Updated January 31, 2023

 

Bike New York announced a new initiative designed to provide free bicycles to asylum seekers and other immigrants recently arriving in New York City. 

 

Through this new initiative, Bike New York is partnering with the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), Unlimited Biking, Trek, and Recycle-A-Bicycle to oversee a large-scale effort to receive, repair, and distribute donated bikes to recent arrivals from the southern border, to provide an inexpensive and convenient way for them to access the jobs and services they need to get settled and acclimated in their new homes. Those who receive a bike will also be provided with a helmet courtesy of New York City DOT and a bike lock and bike lights donated by Bike New York partner, Kryptonite.

 

 

The initiative launched as registration for the 45th TD Five Borough Bike Tour openS

 

The launch of this new initiative was celebrated today at an event announcing that registration is now open for the 2023 TD Five Boro Bike Tour – the world’s largest charitable bike ride – taking place on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Every year, the TD Five Boro Bike Tour brings together cyclists from all walks of life and skill levels for an opportunity to experience New York completely free of cars. 

 

“For 45 years, the annual TD Five Boro Bike Tour has provided cyclists from New York City and beyond with the opportunity to ride car-free through the five boroughs of the most vibrant and diverse city in the world,” said Ken Podziba, CEO and President of Bike New York. “But the Tour is much more than that because biking is not just a fun, healthy, inexpensive, and eco-friendly way to get around. Each year the event provides our organization with the funding and visibility needed to bring the transformative aspects of biking to even more people and communities, including this important new partnership with the City of New York to provide free bicycles to asylum seekers and other immigrants recently arriving in our city.”

 

“As the proud title sponsor of the Five Boro Bike Tour, and ingrained part of the fabric and footprint of New York City, TD is excited that registration has opened for what will once again be another incredible Tour later this May,” said Andrew Bregenzer, Regional President of Metro NY, TD Bank.

 

 

Furthering Bike New York’s Mission

 

The new initiative for asylum seekers and recently-arrived immigrants is one such program that meets this mission. Bike New York will accept bike donations at select drop-off locations provided by Unlimited Biking, Trek, and NYC DCAS and refurbish the bikes through its community bike shop, Recycle-A-Bicycle, in Brooklyn. Recycle-A-Bicycle is known for repairing and reselling donated bikes and bike parts, providing full repair services, and offering free bike maintenance classes and community rides for cyclists in Clinton Hill and the surrounding neighborhoods. All sales benefit Bike New York’s educational classes and programs.

 

The TD Five Boro Bike Tour is the premier fundraising event for Bike New York, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to empowering New Yorkers to transform their lives and communities through cycling. Proceeds from the event directly fund free public bike education and access programs for more than 30,000 adults and kids throughout the five boroughs. Bike New York co-produces this iconic New York tradition with the New York City Department of Transportation. 

 

Other Bike New York programs benefiting from the TD Five Boro Bike Tour include Bike Path. This initiative provides New Yorkers with modest job prospects, including formerly incarcerated residents, with intensive bike mechanic training, so they can obtain stable employment with Motivate, which maintains Citi Bike’s fleet.

 

 

Supporting New York City

 

“Since the beginning of this humanitarian crisis, communities across New York City have come together in incredible ways to ensure recently arrived asylum seekers are welcomed with dignity,” said MOIA Commissioner Manuel Castro. “Today, MOIA is proud to partner with Bike NY to encourage New Yorkers to participate in the bike donation program. We are incredibly grateful for the existing support and look forward to the distribution of these bikes to asylum seekers, so they may continue to acclimate in their new homes.”

 

“New York City is home to people of all backgrounds and nationalities, many of whom arrived with little more than the clothes on their backs,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “New Yorkers also stand up for those in need and this time is no different. That’s why we are happy to partner with Bike NY and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs to begin putting this event together.  Bikes represent more than just a mode of transportation for people, it can provide newcomers with freedom, a form of income, and renewed feeling of community. I urge all New Yorkers looking to make a difference in the life of one of our City’s newest arrivals to drop off a donated bike at one of the five locations throughout the city – and strongly encourage cyclists — from New York and beyond — to join us here in May for this great Five Boro Bike Tour.”

 

“We are proud to support and partner with Bike New York as they donate bikes to asylum seekers through this initiative,” said DCAS Commissioner Dawn M. Pinnock. “With these bikes, we’re giving those in greatest need opportunities to acclimate to our city and navigate it in an inexpensive, convenient, and environmentally friendly way. At DCAS, we prioritize making city government work for all New Yorkers, and that includes supporting those who want to build a life in our city. “

 

Donation drop-off locations:

 

Unlimited Biking store locations near Central Park, Columbus Circle, and Brooklyn Bridge will be the official drop-off points for those interested in donating bikes for this cause. For locations and hours, visit UnlimitedBiking.com/donations. “We are proud to be the official rental partner with Bike New York for the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, and we are especially happy to provide an easy donation process at our three Manhattan stores,” said Hakan Ugdur, CEO and Founder of Unlimited Biking.

 

Bikes can be dropped off at the following locations:

• Manhattan:
  • Unlimited Biking – 56 West 56th Street from Monday-Sunday 9 AM-5 PM
  • Unlimited Biking – 346 West 57th Street from Monday-Sunday 9 AM-5 PM
  • Unlimited Biking – 79 Chambers Street from Monday-Sunday 9 AM-5 PM
  • Trek Bicycle Bowery – 303 Bowery, New York, NY 10003 from Monday-Friday 11 AM-6 PM,  Saturday 10 AM-6 PM and Sunday 12:00-5:00 PM 
  • Trek Bicycle Chelsea – 183 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011 from Monday-Friday 11 AM-6 PM,  Saturday 10 AM-6 PM and Sunday 12:00-5:00 PM 
  • Trek Bicycle Hell’s Kitchen – 653 10th Ave, New York, NY 10036 from Monday-Friday 11 AM-6 PM,  Saturday 10 AM-6 PM and Sunday 12:00-5:00 PM 
  • Trek Bicycle Stuyvesant – 288 1st Ave., New York, NY 10009 from Monday-Friday 11 AM-6 PM,  Saturday 10 AM-6 PM and Sunday 12:00-5:00 PM 
  • Trek Bicycle Upper East Side – 1690 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10128 from Monday-Friday 11 AM-6 PM,  Saturday 10 AM-6 PM and Sunday 12:00-5:00 PM 
  • Trek Bicycle Upper West Side 72^nd St – 156 W 72nd St, New York, NY 10023 from Monday-Friday 11 AM-6 PM,  Saturday 10 AM-6 PM and Sunday 12:00-5:00 PM 
  • Trek Bicycle Upper West 96^th St – 231 W 96th St, New York, NY 10025 from Monday-Friday 11 AM-6 PM,  Saturday 10 AM-6 PM and Sunday 12:00-5:00 PM 
• Queens:
  • DCAS – 66-26 Metropolitan Ave from Monday-Friday 10 AM-2:30 PM (take the ramp up one level)
  • Trek Bicycle Forest Hills – 107-18 70th Rd, Queens, NY 11375 from Monday-Friday 11 AM-6 PM,  Saturday 10 AM-6 PM and Sunday 12:00-5:00 PM 
• Brooklyn: 
  • Recycle-A-Bicycle – 858 Fulton Street from Tuesday-Saturday 10 AM-6 PM and Sunday 9 AM-5 PM
  • Trek Bicycle Cobble Hill – 256 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231 from Monday-Friday 11 AM-6 PM,  Saturday 10 AM-6 PM and Sunday 12:00-5:00 PM 

 

What’s next?

 

The Bicycle Donation Program for Asylum seekers will receive donations until February 28. Then, our team will work on repairing the bikes. Bicycles will be distributed through the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) in the springtime. For more information, please call or reach out online via 311.

 

Written by Shannon Jordy and DKC Public Relations