Pitkin Solid Waste Center takes part in donation of bikes to Dine’ Bike Project
Pitkin County/Courtesy photo
The Pitkin County Solid Waste Center and its Motherlode Mercantile shop were involved in a collaborative project where 126 bikes, bike parts, and wheels were donated to the non-profit, NavajoYES, according to a Pitkin County press release.
NavajoYES’ Dine’ Bike Project provides bikes to local families, schools, and communities on the Navajo Nation as a means of surrounding communities with an “infrastructure of wellness,” according to the press release. The collection of bikes and bike parts has been ongoing since 2021 when Aspen local Emily Marshall jump-started the effort, one which also includes the involvement of the Carbondale Bike Project.
“It takes a community to facilitate every aspect of the process from collection, maintenance and upkeep, to drop-off. This partnership is a powerful example of the potential of community organizations working together to create impactful initiatives.” she said.
According to the county press release, the Pitkin County Solid Waste Center donated bikes dropped off at the Motherlode Mercantile, a shop which was developed by the county to reuse items to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, save energy, and reduce waste that would otherwise take space in the landfill.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with the Dine’ Bike Project and the Carbondale Bike Project to support the missions of these organizations and find new homes for bikes that might have otherwise ended up in landfills or scrap metal piles,” said Natalie Trecker, Motherlode Mercantile supervisor.
The Carbondale Bike Project helped supply numerous bins of spare bike parts, according to the press release.
“The mission of the Carbondale Bike Project is to enhance individual, community, environmental, and global health through the operation of a sustainable, safe, and educational community bicycle education program,” said Erik O’Connell, head of the Carbondale Bike Project. “This was a fantastic opportunity to provide the Dine’ Bike Project with parts and wheels to make these bikes operational again.”
This bike donation aims to contribute to the well-being and resilience of the Navajo Nation community and aligns with the Pitkin County core values of environmental stewardship and community building, according to the press release.
“The mission of NavajoYES is to promote community wellness, lifelong fitness, and youth empowerment in communities and schools around the Navajo Nation,” said Tom Riggenbach of the Dine’ Bike Project. “The bikes shared are ‘purchased’ by recipients through pledging an act of community service. For example, bike recipients might bake cookies for senior centers, pitch in on trailwork, chop wood for elders, or volunteer to restore bikes. This model creates a sense of ownership.”
