The Bicycle Institute's "Bikes For Refugees" project recycles bikes and donates them, free of charge, to refugee families recently arrived in Australia, and to other needy sections of the community.
Each year Australia accepts 15,000 refugees. Most arrive on the Commonwealth humanitarian migration program. Most spent several years in refugee camps, and may have used bicycles before.
The project started in 2002, when the sister of a Bicycle Institute member, travelling on a bus, over-heard some African people speaking French. She found they had recently arrived from Congo, were cyclists in Africa, and wondered if they could get bikes here. She then asked her brother - a The Bicycle Institute member - if The Bicycle Institute could find bikes for them. The Bicycle Institute members responded with 18 bikes: 4 fully equipped, went to four new arrivals around Christmas, and another 14 to the Australian Refugee Association (ARA) a few months later.
Now, in 2011 the project is in its tenth year, and has handled over 1800 bikes. We receive 150-200 bikes a year, most donated by the public. Nearly all are put back into use; some are used as a source of spare parts; and a small fraction are sold to raise funds to keep the scheme going.
What we do:
Our core expertise, is in creating a supply, of reliable second-hand bikes. This involves sourcing bikes, cleaning, repairing, servicing, and testing for safety and road worthiness. This ensures that surplus bikes are recycled and re-used, and go to people who need them. For the community, it creates an alternative, to selling unwanted/old bikes second-hand, or disposing of them as scrap metal or hard rubbish. We also..
do free bike repairs, for refugee families in the NE suburbs
offer expertise, to help other organisations e.g local councils, run their own bike activities. Councils can often obtain second-hand bikes themselves, but the bikes haven't been ridden for a while, and will need a bit of work. We assist by cleaning, servicing, doing necessary repairs, and checking - usually at no charge.
In 2009, we co-ordinated a special one-off collection of bikes, to assist Aboriginal communities in SA and the NT, and to help schools with Aboriginal students in Whyalla and Port Augusta.
Some schools in Port Augusta have bike-building and bike activities, as part of the curriculum - we assist by supplying bikes for them to work on.
Sales & spare parts: we offer a small fraction of donation for sale, providing for the community, a source of reasonably-priced second-hand bikes, and bike parts.
Location Campbelltown - 8 km north-east of Adelaide City Centre - just off Lower North-East Road.
What happens to donated bikes?. Each bike gets an individual number, so we can track it individually through the scheme. We record its make, model, colour, and serial number, plus donor if known. The bike gets a tag with the number tied securely to the handlebars.
Most bikes are stored 'as is' until we get a request, or someone visiting picks it out. The bike is then cleaned, checked, serviced, repaired if necessary, and taken for a quick test ride. Most repairs use parts salvaged from other bikes or donated; a few items, such as inner tubes, and cables, we buy in new. Our checks follow the same scheme as is used in BikeEd - the Victorian govt schools program for bicycle education. We put puncture sealant into the inner tubes - this helps keep the bike on the road, by sealing small punctures instantly. The bike is then ready for its new owner.
We also record details of where each bike goes to - whether handed on; or used for spare parts; or sold.
Currently, around 85% of bikes received, are put back into use. 5-10% are beyond worthwhile repair. They may be extremely rusty; so worn that no-one will want to ride them; or have major damage, and take a lot of work to make safe again. We use these for parts, to repair other bikes,and keep running costs low. Around 5% are sold, to raise funds.
Where the bikes go: Most go to the refugee communities, via the Australian Refugee Association's Household Goods program, which also provides furniture, linen, kitchen goods, etc. Some go to the other charities and welfare organisations which assist refugees living in Adelaide. Some childrens bikes, especially BMX go to schools in Port Augusta for bike building programs. Recently, a small number of bikes, surplus to requirements, have gone to the Plympton Community Bike Workshop - a facility run by BISA, and sponsored by the Conservation Council of SA, and by West Torrens Council.
Employment: we created 1-2 casual Saturday afternoon jobs, for young people, from refugee background. The jobs provide pocket money while they study; an employment reference, plus work experience. They can use these, to help get other jobs in future.
How people use our bikes. Children can ride around with friends, play, or run errands for their parents. Young people cycle to school, study or library, or sports matches. Adults also find the bikes useful. Hardly any refugees have a driving licence when they arrive - getting one takes up to a year, and several thousand dollars for lessons. The bikes help adults get around, e.g to jobs, during that time. Some people also use the bikes for exercise, or to keep fit.
Resources and funding: The scheme remains voluntary, and aims to be self-funding, from donations & sales. 3-5% of bikes are offered for sale to help raise funds. These are either high-value bikes (thus sale of 1 bike, funds repair of several others). Or old or unusual bikes, unsuitable for everyday use, but of interest to collectors.
Interested in obtaining a bike for someone? We are always happy to hear from people working with refugees etc. Please contact Mike, by email or phoone
Want to donate a bike, or bike parts?: We are always happy to take bikes that are basically in good condition, and can be got going, relatively easily. A small amount of rust, or flat tyres, are acceptable - all bikes get checked, serviced, and repaired before they're handed on. Contact Mike Brisco or 8365 7489 to arrange.
The Refugee Association also accepts donations of household goods, in good condition, e.g. furniture, soft furnishings, toys, etc. - to give out, as part of their Settlement program. Please contact the ARA directly to discuss (telephone 8354 2951) or see their website.
Thanks:
Our Thanks to all people and organisations, who have donated bikes. Many people also give of their time, to bring the bikes to us, at Cambelltown.
Our Thanks also to volunteers who worked to restore, check, and repair bikes. Each bike takes overall a couple of hours work, and over the years, many people have helped.
Special thanks are due, to Kevin Clarke at Clarke's Cycles, 354 Magill Road, Kensington Park (tel. 8332 3083). For long term on-going assistance with parts and advice,
Several other bike shops have supported us, with discounts, advice, donations of bike boxes, parts, and bikes: These include: Lifecycles; JT Cycles at Magill; Plympton Cycles; Stepney Cycles; Bernie Jones Cycles.
Contact us: Please contact Mike Brisco on 8365 7489, or email bris0014@flinders.edu.au
Information sheet for organistions or individuals wanting bikes
Roadworthiness documentation - example
Report on 2009 Bikes for the Outback Scheme
2009 Annual Report, on Bikes for Refugees
Notes on how we recycle old bikes
Notes on how the scheme is organised
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2009reportBikesforRefugees.pdf | 489.88 KB |
| Bikerecyclingnotes2009.pdf | 118.82 KB |
| Bikerecyclingnotes2005.pdf | 1.75 MB |
| example of letter of roadworthiness.pdf | 60.93 KB |
| Information for organisations needing bikes for their clients.pdf | 27.45 KB |
| Safety checklist.pdf | 57.3 KB |