutes back home to save on bus fares,” she explains. 

Things got better when she saw a flyer at the Altadena Library about Metro’s Adopt-A-Bike program, which provides free bicycles to people in underserved communities across Los Angeles County. Rafaela applied online. “I’m not very good with technology, but filling the application it was easy,” she says. 

In just four years, Adopt-A-Bike has distributed nearly 4,600 bicycles, becoming the largest program of its kind in the country. When riders leave behind their bikes on the Metro system, they’re sent to the Lost and Found Department. If they remain unclaimed for over 90 days, they become property of the agency, as mandated by California law. 

Instead of selling unclaimed bikes as scrap, Metro partners with five local organizations that receive small grants to repair the bikes and identify individuals most in need—people who can use them for commuting to school, work, or recreation. Shortly after the fires, the program and its partners launched a special campaign to collect donated bikes specifically for impacted families. So far, about 250 bikes have been given to fire victims this year. 

A month ago, Rafaela received a cargo bike, which she now uses to go grocery shopping, pick up medicine from the pharmacy, and borrow books for her son’s homework from the library. “I think Adopt-A-Bike is a fantastic program that really helps people like me who’ve lost their car,” she says. “Plus, the bike doesn’t need any gas.” 

Her son Sebastian also received a small bike with training wheels. “He lost all his toys in the fire,” she says, “and this brought back his joy.”  

One bike, One smile for the children 

For many families affected by the Eaton Fire, the loss was absolute —homes, vehicles, memories, and even children’s beloved toys.  

Richard Stebbins, a husband and father of two kids, also lost his home in Altadena. He learned about the Adopt-A-Bike program through a community organization in the San Gabriel Valley. Though unsure if he’d qualify, he filled out the form. 

“I was surprised and happy when we were told we’d receive bikes—and with helmets too,” he says. His 11-year-old son Jack was so excited he hopped on right away. “These are better than the ones we had before!” exclaimed his six-year-old daughter Luna, when she saw her new sparkly lavender bike.   

Richard evacuated with his family thinking they’d be back home within days. He packed some clothes and supplies for their dog and cat. “The house was gone within hours. I regret leaving my computer. It had all our family photos and videos I hadn’t backed up in the cloud. That’s irreplaceable,” he laments. 

After the fire, the family stayed in an Airbnb for a week before relocating to an apartment in Alhambra. While both he and his wife kept their jobs, rebuilding their lives has been a challenge. “It’s been a tough process for us and the kids too,” Richard shares. “But I think the bikes have given them a sense of normalcy again.”  

“You have no idea how much joy these bikes have brought to my kids,” says Richard. “For Jack, it means independence and the freedom to ride whenever he wants. And for Luna, it’s the chance to keep learning how to ride and feel like a big girl.” 

For the Stebbins family, the bikes have offered not only transportation but fun, exercise, and a chance to connect with the community.  “They’ve become a part of our healing process as a family,” Richard says. 

An invitation to help 

When you lose everything, replacing essentials like food and clothing always come first. Replacing bicycles can get expensive –– more than many struggling families can afford.  

“We’ve received a lot of help from the community, but I noticed that Adopt-A-Bike was the only program that helped us with bicycles. That’s amazing!” Richard says. “If you’re a business or individual who can donate, I encourage you to do it… We are eternally grateful to Metro and Day One for these bikes for our children.” 

Rafaela agrees, noting that something you no longer use might be a treasure for someone else. “If you have a dusty or unused bike, donate it! It will be a huge help for someone who has lost everything.” 

Metro and our partner organizations continue collecting bikes to give to families in need. If you have a new or used bike you’d like to donate, bring it to: 

Day One, Pasadena – godayone.org 
175 N. Euclid Ave., T-W-TH, 9:30am–5:30pm 
📧 DOBike@godayone.org | 📞 (626) 657-8744 

Every donation helps someone move forward. Let’s keep the wheels of kindness turning.