One of OCB’s latest projects is refurbishing bikes and donating them to newcomers to Canada, supporting access to employment, education and everything else Vancouver has to offer!
Bicycles are critical for Transportation Justice. They enable community participation, the ability to earn an income and access essential services. As Vancouver and the surrounding area fast become one of the most expensive regions in the world, access to this affordable means of transportation has never been more important.
However, equal access to biking requires comprehensive grassroots efforts to make bikes, and the means to maintain them, more widely available. Yet, at the same time, hundreds of bikes each year are unnecessarily discarded, and the possible longevity of a bicycle’s lifespan goes unrealized.
OCB is working with the City of Richmond and The International Refugees Support Foundation (IRSF) to tackle both of these issues. Each year the city receives around 500 bikes to its scrap metal depot. Meanwhile, many new families arriving in Canada are struggling to integrate themselves into the city, and access the educational and employment opportunities which are critical for living a fulfilled life here.
OCB’s latest project, Bicycle Recycle, Reuse, and Repair Pilot is refurbishing discarded bicycles and donating them to newcomers in Richmond.
“We are gathering bicycles and parts from the Richmond Depot and bringing them back to Our Community Bikes for processing, repair, and refurbishment” says Valerie, the project’s manager.
Last week, OCB headed down to Richmond to distribute a number of these refurbished bicycles to their new owners.
“We donated 13 bikes with the support of the IRSF, providing valuable transportation for those in need”, Said Mike, OCB’s Pedals for the People Coordinator.
The project, which began in September and will run for a year initially, will not just recycle bikes, it also addresses wider bicycling accessories, which are also placing strain on waste disposal systems, with other parts such as wheels, tires, frames and even baskets included in OCB’s mandate.
Bikes are being distributed through the Pedals for the People program with the help of The International Refugees Support Foundation (an organization based in Richmond providing essential items to help new immigrant families integrate into the community), Vancouver Coastal Health’s Richmond Mental Health Team, and other referral partners.
