Aptos author Taylor Lahey is bringing a solution from Brazil to locals, collecting underused bicycles, refurbishing them and giving them to low-income residents.
On Nov. 16, he organized his first community event called the Bike Exchange at the headquarters of the Housing Authority of Santa Cruz County in Capitola.
A volunteer mechanic wheels a refurbished bike.
More than 60 bikes were donated.
Those who donated bikes got a pass for BCycle, the electric bicycle.
Some two-dozen mechanics signed up to make sure the bikes were in good working order.
Teamwork made the event a success as Lahey recruited partners: Community Bike Collective in Watsonville, Santa Cruz Waldorf School, BCycle, and Housing Authority of Santa Cruz County.
“Since graduating from Leadership Santa Cruz County, I’ve been empowered to think bigger and approach organizations as partners,” Lahey said.
His inspiration came from an exchange program in Curitiba, Brazil, where local residents traded trash for bus fare and solved the city’s trash problem.
Last year, Lahey wrote a children’s book Câmbio, about that community solution.
So rather than simply give away bikes to people in need, he created an exchange. He wanted to make sure everyone who participated got something out of the experience.
Linday Overton and Santa Cruz Waldorf School students register a donated bike.
He read his book, Câmbio, at Santa Cruz Waldorf School, where students volunteered to donate bikes they no longer use.
Community Bike Collective, which hosts community rides in Watsonville, brought experience collecting about 350 donated bikes low-income residents in Santa Cruz County, working with the Housing Authority of Santa Cruz County which provides those in need with refurbished bikes.
This was the first bike donation event in North County.
Watch for more.
Taylor Lahey and Community Nike Collective’s Alex Ponik and Lindsay Overton with refurbished bikes.
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For info, see www.taylorlahey.com/bike-exchange and communitybikecollective.org.
COVER PHOTO: Santa Cruz Waldorf School community show off Cycle ride passes they received for their bike donations.