A bicycle giveaway in Nashville has grown into a hands-on youth program: Terry Key has distributed more than 7,000 bikes to children in the Dellway and Edgehill communities over the past decade. The founder of Music City Riders still drives trucks for a living and devotes much of his free time to working with children in the neighborhood where he grew up.
The effort began with 40 bikes. As reported by NewsChannel 5, Key said, “Hands on Nashville gave me my first 40 bikes.” The giveaways later reached what was once known as the Dellway neighborhood, now called Fall Brook Apartments, and nearby Edgehill.
Key has said his ties to the neighborhood where he grew up informed his decision to stay involved, according to the outlet's report. That commitment led him to found the Edgehill Bike Club, which became the basis for the broader Music City Riders mission.
From Bike Repairs to a Learning Center
The program pairs bike giveaways with lessons in repair and maintenance, with Key encouraging children to take responsibility for the bikes, according to the station's report. That practical instruction became one part of a broader effort to support young people.
The group began forming bike clubs in neighborhoods across Nashville, and Key secured a building in North Nashville that became home to the Return the Favor Learning Center at 2618 Buchanan Street, according to the same outlet. The organization also received 20 bikes from Amazon and Barbershop Creations for its giveaways. The report said a grand opening and ribbon-cutting for the learning center was set for June 23 at 11 a.m., but did not specify the year.
Nashville's citywide biking plans
According to Nashville.gov, the Metro Planning Commission adopted the 2022 WalknBike Plan update on May 12, 2022, as a blueprint for making Nashville more walkable and bikeable. The verified information here does not provide neighborhood-level bicycle-network, safety or crash records, so it cannot establish biking conditions near Edgehill or North Nashville or specify the dates and limits of those records.
Scholarships and a Boxing Program Next Door
In the three years before one report on the program, the Edgehill Bike Club gave away 1,000 bikes and awarded four scholarships to help neighborhood children attend college. Key has also worked alongside Roy Bohanan, who teaches boxing for free next door. Key described it to FOX17 as “another program done for free.”
Key told NewsChannel 5 that some former club members graduated from high school, went to college and later returned to tell younger children about the program. The outlet also reported that Tonia Collier described Key's community involvement as priceless.
Friends, Donors and the Next Generation
The giveaways remain a community affair built on volunteers and donors rather than a large staff. Terry was recently out giving back with his childhood friends Chris Williams and Terrance Key, while Robert Moody of Roadside Pantry provided free food at the event. William Anderson of Veloteers Bicycle Club also donated bikes to help stock the giveaway.
Among the kids who benefited was Joshua, 16, who received a bike through the program, one of thousands of young Nashvillians who have walked away with a set of wheels and a lesson in how to care for them. Key said he plans to keep the Music City Riders mission going and wants others to join the effort. Anyone interested in supporting or donating to the organization can reach Key directly at [email protected].
