Homeless Cyclists

[clid61]

Just a thought I'd put out there .
I work for a huge multinational company , who recently got some gear together for the local homeless. The gear consisted of sleeping bags,thermal underwear ,waterproofs ,and rucksacks filled with personal hygiene stuff ie toothpaste toothbrushes , soap , shampoo , towels , tampons etc etc to help them .

It got me thinking , maybe a bike would be helpful to them too ? I have 3 sat idol that could be useful, to someone .

What do you lot think

 

[steve50]

All well intentioned and i applaud you and the company for your efforts, however how do you separate the needy from the drug users who no doubt grab what they can and sell it to fund their next fix. Why is there so many homeless on the streets and surely the emphasis should be on getting the homeless off the streets rather than supplying them with the means to survive on the streets.

 

[MontyVeda]

Genuine homeless people tend to use the facilities at the homeless centre. The beggars who aren't genuine homeless tend to beg in town... so if your town/city is lucky enough to have a homeless centre, then liaise with the staff. Is there a bike recycling scheme near you? They could point your idle bikes in the direction of someone who needs one.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Probably, but I suggest you do this through a charity already dealing with the homeless, they'd know which people could use them most.

 

[AndyRM]

Where in 'The North' are you?

If you're round my way (Newcastle) I could put you in touch with relevant council departments or charities.

 

[growingvegetables]

It got me thinking , maybe a bike would be helpful to them too ? I have 3 sat idol that could be useful, to someone .

I suspect that organisations working with the homeless around my neck of the woods would probably think of bikes as something for their charity shop? To sell and raise funds for their "real" work? But I really don't know .

There are a couple who work to make it easy for refugees and asylum seekers to get bikes cheaply - this one may be dead, but there are a couple of others; like cycle-re-cyle in Bradford. More here.

 

[clid61]

Like I said , just a thought . Really appreciate and understand the opinions voiced above .

 

[SavageHoutkop]

There are a couple who work to make it easy for refugees and asylum seekers to get bikes cheaply - this one may be dead, but there are a couple of others; like cycle-re-cyle in Bradford. More here.

There's been one in MCR too; https://www.gofundme.com/jjrv3ph5 [the gofundme was for accessories, not bikes, they are relying on donated bikes]

 

[Gravity Aided]

We have such in our town, not just for homeless but also for the poor. One weekend in April, the group gives away all the bicycles they have collected and repaired.(400 last year, I think) They get bicycles from the three police agencies(Normal PD, Bloomington PD, and the Sheriff of the County McLean) as well as landlords and other property owners who have students abandon bikes around town. Volunteer driven, as are many of the efforts to improve things. We get a lot of people passing through town, as there is a bike path that runs from the edge of town right past the mission, where people know they can get lodging and food, and if they work at the mission, they can get chits for more clothes and bedding they can use at the thrift store the mission also has. But there's also a homeless camp in the woods west of town, for those who don't like living under a roof. I think social services go out there regularly.

 

[Fnaar]

I liked this idea...

 

[Brandane]

I suspect that organisations working with the homeless around my neck of the woods would probably think of bikes as something for their charity shop? To sell and raise funds for their "real" work?

I was told by my local Cancer Research charity shop - when I was trying to give them a perfectly roadworthy Ridgeback Comet hybrid - that they couldn't take it as they could be held responsible if someone bought it and was injured due to it being defective. Same with electrical appliances; they won't take them either. I suppose the costs involved in getting such items certified by a qualified person makes it not worth their while, which is a pity.

 

[0lonerider]

there's a few bicycle projects on tyneside who recycle bicycles for sale! They also offer them to local groups and the needy! Recycle y bike is in Newcastle and there's also a project in southshields and a few others dotted about Tyneside

 

[ceecycles]

great idea.

 

[Globalti]

"On Yer Bike" Norman would approve.

 

[Hill Wimp]

Sue Ryder shops now sell their own bikes i noticed the other day. Whilst i applaud the idea it's a shame they won't take bikes as a donation, just put ensure the buyer buys as seen as with anything else in the shop.