Since August of 2012 we've fixed and distributed about 40 bikes, and we have about 70 more ready to be repaired and put into use! Many thanks to the donors and volunteers who have taken us this far, especially the Sarasota Unitarian Universalist Church for hosting a bicycle drive in December 2012.

We are hosting bicycle repair workshops most Saturdays from 1:00 to 6:00 PM! All are welcome to join, regardless of skill level. Drop us a line at (941) 894-4333 or [email protected] to get involved or donate a bicycle.

Contact: Ryan Feller, Director
[email protected]
(941) 894-4333 (cell)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHARITY BICYCLE COLLECTION DRIVE IN SARASOTA, DECEMBER 15TH
Bicycles will be distributed for free to homeless and at-risk children and adults in the Sarasota area.

SARASOTA, FLORIDA, Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - Sarasota-based nonprofit organization Suncoast Community Bikes has announced a bicycle collection drive in Sarasota on December 15th. They will be accepting adult's and children's bicycles in any condition, which will be refurbished by volunteer mechanics and distributed to homeless and at-risk children and adults in the Sarasota area.

“Donating a bicycle allows Sarasotans to support an important local cause without reaching into their wallets,” said Mr. Ryan Feller, Director of Suncoast Community Bikes. “With thousands of used bicycles sitting idly in garages and backyards, the potential to provide at-risk community members with much-needed transportation to jobs and school is almost limitless."

To read the full press release, click here!

To download the full press release, click here!

Check out our full-page feature article in The Tangent, New College's student newspaper! Many thanks to student journalist Kaley Soud and the dedicated volunteers who make our work a success.

Today we distributed eight bicycles and locks to Bethesda House, a non-profit community center in Venice! They will be distributed to disadvantaged adults who have found jobs but require reliable transportation to and from work.

Suncoast Community Bikes reached a milestone today. With the help of the Sarasota YMCA, we distributed our first refurbished bicycle to a homeless high school student, who will use it to travel to school and find work. We wish him the best of luck!

Despite a rough batch of bikes and last-minute planning, our first bike workshop was a huge success! Seven volunteers, including three experienced mechanics and three New College students working on bikes for the first time, came together and refurbished eight bicycles in just part of an afternoon! We're currently buying locks and lights for these bikes and making final preparations for them to be distributed to homeless and disadvantaged individuals in the area.

We still have about 15 bikes left to work on and more on the way, so regardless of your skill level, join us next Saturday for our next workshop! Call Ryan Feller at (954) 232-3790 or email [email protected] for location and details.

We started with a pile of abandoned bikes in various states of disrepair...

...And finished with eight functional bikes, ready for their new owners.

A few of our volunteers pausing for a photo opportunity.

Today we received our first batch of about 25 bikes, graciously donated by the New College student-run bike shop, who in turn received them from the New College campus police. These bikes were all abandoned by their previous owners, and while a handful have rusted into disrepair, we should be able to refurbish most and distribute them to appreciative new owners. We're planning a workshop to begin repairing them this weekend - stay posted!

A promising batch of bicycles. Stay posted for the "after" pictures!

Welcome to the Suncoast Community Bikes blog! Here we'll be documenting our progress as an organization from the very beginning, from workshops to collection drives to volunteer meetings. We're very excited to begin collecting, refurbishing and distributing bikes and are actively recruiting volunteers and making preparations for bicycle collection drives. Stay posted!