Bike recycling at Bristol Prison
"Delighted to have bought a bike that is in superb condition"
Need a new bike? Or perhaps you’ve got an old bike you no longer want? Then you're in the right place!
Bike Back is an innovative bicycle refurbishment project run by Life Cycle, in partnership with HMP Bristol. Life Cycle takes donations of old, unwanted and broken bikes from the public and takes them to Bristol Prison, where they are transformed into a fleet of fully renovated bikes ready to be put back into useful service.
With the help of prisoners we strip down, clean and refit old bikes so that they are as good as new. Our experienced mechanics will be on hand to teach them the skills they need to do this, and to ensure that refurbishment is undertaken to high standards. We then sell them at affordable prices with the intention of helping local people on lower incomes to get a bike and start cycling.
As well as reducing the flow of bikes to landfill, and giving new life to old bikes, the project provides productive employment, training and qualifications for prisoners. Ultimately, we hope that some prisoners will learn sufficient skills and gain enough experience that they can gain employment as mechanics on release, helping to reduce re-offending in the future.
The project was started with the support of Bristol City Council's Cycling City programme. After a hugely successful initial period, Life Cycle has now secured over £300,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to enable the scheme to continue. The Big Lottery Fund's funding will be spread over 5 years, giving the scheme long-term security and ensuring an ongoing supply of refurbished bikes for Bristol.
Thank you to everyone who has supported BikeBack by buying or donating a bike!
