Throughout the pandemic, we have witnessed a rise in bicycle usage—be it for leisure time or for practical purposes. Although, more often than not, the ones who really needed a bike are those who don’t have the capacity or privilege to acquire one.
As a solution, Escuela Taller de Filipinas Foundation is partnering with BeSeekLeta For Every Juan and Bambike for the Pamana Wheels Project, a crowdsourcing effort to build bikes for heritage workers.
BeSeekLeta is a non-profit organization that upcycles old and unused bike parts to build functional bikes for Filipinos in need of mobility. On the same note, Bambike is a socio-ecological enterprise based in the Philippines that hand-makes bamboo bicycles with fair-trade labor and sustainable building practices. Bambike also runs Bambike Ecotours, a guided bike tour goes through major historical and cultural sites inside Intramuros.
These organizations hope to provide heritage workers with a safer mode of transportation to work sites during the pandemic.
In order for this initiative to be successful, the project is in need of bike frames and forks, wheelsets, interior and exterior tubes, handle bars, brake pads, levers, and chains. Should you wish to help, these can be dropped off at the “Escuella Taller” address at Revellin de Recoletos, Victoria St., Intramuros, Manila. Donations of complete bicycle units are also welcome.
Those who are interested in contributing bike parts or units are advised to message the Escuela Taller Facebook page or text Philip (+639) 45 133 9920 and Roy (+639) 95 472 7778 before sending donations.