A Telford mother of five will now have a quicker commute, reports John Worthington for the Times Herald.

Thanks to a donation from the Partnership Transportation Management Association of Montgomery County (TMA), Ivania Velasquez now has a bike to ride to work. Velasquez, who had been walking nearly an hour to her job at Burger King despite foot injuries, received the bike on Friday, Oct. 11, at the Keystone Opportunity Center.

The donation is part of TMA’s bike match program, which provides reliable transportation to those in need. The Keystone Opportunity Center, a resource she used for years, referred Velasquez to the program. “The bike is essential for Ivania,” said Keystone’s Executive Director Brandon Trombetta.

This marks the 15th bike donation by TMA since the program began in 2022. TMA partners with Bike and Sol, a local non-profit bike shop, to source bikes and provide helmets, lights, locks, and cycling safety tips. TMA Executive Director Jacqui Baxter-Rollins emphasized the importance of transportation access for workforce development, adding that community support is vital to expanding the program.

Velasquez’s previous bike was also a TMA donation, but was stolen. The new one comes with a sturdier lock and a lesson on how to secure it. With her new bike, Velasquez is optimistic about the future for her and her family. “I feel good,” she said. “I’ll be moving soon, and hopefully, we won’t have the same issue with this bike.”

Read more about the Partnership Transportation Management Association of Montgomery County at the Times Herald.