Two-Wheeled Philanthropy An unlikely alliance between a good citizen and a bike shop owner has helped more than 12,000 people get around.

For Kay Liggett, owner of the bike shop Criterium in Colorado Springs, Colo., helping out began as mere curiosity. On her way to and from her business back in 1993, she regularly spotted a man fixing bikes on the sidewalk. Eventually she stopped to ask him what he was doing.

Peter Sprunger-Froese told Liggett he repaired bicycles for homeless and disadvantaged people at no charge. He also told her that he frequently lost tools and parts because he didn't have a place to store them and they would get stolen.

Liggett urged him to look for a low-cost space to do his work, and she even offered to contribute to his effort. Sprunger-Froese was suspicious of her motives, she says, not understanding why a bike shop owner would fund his efforts.