GREEN OFFICE WAGENINGEN’SBICYCLE PROJECT

‘COLLECT – FIX – SHARE’

Best Practice PresentationRobin Smale

Almost everyone cycles

INEVITABLE: THE ORPHANED BIKE

?

THE IDEA Collect abandoned and broken bicycles… …have them repaired or dismantled at a

social working place… …and then sell them to those who need them

right away: newly arrived students.

THE GOAL Safe, affordable & sustainable bicycles At a convenient time for new students Closing a re-use cycle & reducing orphaned

bikes

Summer AID 2013

BUT…SOME PROBLEMS

RE-THINKING THE PROJECT Balancing financial viability with sustainability

Adapted to taxing situation... ...streamlined the project... ...while trying to stick as much as possible to our

original scheme Edition 2 in 2014!

WINTER 2014

Summer AID 2014

TOWARDS FUTURE EDITIONS 100+ bikes, winter & summer More (stable) sources of bikes Involve employees, student

and study organisations Repair service throughout the

year

Better weather?

WHAT MADE IT WORK? Value in the broken & abandoned bikes One man’s trash is another man’s treasure Trust from the university’s Facilities

Department Demand, supply and capacity to repair

already there Only needed someone to take initiative and

organize!

WHAT I LEARNED …to work together with different

stakeholders... …to maintain a project over multiple years... …to handle finances... …to accommodate the 3 P’s in a concrete

project... …to recruit volunteers… …to carry out a promotion campaign.

Small project – big topics & unexpected issues!

[TAKE HOME MESSAGE]

It was just one of many projects we organized

My personal favorite

Hope you feel inspired Look for similar opportunities at your

university!

Good luck with your sustainable

projects!