The Bike Exchange accepts bike donations in exchange for electric bike ride passes
A one-day event where 50 bikes will be donated, refurbished, and distributed to affordable housing residents.
This webpage a living information and resource document for Bike Exchange participants.
Last update: November 14
Event Information
Saturday, Nov 16 from 10am–4pm
Part 1: Donation & Refurbishing
Santa Cruz Housing Authority
2160 41st Ave, CapitolaDonation Dropoff: 10–11am
Refurbishing: 10am–2pm
Part 2: Giveaway
Undisclosed housing locationGiveaway: 2–4 pm
Important: This event is a proof of concept and is closed to the public.
Community Partners
How it works
1. Donate
Waldorf School families and other donors transport and donate cleaned bikes to Housing Authority Building
2. Exchange
Waldorf School families and other bike donors trade bikes for Bike Exchange vouchers
3. Refurbish
Community Bike Collective (CBC) mechanics refurbish bikes to prepare for giveaway.
4. Transport
CBC and Housing Authority transported to 951 30th Ave
5. Giveaway
Housing Authority residents have the choice of test-riding and receiving a bike or a bike pass.
Participant Information & Resources
Exchange Rate
1 bike donation = 1 Bike Exchange voucher
Bike Exchange voucher is redeemable for a BCycle 2 house Single Ride Pass
BCycle Ride Passes
Instructions
To redeem the BCycle ride pass, you need the BCycle app downloaded to your mobile smart phone and have created an account.
Add ride pass to BCycle App
Select “2 hour Single Ride Pass”
Enter “EXCHANGE####” promo code on voucher in the promo code at checkout.
The ride pass will populate in your BCycle account profile
Use ride pass
Go to a BCycle station with docked bikes
With your BCycle app “unlock” a bike
The app will automatically activate your 2 hour ride pass for that ride.
The Official Bike Exchange Voucher
Donors
Do you have an unused bike to donate?
Add a bike donation to the Bike Exchange
Bikes donations we accept
✅ Bikes issues we refurbish
Trouble shifting
Brakes rub/don’t work
flat tire
Needs a seat, hand grips or pedals
🚫 Bikes issues we will not accept for donation
Rusty drive trains (chain, cassette or chain ring)
Instructions
Donation drop-off window 10–11 am.
Submit bike information and fixes on the Bike Donation Form
Clean bike before donating
Transport bike to the Housing Authority at 2160 41st Ave Capitola, CA
Donor receives
Bike Exchange voucher for one bike donation
Taylor Lahey at Santa Cruz Waldorf School
Mechanics
🛠️
Volunteer Mechanics
Become a mechanic at the Bike Exchange
Instructions
Mechanics will park in the Housing Authority parking lot.
Mechanics must bring their own tools and bike stands.
Arrive at 10 am and work until 2 pm.
Lunch break at 12 pm.
Parts to fix bikes will be provided by CBC.
Refurbishing Repairs 🛠️
Repairs will be limited to the following:
Trouble shifting
Brakes rub/don’t work
flat tire
Needs a seat, hand grips or pedals
Mechanic receives
Lunch: provided by Pleasure Pizza and refreshments by the Housing Authority
Bike Voucher
Recipients
Instructions
Giveaway is from 2-4 pm
Recipients are eligible to receive bikes or bike vouchers.
Housing Authority residents who requested bikes will have their bikes marked and set aside for pickup.
Helmets will be given away with bikes, courtesy of Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency.
Note: Reserved bikes will become eligible for other participants to receive after 3 pm.
Team
Alex Ponik
President
Community Bike Collective
Lindsay Overton
Vice President
Community Bike Collective
Daniel Fagan
Director of Property Management and Client Services
Housing Authority of the County of Santa Cruz
Sunny Richter
6th Grade Teacher, Waldorf School Coordinator
Santa Cruz Waldorf School
Taylor Lahey
Community Organizer and Creator
Taylor Lahey Studio
Background
Inspiration
The Bike Exchange community design is based on Câmbio Verde, a trash exchange program from Curitiba, Brazil.
The city program has taken many forms but began in response to a city wide litter problem in the 1970s where residents of the city could trade trash for bus tokens, school supplies, or local produce.
Câmbio Verde participants include the city trash collection, bus transportation, and neighborhoods. Within the program’s design, all organizations or communities directly or indirectly benefit from the program’s work.
Today Câmbio Verde allows participants to exchange recyclables for local produce.
The Bike Exchange community organizer and creator is Taylor Lahey. He is the author of Câmbio (www.cambiostory.com), a story about a child who grows up participating in the Câmbio Verde.
Since publishing the book, he has been driven to build an exchange program like the one in the book for his community in Santa Cruz.
Event Concept Design
The Bike Exchange is built off the existing partnership of the Community Bike Collective (CBC) and the Housing Authority of Santa Cruz County called the “Bike Turnover Program”.
The Bike Exchange includes two additional core partners to the CBC and Housing Authority’s Bike Turnover Program:
The Waldorf School of Santa Cruz
BCycle
The Santa Cruz Waldorf School families and other Bike Exchange community members will participate as bike donors.
BCycle is participating by donating ride pass vouchers to giveaway to all participants—donors, mechanics, and other partners.
Press Inquires
Contact Taylor Lahey at hello@taylorlahey.com
Want to host a Bike Exchange?
Are you a community hub, municipality, non-profit, or neighborhood leader that wants to bring the Bike Exchange to your community? Let’s connect!