Project Wheelie Provides Bike Repair and Bike Match for Pasadena Residents

Day One, a public health non-profit agency, is working with the Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition, Active SGV, and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC)  to bring the city Project Wheelie. 

The program will provide basic bike repair services, a bike match program,  and an online social media education campaign for low income Pasadena residents unlikely to be able to afford such services during the current economic crisis. 

According to a release by the organizations, “Low-income families and workers have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through our free bike repair service, we aim to lift some of the financial burden of bike upkeep from participants during this economic crisis. Through our bike match program, we hope to encourage more families to bike together by connecting participants who need bikes with those who have bikes to donate. “

The goal of the bike repair service is to provide temporary, free, basic repair service to help Pasadena residents who need low-cost transportation to remain mobile and active in a safe, healthy manner during these challenging times. The program has been set up with strict guidelines to protect staff and members of the public from transmission of COVID-19. Upon appointment confirmation, you will receive detailed instructions on how to drop-off your bicycle at a gated, outdoor location, where a minimum 10′ distance will be maintained. Appointments will be staggered to reduce the likelihood of any overlap among participants. If you are more than 5 minutes late to your appointment, or fail to abide by the safety protocol, we reserve the right to refuse service to you. Please note that repair staff can only manage basic bicycle repairs such as flat tires, brake adjustments, etc. If your bicycle needs extensive repairs, we will refer you to a local bicycle shop. 

The goal of the bike match program is to provide a platform that sets up bike donations so that more people can get moving at no cost. In Pasadena and the LA Region, bikes are essential transportation for many who need to get around during the coronavirus outbreak. This may include traveling to essential jobs, running crucial errands, or participating in mutual aid for vulnerable people who cannot leave their homes. Originally launched by LACBC,  LACountyBikeMatch connects County residents who have an extra working bike to give to others who need one. In collaboration with this program, we are launching a local branch in the city of Pasadena that seeks to aid low-income residents and others who are in need of a bike. Right now, for every bike offered there is a five person waitlist – please help us fill this need by becoming a donor! We are looking for bikes of all sizes. 

Please observe the following guidelines when participating in the bike match:

Guidelines

1. Only offer bikes that are in ready-to-ride condition.
2. If you are offering a bike, for sanitary purposes, clean the bike thoroughly before hand-off (handlebars, gear shifters, seat, etc) with soap and water or isopropyl alcohol.
3. Both people offering and receiving bikes will be expected to participate in an outdoor, no-contact exchange in a public place observing physical distancing guidelines. You are both strongly encouraged to wear face masks to protect yourselves.
4. If you have a fever or cough, or have been exposed to someone who has a fever or cough, please self-quarantine and refrain from participating.
5. For sanitary purposes, all bike exchanges are permanent.

For more information about Project Wheelie, please visit: GoDayOne.org/pw