Texas Houston South Mission Bicycle Policy
Missionaries use bikes almost every day while serving the people of Texas. All ELDERS and SISTERS are required to have a bicycle, head & tail lights, a bicycle lock (U-style combination locks are preferred), and a helmet. Using a helmet is mandatory while riding a bicycle. A kickstand is optional but recommended. The bicycle and accessories must be in place, ready to use on the first day the missionary arrives in the Texas Houston South Mission (THSM).
To reduce the risk of theft, we recommend that missionaries deface their bicycles by spray painting them and putting duct tape on them to make them less attractive to thieves. Please think about the bicycle like you think of your mission shoes—to be worn out in the service of the Lord.
As an option, the THSM works with a local bike shop, Trek Bicycle Sugar Land, which provides reliable and durable new bikes to our missionaries at discounted prices. Trek assembles and tunes the bikes they sell before the missionary arrives. They also provide a free tune up after 90 days and keep all parts in stock for quick repairs.
What to Do:
1) Call Trek Bicycle Sugar Land at (281) 201-2091. You can make arrangements to purchase a bike over the phone. Unless Trek has the bike in stock, delivery can run 1-2 months or beyond. We pick up the bikes from the bike shop a couple of days before the missionary arrives.
2) Advise the THSM Vehicle Coordinator of your purchase by emailing the model number of your new bike to 2010569-vc@churchofjesuschrist.org.
3) If you don’t purchase a bike from Trek Bicycle Sugar Land, purchase a bike from another source and/or ship your own bike so that it is in place and ready for use one week before the missionary arrives in Houston.
FAQ’s
1) Do I have to purchase my bike from Trek Bicycle Sugar Land?
ANSWER: No. You can buy a bike from any source and have it delivered to the mission office. For example: missionaries have purchased bikes from Schwinn, Trek online, Costco, Walmart, etc. It will be delivered to the mission office in a box, and the mission office staff will assemble it.
2) Can I ship my own bike to the THSM?
ANSWER: We encourage you to ship your own bike to the mission office. There are commercial services that can assist in this process like bikeflights.com. The missionary can likely obtain a free shipping box from a local bike shop and, if mechanically inclined, could disassemble and pack their own bike and arrange with UPS or FedEx etc. to ship the bike to the Mission Office. Shipping costs approximately $150.
Additionally, bikes need to be assembled once received at the Mission Office. The Mission Office staff currently has the tools and expertise to assemble and tune up bikes. However, if we get over-loaded, the new missionary may have to reassemble the bike on their own. We have a few tools at the Mission Office for this purpose.
2) After the mission can I ship my bike back home?
ANSWER: Yes. A missionary who wants to keep her or his bike can ship it home. It will be up to the missionary to obtain a packing box, disassemble, pack, and ship the bike at their own cost. We suggest using bikeflights.com as your shipping company. Do not ask other missionaries or members to ship your bike home for you!
3) If I don’t ship my bike home, what might I do with it?
ANSWER: You may choose to donate it to the mission to be used as temporary loaners for missionaries who need a bike in an emergency. At times departing missionaries wish to sell their personal mission bike. As your arrival time draws near you may ask to see if there are any for sale. You may send an email to the Vehicle/Bike Coordinator, 2010569-vc@churchofjesuschrist.org, to determine if any missionaries want to sell their mission bike at that time. (Understand the bike has been well used for two years – we cannot guarantee the condition of any bike being sold.)
(When you finish your mission don’t leave your bike in your apartment! Dispose of it by either shipping it home or bringing it to the office to be donated.)
4) Does the THSM maintain and repair bicycles? Who pays the cost of repairs and maintenance of bicycles?
ANSWER: The THSM simply doesn’t have the space, staffing, expertise or equipment to repair bicycles. Therefore, maintenance or repairs that the missionary is unable to perform will require that the bike be taken to a bicycle shop. The missionary or his/her family are responsible for the cost of all repairs and maintenance.
5) What if a missionary can’t afford to purchase a bike?
ANSWER: The THSM recognizes that the cost of a bicycle is not insignificant. If purchasing the bike and accessories would be a financial hardship for the missionary or his/her family, we encourage you to counsel with your bishop about a solution.
Please feel free to email the THSM Vehicle Coordinator at 2010569-vc@churchofjesuschrist.org with any questions or concerns.