In the summer of 2004, I helped start the Iowa City Bike Library. It was a whimsical notion with a serious mission… to get more people using bicycles for transportation. In the past seven years the volunteer-run community bicycle endeavor has flourished!
The core business is refurbishing donated bikes and checking them out to people for 6 months in exchange for a modest deposit. If a patron returns the bike within the 6 months, they are entitled to the return of their deposit. If they love the bike and want to keep it… no problem, but we keep the deposit money which goes back into the project to buy new parts and such.
The idea is to offer a non-threatening, low-cost entry point for the would-be cyclist and become the gateway into cycling for lots of people.
Well, this Saturday we will check-out our 1000th bicycle. Of course, many of the bikes have been checked out multiple times, but we have reconditioned and shared 1000 bikes! The key to all of this is a group of awesome volunteers with a passion and commitment that is truly unmatched!
In honor of this milestone, we’ll be having a party this Saturday, September 17, from 9:30-noon. So if you happen to be in the Iowa City area, drop by for some coffee and pastries! Our address is 408 E College Street.
The core business is refurbishing donated bikes and checking them out to people for 6 months in exchange for a modest deposit. If a patron returns the bike within the 6 months, they are entitled to the return of their deposit. If they love the bike and want to keep it… no problem, but we keep the deposit money which goes back into the project to buy new parts and such.
The idea is to offer a non-threatening, low-cost entry point for the would-be cyclist and become the gateway into cycling for lots of people.
Well, this Saturday we will check-out our 1000th bicycle. Of course, many of the bikes have been checked out multiple times, but we have reconditioned and shared 1000 bikes! The key to all of this is a group of awesome volunteers with a passion and commitment that is truly unmatched!
In honor of this milestone, we’ll be having a party this Saturday, September 17, from 9:30-noon. So if you happen to be in the Iowa City area, drop by for some coffee and pastries! Our address is 408 E College Street.
Here's the first bike checked-out by the Bike Library back in June of 2004
Young patrons of the Bike Library, August of 2005
Cody leading Bike Club at the Neighborhood Center, July 2006
Steve takes scrap metal to be recycled in 2007
Saturday retail and check-out, January 2010
Garrison and Rob resurrecting an old Trek, 2010
Audrey adjusts a saddle for a customer this past Saturday
Here's bike #995... notice the line waiting for bikes
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