Could you be a Bike Hub? I’m one

My Sydenham home is a drop-off point and temporary storage space for bicycles donated to The Bike Project.

The Bike Project is a charity which matches asylum seekers and refugees with donated bikes – over 9000 of them so far. Every bike goes through The Bike Project workshop where a lovely team of mechanics refurbishes them, fixes problems, replaces broken or missing bits, and ensures that they are safe and roadworthy. They are then matched up to their new owner, who receives basic road safety training, plus a set of safety gear: helmet, lights, hi-viz vest, lock.

Transport costs in London for asylum seekers and refugees are beyond their means, yet travel is an essential for things such as visa appointments which are often far from their accommodation. Cycling is free and that’s where The Bike Project comes in.

Being a hub involves communicating with bike donors and arranging mutually convenient times for a drop off. The really great bit is the handover, when I get to meet the person who is giving away their bike – often a bike they’ve cherished for years but no longer use, or a much-loved first bike that’s been outgrown. It can be a bit sad for the donor, but also there’s great pleasure in knowing their lovely bike is going to help someone out.

If this sounds like something you’d like to do please contact: Olena at Olena@thebikeproject.co.uk