Getting bikes to those who need them is just one way that One Street helps, but now the organization has announced that it has launched a new program to help address the issue of what happens after bike parts wear out. Now the international bicycle advocacy nonprofit has launched One Street Components. This new components arm of the organization has become necessary as One Street’s Social Bike Business program provides durable transportation bikes to impoverished people in communities around the world.
Each local program starts by refurbishing used bikes as they move toward manufacturing their own steel frames, forks and racks. This local manufacturing will be necessary as the bike industry no longer produces quality, affordable transportation bikes. But an alarming pattern has been hindering even the refurbishing stage.
“When we launched our Social Bike Business program back in 2007 we knew we’d eventually be helping our local partners manufacture their own frames, forks and racks,” said Sue Knaup, One Street’s executive director. “But we never dreamed the bike industry would actually stop producing the basic parts necessary to build a quality, affordable transportation bike.”
Additionally the group has partnered with Ecosa Institute in Prescott, Arizona to design the first components, which need to be durable, repairable, recyclable and affordable. The first components will be shift lever sets of the style no longer made in the U.S. and increasing vanishing throughout the world. Ecosa Institute’s design students, some at the Masters level, will tackle the project this fall. Just a few of the criteria they will follow include using very few parts and ensuring that most parts can be replaced with common items. For instance, the top cap could be replaced with a bottle cap or the original aluminum lever could be replaced with carved bone or hardwood.
One Street has developed a capital campaign to help fund this project, and this includes sponsorship benefits and donor recognition. Sponsors and donors interested in assisting with this innovative effort to design and produce bike parts for the needs of impoverished people can find details and a sponsorship form on the One Street Components page on the One Street website under Services & Programs.
One Street Official Website
Ecosa Institute Official Website