Stay Away From the "Wagon to Disaster"
Elise Maloney
Issue date: 2/23/10 Section: News
The streets will soon be filled with people sharing a passion for cycling, while also sharing lots of yellow bikes.
The Augusta Yellow Bike Project is a community bike shop where people can come in and repair their own bikes or work on the bikes that have been donated to the project, regardless of experience. Any of the donated bikes that are repaired go to the Urban Ministry, which decides who gets a bike based on certain criteria.
According to the projects founder, Chris Cary, when people come in to work on the bikes, the group considers those volunteer hours, and once someone gets 20 hours, they then get their own bike from the warehouse. Cary said it usually isn't a brand new bike that they receive, but the group provides all of the parts and tools needed to make the bike functional. He says that they currently have about 150-200 bikes in the shop.
"We figure after 20 hours of working on bikes, you'll be able to build one up on your own," Cary said.
The idea for the bike program originated in Austin, Texas, where Cary was involved with the Yellow Bike Project for about 6 months prior to moving to Augusta in January. Cary said the mission of the project, for him, is to put bikes in people's hands and teach people how to maintain their bikes. He's also trying to help develop a sense of community through the Yellow Bike Project, similar to the one he felt in Austin. He said that he really got into that part of the culture there, and is trying to recreate that feeling in Augusta.
"I see it as the more people I have on the road, the safer it is for me. The more people I have on the road to bike with, the more fun it is for me," Cary said.
Nic Wysong, a sophomore communications major and avid bike rider, thinks the project is a great way of getting the residents of Augusta in shape, as well as a unique way to give back to the community.
"It's good for kids around the Richmond County area who can't afford any other form of transportation," he said. "I ride my bike to school, and I think it's great, because it gives me an opportunity to exercise because I don't have time to go to the gym. And it's a nice ride through Augusta. It's a really pretty area."
The Augusta Yellow Bike Project is a community bike shop where people can come in and repair their own bikes or work on the bikes that have been donated to the project, regardless of experience. Any of the donated bikes that are repaired go to the Urban Ministry, which decides who gets a bike based on certain criteria.
According to the projects founder, Chris Cary, when people come in to work on the bikes, the group considers those volunteer hours, and once someone gets 20 hours, they then get their own bike from the warehouse. Cary said it usually isn't a brand new bike that they receive, but the group provides all of the parts and tools needed to make the bike functional. He says that they currently have about 150-200 bikes in the shop.
"We figure after 20 hours of working on bikes, you'll be able to build one up on your own," Cary said.
The idea for the bike program originated in Austin, Texas, where Cary was involved with the Yellow Bike Project for about 6 months prior to moving to Augusta in January. Cary said the mission of the project, for him, is to put bikes in people's hands and teach people how to maintain their bikes. He's also trying to help develop a sense of community through the Yellow Bike Project, similar to the one he felt in Austin. He said that he really got into that part of the culture there, and is trying to recreate that feeling in Augusta.
"I see it as the more people I have on the road, the safer it is for me. The more people I have on the road to bike with, the more fun it is for me," Cary said.
Nic Wysong, a sophomore communications major and avid bike rider, thinks the project is a great way of getting the residents of Augusta in shape, as well as a unique way to give back to the community.
"It's good for kids around the Richmond County area who can't afford any other form of transportation," he said. "I ride my bike to school, and I think it's great, because it gives me an opportunity to exercise because I don't have time to go to the gym. And it's a nice ride through Augusta. It's a really pretty area."
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