Bikes help refugees including those from Ukraine to stay independent

Cyclox member and Sanctuary Wheels project coordinator Kathryn McNicoll explains how the scheme worked during the pandemic and afterwards.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, Cyclox started refurbishing donated bikes to hand out to key workers.

This was only possible with the help of up to 20 furloughed mechanics around the city who were happy to donate their time, and the generosity of the donating public.

The demand was enormous - we handed out about 380 bikes and only stopped because bike donations dried-up and the mechanics had to go back to work.

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When we were asked by Asylum Welcome if we could do something similar for refugees this year, the answer was of course: yes! Just as long as the public still had bikes to donate.

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Our first group of refugees was a small number of unaccompanied minors from Afghanistan, but it quickly became clear that, as Oxford is a city of sanctuary, there would be a lot of Ukrainian refugees coming here and many of them would appreciate bikes too.

Ukrainian families are given a small amount of money when they arrive, but this doesn’t go far in terms of transport when you think of the cost of bus fares in the city.

Donated bikes, however, offer a free mode of transport and they also offer a bit of freedom and independence.

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Imagine having to flee your home, once a house in a normal Ukrainian town, now a pile of bricks and dust, and travel tortuously to a strange country.

You have probably had to leave your husband/son/father behind to fight in a war that you didn’t ask for and you are worried sick about them.

Your host family is very kind, but the food is different and you don’t speak their language. A couple of months ago you were living a full, independent life and now, you are totally dependent on the kindness and generosity of strangers. As grateful as you might be, some independence would be welcome: and this independence is what we hope the bikes will give.

As with our Bikes for Key Workers project in 2020, we are once again supported by Active Oxfordshire, as well as Asylum Welcome and Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

All donated bikes are refurbished before being handed out, some by TRAX - an Oxford based charity supporting young people in learning practical skills, which in this case cycle maintenance - a win-win arrangement.

The Windrush Bike Project in Witney and Farcycles in Faringdon are also contributing bikes and mechanics to the cause, in addition to handing out bikes in those areas.

This scheme is different to the key workers project in that we also have a lot of smaller people wanting bikes, from very young children to teenagers, so we need a wide range of bikes to cover all ages. (We have recently given a little Hoy bike to a two-year-old).

Cycling doesn’t seem to be as popular in Ukraine as it is here, so - understandably - there are some pretty wobbly recipients.

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However, the help to develop cycling skills and build confidence is on hand! From host families offering gentle encouragement and timely reminders to cycle on the left, Wheels For All Oxford offering a car-free space to practice during their sessions at Horspath athletics track, to Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service organising Bikeability lessons. It’s a real community effort: everybody is pitching in.

At the time of writing (which also happens to be the start of Refugee Week 2022) over 80 refugees have been given bikes already: and the look of happiness on some of their faces when they try out their bikes - children and adults - is very rewarding.

For more information about Sanctuary Wheels visit: cyclox.org.

If you have a bike to donate, or are a host family, you can email Kathryn: honsec@cyclox.org.

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