New Minibikes Rev Up Youth Guidance Effort

The way John Gonzalez sees it, the motorbikes draw the kids in, but it’s the camaraderie and sense of accomplishment that keeps them coming back.

If that is so, then El Proyecto del Barrio, where Gonzalez works as a project director, just gained considerably more drawing power.

Earlier this week, American Honda officials visited the Panorama City after-school and guidance center to present El Proyecto with 18 new minibikes. The minibikes will be used in a motivational program that demands responsibility and academic achievement in exchange for trips to the desert to ride the bikes.

Gonzalez, who has headed El Proyecto’s National Youth Project Using Minibikes--or NYPUM--program for seven years, says he knows no better way to steer youth between 10 and 18 years old away from the streets and into positive lifestyles.

“The bikes are the bait,” Gonzalez said. “But once they’ve been here for a while, just being a part of the group becomes the most important thing.”

Lined up in a row, the 18 spotless red and white motorbikes drew raves from youth in the program.

“They’re cool. Much better than the old ones,” said Jorge Valdez, 14, a ninth-grader at San Fernando High School. “I can’t wait to ride them. Maybe we’ll go out to the desert this weekend.”

Since 1969 when the program was established under the auspices of the YMCA, Honda has donated more than 10,000 minibikes to the project, said Willie Tokishi, NYPUM president and head of community relations for Honda.

“It’s important to show these kids that there are people who care about their future,” Tokishi said, “but before they ride they must fulfill their end of the deal.”

Besides maintaining good grades in school and good attendance at El Proyecto, the 50 or so boys and girls enrolled in the Valley’s only NYPUM program must pass a rigorous safety course before they are permitted to ride.

“I don’t worry about safety; I think they get very good training,” said Felipe Perez, whose son David, 12, is in the group. “This is a great thing for these kids. I wish other kids had this opportunity.”