BIKE RESCUE NYC RECLAIMING BICYCLES ON THE STREETS OF NYC
Every year 1000s of bicycles are abandoned and vandalized on the streets of NYC. This creates a hazard for all New Yorkers, millions of dollars of waste and a blemish on cycling culture. New York City agencies are not equipped to deal with the cost or impact of this problem. Bike Rescue NYC was created to meet this challenge head-on.
What a waste, what an opportunity! (see the latest in our neighborhood)
Bike Rescue will salvage, restore or recycle these bicycles with a team of trained youth. These trained “Bike Rescue Field Technicians” will ride custom pedi-cab recovery cycles, navigate with tailor-made GPS web-tracking software and create an invaluable database of bike parts, thefts and stakeholder communication.
Handheld GPS devices help BR Agents locate and document bicycles in need of rescue
…click the picture to see the new WNYC Abandoned Bikes Map…
A team of young adults are trained and employed as Bike Rescue field technicians and mechanics. Abandoned bicycles are identified and located around the city and small teams on pedal rickshaws are dispatched to recover them. Bikes remains are treated with dignity, taken to Bike Rescue headquarters workshop and given a second chance – recovered, repaired, reconstituted or recycled.
Bike Rescue steps:
- Recover damaged bicycles from the streets of NYC
- Restore bikes to proper owners
- Repair bicycles for usable service
- Reclaim valuable bicycle parts
- Recycle all materials and components
- Record entire process for interactive GPS mapping and webcast
Bike Rescue priorities:
- Clean and safe NYC streets
- Encourage a thriving bicycle culture
- Reduce the “Broken Windows” effect (negative feedback loop of visible disorder)
- Opportunities for youth mentorship, training and cause-affiliation
- More “eyes on the street” to discourage thieves
The Bike Rescue program is designed to teach marketable skills and a culture of resourcefulness and respect. Graduates will gain a certificate of participation. The program assumes several NYC policy amendment that empower recovery of bicycles showing evident mortal damage and abandonment. All bikes will be photographed in their original location, GPS located and posted on the BikeRescue website to allow owner recovery. Owners can reclaim as-is or repaired bikes for a fee. Un-claimed, repaired and/or reconstituted bicycles will be sold and auctioned to support the Bike Rescue program. The Bike Rescue project will be funded through a combination of service fees, bicycle sales, corporate sponsorship and NYC support.
HERE’S AN EARLY CONCEPT SKETCH OF HOW IT WORKS:
The Bike Rescue project was inspired in part by the resourcefulness of the Cuban bicycle culture where a shortage of new bike parts has fostered a community of highly-skilled mechanics and riders. Each bicycle is restored and maintained with incredible ingenuity using only parts at hand. To see more of this amazing culture visit the photography exhibit: http://www.modto.com/global-bike-project-le-gallery
For more images of abandoned NYC bicycles, click here. (Send us images from your neighborhood!)
ONE OF OUR INSPIRATIONS WAS THE BIKE REPAIR CULTURE IN CUBA:
