Wanted: your old bike / parts to provide transport in Africa

Mids_Costcutter

Unused bike in the shed? Please consider donating it.

Charity Re-Cycle collect unwanted bicycles and ship to a number of African countries to provide simple, affordable transport and change people's lives. In Britain, millions of bikes are thrown away or lie unused in sheds, whilst many people in Africa have no access to transport of any kind. People spend hours each day walking to collect water, firewood or to access health care, school and employment.

A collection point for bikes has now been set up in Coleshill (Warwickshire), thanks to Bluebox Selfstorage Limited who have kindly provided a shipping container to use. Any type of bike in reasonable condition would be welcomed except very small kids "toy" bikes with plastic wheels, or bikes that have been left out in the rain for any length of time.

Also useful are:
• All bike spare parts and accessories, part worn tyres
• Tools, especially bike specific tools but also general workshop tools such as spanners, hammers, screwdrivers, hacksaws, Allen keys, pliers, files etc.
• Bike manuals and books (to help promote a cycling culture)

Bikes can be dropped off at:

Bluebox Self Storage, Unit 14, Station Road, Coleshill, Warwickshire, B46 1HT; between 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, plus 10.00 to 12.30 on Saturday 21 September and 12 October only. On weekdays ask for Lee Smith. Bluebox Self Storage is only 800m from Coleshill Parkway train station, just south of the Station Road / Rose Road junction.

The collection and transport of the bikes to Re-Cycle’s warehouse in Colchester is co-ordinated by myself. The collection will continue until 20 October. Please PM me for any further information.

Further information on Re-Cycle can be found at: https://www.re-cycle.org

oldtoolie

Re-Cycle is supported by the The MoneySavingExpert Charity Fund.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/site/mse-charity-fund

Mids_Costcutter

I think Martin knew the founder of the charity Re-Cycle at university?

If anyone can help to promote the collection in the West Midlands, especially via social media then I'd be very grateful.

Mids_Costcutter

I'm pleased to report that in 2 months we collected a total of 69 bikes plus a good amount of spare parts including 180 partly-worn tyres. These will be shipped from Felixstowe later this month to one of Re-Cycle's partners in sub-Saharan Africa.

Thanks to everyone who helped in any way!