Features / Bristol Charity Advent Calendar 2020
Bristol Charity Advent Calendar 2020, day 19: Bristol Bike Project
The community workshop may be closed for now, but the Bristol Bike Project team have been busier than ever throughout the pandemic.
A social enterprise that started out 12 years ago as a small operation collecting, refurbishing and donating bikes to asylum seekers, the member-led cooperative has grown to become well known for its work with people from all walks of life across the city.
Currently based on City Road, Bristol Bike Project aims to help cycling be inclusive and empowering for everyone through repairing and rehoming unwanted bikes, offering volunteer opportunities and – in normal times – running workshops.
is needed now More than ever
Krysia Williams, community coordinator with Bristol Bike Project, says the team knows just how important access to a bicycle can be for people’s mental and physical wellbeing, as well as providing the means to around in an affordable, sustainable way.
“These needs don’t go away in a pandemic; if anything, they become more acute,” says Krysia.
“The same people who are most excluded from our society are the people who suffer disproportionately in a public health crisis like this.
“That’s why, since the start of the pandemic, we’ve been continuously adapting our services to ensure we keep supporting our people through access to a bicycle whilst keeping our communities safe from transmission.
“We’re missing the buzz of our community workshop, but despite the turmoil of 2020 we’ve still managed to rehome bikes with 160 people this year and carried out countless more repairs for free.”
Bristol Bike Project has expanded its reach since it first launched 12 years ago – photo by Sim Warren
Main photo by Alexander Turner
Read more: Bristol Bike Project could move to city centre location
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
