Wonderful opportunity. If there is a bikeshare program in the area, would they consider putting a rack onsite or nearby? Capital BikeShare in our area has a "CaBi for All" program that offers reduced price memberships for low-income individuals. That is sometimes a better fit (at least for adults) than donating bikes to shelter residents, especially as storage can be an issue in shelters, and shelter residents may not have an easy way to transport the bike as they transition into more permanent housing situations. I'm not sure I have any creative ideas for kids, though. 

_________________

 

Emily Gage

Executive Director, Phoenix Bikes

909 S. Dinwiddie St., Arlington, VA 22204

www.phoenixbikes.org

Cell: 703-346-0035


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On Fri, Mar 24, 2023 at 11:01 AM wade--- via Thethinktank <thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org> wrote:
We are looking for ideas related to providing bikes to adult and children residents of a homeless shelter?

An emergency family shelter recently opened in our community in a suburb outside of Boston. The shelter has 105 rooms and is designed to provide temporary housing for 3 to 5 days while more permanent housing is located; and for 2 – 4 months when more permanent housing isn’t readily available; and providing temporary housing for pregnant women and infants. The shelter is located in a former motel at the edge of a state highway. It is situated equidistant (2 miles) between two village centers, each with shopping and public transportation (commuter rail). There are sidewalks and busy local streets that connect the shelter to the villages. It's walkable and rideable. Getting to one of the village center requires crossing the state highway (there is a pedestrian crosswalk).

Our local collective reached out to the agency managing the shelter inquiring if there was an interest in bikes. Their response was, "There is a lot of logistics and some liability behind this that would take some thought."

True. I would like your thoughts and experiences.

Wade

The Bike Connector
https://www.bikeconnector.org/
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