Recycle-A-Bicycle Turns 15 Years Old!
Keeping Children on the Road and Bikes Out of the Trash since 1994.
WHEN: Monday, December 14, 2009; 6-9pm
WHERE: Superfine, 126 Front Street, Brooklyn
CONTACT: Helen Ho at 917-226-4466 or helenshirley@gmail.com
Pasqualina Azzarello at 718-858-2972 or director@recycleabicycle.org
BROOKLYN, NY – On Monday, December 14th Recycle-A-Bicycle will be holding its 15th Birthday Celebration: A Benefit Auction Featuring the NY400 Fleet of Batavus Bicycles & Bike-themed Art at Superfine in DUMBO, Brooklyn.
Over the fall, Recycle-A-Bicycle has been creating an arsenal of bike art. Affectionately named “third-hand art” items like spoke flowers, jewelry, bike animals, belts, picture frames, candle holders, mobiles, and flower sculptures have been hand-crafted from bike parts by volunteers for a sale at the event. Local artists have been donating to Recycle-A-Bicycle and their inspirational and original pieces will be on the silent auction block that night.
What the public mostly craves are orange bicycles. There are just 200 limited edition NY400 Batavus Bicycles in the world, commissioned especially by the government of the Netherlands for the Henry Hudson Quadra-centennial festivities this past summer. These bikes were donated to Recycle-A-Bicycle and now only 12 will ever be made available by auction and raffle at this event. Celebrities such as Talking Heads front man David Byrne, Elmo from Sesame Street, actor Matthew Modine, the Bike Snob, NYC DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and others added a personal touch by autographing the bicycles. Fans, collectors and Dutch bike aficionados will surely pay attention to the live auction bidding and raffle of the bikes.
Over the last 15 years, Recycle-A-Bicycle has touched the lives of over 10,000 children. With programs like Ride Club, Earn-A-Bike, internships, and Recycled Arts young people get to learn about bicycles, explore New York City neighborhoods, and gain the self-confidence and skills to make it out in the world.
Maurice a 17 year old who spent 6 years in numerous roles at Recycle-A-Bicycle starting with the Earn-A-Bike program and ending as an employee says, “I love working with my hands. At Recycle-A-Bicycle, I get to do that all the time. Everyday, in fact. When I ride, I love the miles on my legs and the air in my face. If it wasn’t for Recycle-A-Bicycle, I’d be playing video games all day long. I always used to wish I could have a job there, and now I do!”
Through the efforts of local heroes like Recycle-A-Bicycles’s founder Karen Overton, the pioneer of Ride Club Dr. Ed Fishkin, and organizations such as Transportation Alternatives, Bike New York, the Henry Street Settlement House and Children’s Aid Society, the organization has educated young kids, helping them to strengthen their safety and handling skills, confidence, and physical endurance. Each year these kids collectively ride approximately 10,000 miles throughout New York City, sometimes with Dr. Fishkin wrangling up to 100 young riders at a time.
Founder Karen Overton says, “We started out in an industrial arts classroom and a basic tool set. Teaching young people to learn how to use these tools and take ownership of not only building their own bike, but eventually mentoring the newcomers has helped to bring Recycle-A-Bicycle to where it is today.”
Recycle-A-Bicycle was founded under the auspices of Transportation Alternatives in 1994. In the last 15 years, Recycle-A-Bicycle has developed into an innovative non-profit organization dedicated to reaching out to teens in school-based programs. They offer hands-on learning, the opportunity to earn a bike, and other bicycle related activities such as Cycle Craft, RAB’s youth art initiative. They also offer a ride club, the only one in NYC reaching out to young kids, helping them to strengthen their safety and handling skills, confidence, and physical endurance. Finally, older teens, ages 14-18, get on-the-job training at Recycle-A-Bicycle’s two store locations.
“Our 15th Birthday Celebration is meant to celebrate our accomplishments over the last 15 years and to welcome the next 15 years to come. It’ll be a night to celebrate old friends and new partnerships,” says Recycle-A-Bicycle’s Executive Director Pasqualina Azzarello.
Tickets to RAB’s benefit and 15 year birthday start at a $20 donation and include food and drink. You can find the event on Facebook or online at www.recycleabicycle.org. All proceeds will directly support Recycle-A-Bicycle’s good work and programming for the remaining fleet of NY400 Batavus Bicycles, including Learn-to-Ride, Ride Club, Tours by Teens, and more.
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HI – do you have anyone who could pick up a used bike in Manhattan, upper west side?
thank you.
i am not sure. what is it for? a triathalon? we really need one!