Bike Back - bike recycling

What is Bike Back?

Bike Back is a bicycle recycling project, providing affordable, reliable, recycled bikes to people in the Greater Bristol region.

How does Bike Back work?

Bike Back is about giving bikes a new lease of life and getting more people cycling in and around Bristol.

• With the help of prisoners at Bristol Prison, bikes will be stripped down and repaired so they are as good as new - shiny and clean, and with worn parts replaced - and maybe even a re-spray.
• These refurbished bikes will then be sold at a low cost.

The project is being led by Life Cycle UK, Bristol Prison and the council. It was orignally funded through a Cycling City grant and now continues with funding from the Big Lottery Fund.

Prisoners working on donated bikes learn mechanical and employment useful skills designed to help them get a job on their release from prison, helping to reduce re-offending.

How can I get involved?

Bike Back is a community project, relying on donations to provide bicycles for others. There are two ways you can show support:

Bike Back is a community project, relying on donations to provide bicycles for others. There are two ways you can show support:

1. Donate a bike - spare parts are handy too. Or tell a friend about the scheme. If anyone has too many bikes - or bike bits - you can donate them to us and we’ll find them a new home.
2. Buy a bike - or tell someone about the sales.
   

How can I donate a bike?

Abandoned and unwanted bikes of all shapes and sizes are needed for Bike Back. Any spare parts are welcome too.

Drop them off at:

The Create Centre, Smeaton Road, Bristol, BS1 6XN.
Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm.
The first Saturday of the month: 10am to 4pm.
Sunday: closed.

How can I buy a bike?

Life Cycle hold regular bike sales in the city centre, on the pedestrianised area opposite the Hippodrome. See the Life Cycle website for future dates of bike sales.

How much will one cost?

• Prices for child bikes start from £10.
• Prices for adult bikes from £40.

All Bike Back bicycles are fully checked by a qualified mechanic before being sold.

How does Bike Back help Bristol?

There are a number of reasons why we hope Bike Back will be good for the area.

Recycling

Bike Back provides a home for old, abandoned or unwanted bicycles, saving them from landfill sites. We now have an alternative place to take those discarded bicycles chained to on-street cycle racks for months on end.

Education

Prisoners at Bristol Prison refurbish bicycles with the aid of a qualified mechanic. Prisoners learn new and useful skills that they can potentially use on their release from prison, helping them to integrate back into the community.

Low cost

Bike Back is particularly keen to help people on lower incomes, who can’t afford a new bike to get cycling. If you are unemployed, part-time employed, retired or in full time education, and want to start cycling, Bike Back provides a way for you to get a low cost bike.

Environment

The scheme enables more people to take up cycling by giving them access to a low cost bike. This will help to reduce congestion and pollution.

Crime reduction

The scheme provides a legitimate place from which to buy a second hand bike, reducing the market for stolen bicycles.