Finally Another 5 Questions!

I know it has been a while, but Good News! We have another 5 Questions participant! This interview is with Sarah Green, one of the founders of Urban Bike Project, a local charity here in Wilmington, Delaware. I read about this organization in our local paper and thought that I would share their inspirational story with you all. They help a lot of people and would gladly help give any of your old bikes a new home. So here we go:

1. What was the inspiration for the project?

As people who love to ride bikes and also live in Wilmington, we really felt the lack of resources in our city but realized that no one else was going to do anything about it. To push us along, the neighborhood kids quickly learned that we worked on bikes in our home, and so we had a steady stream of youth constantly stopping by asking for help with their bikes. We knew we had to do something about it, and so we got together and started Urban Bike Project.

2. As far as you know, are there any similar projects going on in other cities?

There are many! All over the country and even internationally the same thing is happening, obviously more predominant in the very bike-friendly cities, but they're happening everywhere.
3. How many bikes have been sent back out in the community?

Between 300 and 400

4. How would you describe the response from the community about the project?

Everyone that hears about us seems to have an overwhelmingly positive response. Obviously the kids love it, since we know many of them that return week after week. As for adult customers, we have people from a block away to people who come from out of state. We can't always provide everything that people want, but when we explain that we're a 100% volunteer run organization, people are just thankful that we're here.

5. What are any future plans for the project?

Our future plans include being open more days of the week (our current operating hours are very limited), and holding a youth Earn-a-Bike Program. This would be an after school mentoring program teaching youth many valuable skills while working on building a bike that they keep upon graduation.