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Yellow
bikes a go in June Project creates community: organizer What started as a group of friends fixing up bikes in their yards, should translate into a city-wide cycling program by June. When Cathy Hooper settled in Peterborough, she was frustrated by the traffic and pollution so she teamed up with three of her peers and they looked into the likelihood of a cycling program for the city. "There were enough people in the community who knew about the Yellow Bike Program," says Cathy. The Yellow Bike Program makes bicycles, distinctively marked with yellow paint, available to anyone in the city who needs one. Cyclists simply obtain a key for approximately $5 and then use it to unlock any of the bikes secured at one of several depots throughout the city. The Yellow Bike program exists in various states and Toronto recently started its own, says Cathy. The Yellow Bike program will provide transportation
that doesn't contribute to pollution, traffic congestion, or fossil fuel
consumption, Cathy says. It will allow easier access to areas of the city
and safer streets, she adds. "On your bike you're more community-minded than in your car. It's not very community-minded to drive a vehicle - you're in your car, not in your community." The group presented the idea to city council about two-and-a-half years ago, but it's taken a while to secure funding and recruit mechanics and welders to fix the bikes. The Yellow Bike group received funding from Eco Action and the Ontario Public Interest Research Group donated space for a workshop. They expected to have the program up-and-running last summer, but they just got access to the workshop before Christmas, Cathy says. Prior to that, they fixed up the bikes in their backyards during reasonable weather conditions. The group hopes to have 30 useable bikes on city streets by June. They collected bicycles by putting posters up around the city and also received some from Peterborough-Lakefield police prior to its auctions. Volunteers are needed for bike repair, painting and welding. Bicycles, particularly older ones, tools, and
accessories (helmets, tires, tubes, and bells) can be donated to the program.
Children's bikes aren't part of the program, but any which are donated
will be repaired, and passed on to children in need, the group notes.
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