Wheeling out a new idea: A lending library of bicycles

At the back of the shop at the Sibley Bike Depot in St. Paul, rows of bicycles are stacked on top of one another.

Someday, they'll be fixed and sold or taken apart and recycled. In a month or so, some might even be loaned out when a new bike library -- funded with a $200,000 federal grant -- gets into gear.

The mission is simple: "We're getting bikes in the hands of people who need them," said Jason Tanzman, volunteer coordinator for the nonprofit bike shop.

The Community Partners Bike Library will help low-income folks across the Twin Cities who don't have access to good bikes to use for transportation. Sibley is joining with 20 groups -- from government to social services to community institutions -- to loan 200 bikes to people in need.

"Part of the beauty of the program is networking with communities that aren't using bikes already," said Amy Snyder, the library program's director. The program will help people who can't afford a good, safe bike, she said.

"Who can't dig that?" Snyder said.

There are bicycle libraries in Arcata, Calif., and Iowa City, Iowa, where people can choose a bike, put down a deposit and pedal away for six months.

Sibley's idea was first envisioned as a bike donation program, but then organizers figured it might be more useful to ensure that people who get the bikes actually use them.

The partner organizations -- including Project for Pride in Living, Network for Better Futures and Center for Victims of Torture -- will distribute the bikes. If a library bike isn't ridden at least once a week, the organizations will want it returned.

When a person checks out a bike, it will come with a rack, fenders, lights, lock, helmet and a Twin Cities bike map. Before riding away, the person will have to take a "safe cycling" class. The bikes can be checked out for six months.

People must be at least 16 years old to participate.

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