Reduce landfill waste and help people in need by donating old adult-sized bikes to a B.C.-based charity this weekend. The grassroots organization, Bicycles for Humanity, will be collecting donated bicycles in Squamish on Saturday (Oct. 24) at the Tantalus Bike Shop parking lot at 40194 Glenalder Pl. from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
All the collected bicycles will be shipped off to Africa and given to Namibian health care workers and other individuals who could benefit from the new mode of transportation, said Brenda Montani, the co-founder of the organization.
"Thousands and thousands of bikes get dumped in our landfills every year and there's no need for that when there is such a huge demand for that elsewhere," she said.
Montani said the donated bicycles do not have to be in working order, they just have to be repairable.
"They can be in any condition, you know as long as they are don't have something that is irreparable. They can have a broken break or a missing seat - that's not to deter people."
However, she said bicycles with wider tires are preferred since the African terrain is more rugged than urban.
Bicycles for Humanity was founded a few years ago in Kelowna B.C. by Montani and her husband Patrick, and has now grown to include chapters across Canada, the United States, The Netherlands and Australia.
The organization fundraises throughout the year to purchase shipping containers and to cover the cost of overseas shipping. Once the bicycles are given to the community in need, the containers are left behind to be converted into makeshift bike shops. The organization also trains a locals in bicycle repair, and donates extra parts to the resulting new bike shop for future maintenance.
"No money goes to anything other than the container and the shipping," Montani said.
Since Bicycles for Humanity started collecting bicycles for the most recent shipment six months ago, the charity has received 250 bikes and is hoping to collect another 150.
Montani said the tally so far was helped immensely by a class of sixth graders in Vancouver who will be sending the organization 100 bicycles.
"We're so delighted to be receiving them," she said.
Bicycles for Humanity will be collecting bikes in Squamish on Saturday (Oct. 24) and in Whistler B.C. on Sunday (Oct. 25).
"We're hoping that will fill our coffers and we can send the container off," Montani said.
For more on the Bicycles for Humanity organization or information on how to donate bicycles visit www.bicycles-for-humanity.org.
