Bicycle reuse
Bicycle reuse and recycling
We are a central Wellington drop-off point for bicycle reuse and recycling. If you have a bike that could do with a new home - drop it off to us.
We accept bikes that are in good rideable condition. This means not too rusty, not in parts, and no older road bikes.
Got a bike that is beyond repair? Bring it to us for metal recycling.
What you can drop off to us:
✔️ Bikes in good condition:
It has all its parts and looks like a bike
It does not have drop handles bars (as we can’t take road bikes at the moment)
It rolls, even if the tires are flat, and has some sort of brakes
It looks like a bike you would want to give to a friend. Not too rusty, no obvious DIY paint jobs
It can need a clean but it shouldn’t be “too far gone” for someone new to love
✔️ Helmets under 3 years old that you’d be happy to wear, with pads and clean straps
✔️ Pumps and accessories in working order
✔️ Balance bikes
✔️ E-bikes with a working battery (we cannot accept e-bikes that don’t have a working battery)
What is ReBicyle?
ReBicycle is a charitable community organisation which ‘upcycles’ second-hand bikes into safe, practical commuter bikes to gift or loan to people who need them, starting with newly settled refugees but also including any people experiencing financial difficulty.
All bikes are donated by the public, parts are donated or bought, and mechanics volunteer their time where possible.
Why ReBicyle?
There are many people in our community who need access to free/cheap/accessible transportation. ‘Transport poverty’ is becoming a real issue.
Free bikes and helmets, combined with cycle skills training, offer a long term transport solution with little ongoing cost. It also keeps bikes out of the landfill and helps to reduce carbon emissions.
The meaning behind EkeRua
The name EkeRua ReBicycle was given by Vincent Olsen-Reeder. In his words, “Eke is the general word given to ‘riding’ modes of transport. This covers all public transport, surfing, skating and cycling. In a sense, eke also means to achieve and overcome. This derivation comes from the word hangarua, recycling, which means to ‘purpose twice.’ Thus the name means to jump on a bike again”
For more information, head to the EkeRua website
“950 bikes have been donated to us since we started and we’ve fixed up (with help from our wonderful volunteers) and re-homed over 630. That’s 630 people in the Wellington region who wouldn’t otherwise have access to a bike, for fun, transport or recreation. We reckon that’s a pretty cool achievement. Every week we spot more and more of our bikes ‘out in the wild’. Keep an eye out for the sticker on the stem! 🙂”