Bikeworks, a London based bike re-use and recycling project has been successful in securing £150,000 of funding through London Re-use Limited to expand their operation across London. Bikeworks enables Londoners to access high quality re-used bikes and parts for a fraction of their retail price. The project aims to makes bikes affordable to all Londoners whilst encouraging them to take up cycling as an alternative method of transport.
The project plans to re-use 11 000 bikes per year which will help divert 169 tonnes of waste from landfill in addition to creating 250 new job and training opportunities. Bikeworks aims to work with local communities and disadvantaged Londoners to encourage them into cycling for the first time whilst also giving them access to re-used bicycles. They provide accredited cycle training courses which are run by fully qualified instructors who are committed to improving the cycling techniques of everybody, regardless of age or ability. The project also encourages Londoners to pursue a City & Guilds Level 2 Cycle maintenance training course to help them gain a recognised qualification and get back into work.
Dave Miller, of Bikeworks commented “We are delighted to have secured the backing and investment from LRL which will enable us to significantly expand bicycle re-use across London in the next few years. As well as giving many thousands of used bikes a new life and keeping them from landfill sites. Bikeworks will create significant training and employment opportunities in bicycle re-use for disadvantaged groups”.
London Re-use Limited have been awarded £4.3 million funding through the London Waste and Recycling Board to invest in re-use infrastructure across the capital with the aim of reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.
Wayne Hubbard, Chief Operating Officer of LWARB said “This is a great investment for London Re-use Limited. Bikeworks is an innovative organisation, with both environmental and social benefits. Not only does the project give second hand bicycles a new lease of life, it also provides training and employment opportunities for the capital. This investment will allow Bikeworks to expand their services, meaning more abandoned bikes will be re-used or recycled and kept out of the waste stream”.