BIDDEFORD — There’s a new medical practice in Biddeford, but not for people ”“ this one’s for bicycles. The Community Bicycle Center’s Bike Doctor program will start next week, searching for “patients” in areas of Biddeford where children are known to congregate.

The CBC is a nonprofit youth development program. The Bike Doctor program “goes out into the neighborhood for kids who can’t get to the Community Bicycle Center,” said Jadyha Gardner, a sixth-grader at Biddeford Middle School, who plans to assist with the program.

Although the bike mechanics working with the Bike Doctor program don’t have MD’s after their names, they certainly plan to treat their bicycle patients, often operating on the spot.

If more work is needed, they give the bike owners a “prescription,” said CBC spokeswoman Bronwyn Potthoff. The bikes can be brought to the CBC headquarters at St. Louis Field on Hill Street for more treatment.

Last year, the center ran a trial program with a trailer hitched to a bicycle that traveled the city. This year, a specially made bike is used for the program, one of only two like it in the country, said CBC Executive Director Andy Greif, and the only one with its specific purpose.

The bike is outfitted with a special metal box in the front, where a toolbox is kept. The top of the box has a table and other equipment used to make repairs.

The whole program relies on donations, said Potthoff. The Maine Community Foundation provided a grant to pay for a part-time lead mechanic to head the program. Other donations are from Biddeford companies or those with a Biddeford connection. The box was built and donated by DSM Metal Fabrications; Tammy Ackerman, owner of North 40 Creative, designed the logo and other artwork; and Screen Tech Printing printed the vinyl signs. The Alfred and Dorothy Suzi Osher Memorial Foundation, based in Portland, paid for the bike; Alfred Osher was originally from Biddeford.

In addition to an adult lead mechanic, some of the youngsters who have learned bike mechanic skills through attending the CBC will also be heading out with the special repair bike to help out, like Gardner and BMS seventh-grader Matthew Perkins, who have spent a lot of time at the CBC and are very proficient in bicycle repair, said Potthoff.

In addition to repairing bikes, another purpose of the program, she said, is to connect more children and their parents to the program.

Last year, said Potthoff, “We know there were kids who connected with the CBC because of this program.”

Gardner, who’s been attending the CBC for about a year, encourages others to check out the program because of the activities it offers and the atmosphere.

“You can fix a bike and do a lot more,” he said. There’s a bike art program where children can make lamps, drums and all sorts of items from old bike parts. There are also bike-riding groups that leave from the CBC, and on Thursday, there was even a drumming class.

In addition to the activities, said Gardner, “there’s always a nice face or a ”˜hi’ when you come in the door.”

In addition to fixing bikes and connecting others to the CBC, the Bike Doctor program also benefits the current youth who attend the CBC, said Greif.

It allows “the kids who have worked here to give back ”¦ by providing a service to the community,” he said. Also it teachers them vocational skills, customer service skills and responsibility ”“ important life skills that will help them when they look for employment someday, he said.

For more information on the Community Bicycle Center and/or the Bike Doctor, visit the website communitybike.net or call 282-9700.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.