A lot of us at Abel & Cole cycle to work, and around most of South London really. So we know how handy bikes are to get around.
When we then heard about the charity Re~Cycle, we knew we’d found some like-minded people.
Set up 12 years ago by Merlin Matthews, Re~Cycle collects unwanted bikes, parts and tools in the UK and ships them to the poorer rural areas in Africa where partner projects use them to help local people get around.
Millions of unwanted bicycles are rusting in garages or being thrown away in the UK, while in Africa a four hour daily walk is common – mothers collecting clean water, parents trekking to the farm, factory or market, or children facing a 20 mile walk to school and back. Motorised transport, where available, typically costs a quarter of people’s tiny income.
We found out more about how bikes are used and how the partner projects teach local people how to repair and maintain the bikes. Needless to say it all makes a big difference. Decision made…we wheelie wanted to help.
Now…we thought about how we could pick up old bikes from you along with your delivery boxes, but it wasn’t the best idea…imagine oil over your eggs and tyre marks in your long fermentation bread!
We weren’t deterred: Instead, we’re going to arrange some drop off points during September. The biggest will be our depot in Wimbledon, where we will all be 11am-3pm Saturday 25th September, along with Re~Cycle. You’re all invited to join us for burgers, beverages and bike related shenanigans for all ages!
For everyone that can’t pop to Wimbledon, we’ll have some regional collection points, and will be asking for any bikes and bike parts to be dropped between 1st and 30th September.
These bikes will be donated in October to Village Bicycle Project, who use the donations to empower women in Ghana.
We’ve not only set ourselves a hefty target of 650 bikes so that we can fill a whole container to go out to Ghana in October, but we’re determined to raise the money to get the container all the way there. So, we will shortly have a fundraising page and be tracking the progress.
We’ll soon have much more information about all of this, so watch this space.
And if you can get to Wimbledon, put Saturday 25th September in your diary…something to look forward to after your summer holidays!
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
30 Jul 2010 at 19:30
Is it okay to drop of children’s bikes?
31 Jul 2010 at 16:20
Where will the regional drop off points be?
02 Aug 2010 at 15:14
Hi Eileen,
Yes it is absolutely fine to drop off children’s bikes. That would be wonderful, thank you. Do keep a look out for more information about where you can drop them off.
Hi Nicola, We’re just finalising that…so will let you know as soon as we do.
Thank you both for showng your interest!
02 Aug 2010 at 16:04
This sounds like a fab idea. I’m sure I have some bikes to donate. I’d like to know where the regional drop off points will be too. It will be great to put all these old bikes to good use!
04 Aug 2010 at 09:15
I have an old bike in my cellar which no one knows the provenance of…. so if there’s a drop-off somewhere in Yorkshire, you’re very welcome to it!
04 Aug 2010 at 18:11
We have had to change the date of the Wimbledon event we’re afraid…it’s now 25th September. Amended above as well. Hope you can join us!
05 Aug 2010 at 01:45
I have quite a few was going to freecycle them but this sounds like a fab way to give a bike a longer life span!!
Fingers cross that there is a drop off near by!!!(Berkshire/Hampshire) or maybe if someone who has a larger than average vechicle and who is going to the Big one could take some more along too!!! reducing everyones carbon footprint!!!
06 Aug 2010 at 22:08
Excellent, now fingers crossed there will be a pick up point near me x (North west)
13 Aug 2010 at 21:43
Re: children’s bikes. Just looked at Re-cycle site and they don’t want small bikes with plastic wheels, but 20″+ wheels seem useful.
16 Aug 2010 at 13:29
Where do I pledge 2 adult bikes and where are the drop off points?
16 Aug 2010 at 17:12
Hello Barbara,
Ooh that’s wonderful news! You can now pledge them here – http://www.abelandcole.co.uk/bigbikedrop
If you fill in the short form then we can get back to you about your nearest drop off point. Thank you!
16 Aug 2010 at 17:14
Hello Frances,
We’ve checked with the partner project that will distribute them in Ghana and they’ve confirmed that they’re happy to take children’s bikes as well. They can put them to good use still. So please do pledge and drop them if you would like to.
Thank you very much!
19 Aug 2010 at 09:41
I have two bike but not in full working order – one with a puncture another probably needs new brake leads – are they of any use?
19 Aug 2010 at 11:51
Hi Fiona,
Yes these would still be perfect…Re~Cycle will either take the parts they can use, or most likely they will fix it up when in Ghana, as they hold workshops to teach locals how to mend and maintain the bikes to make sure they last longer.
Thank you for checking and pledging!
You must be logged in to Abel & Cole to leave a comment.