Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bicycling

Got An Extra Bike? Donate It Now To Someone Who Needs It

Talk about bike share!

Hey #bikeNYC, if you want to help out people in need in a real simple way, Transportation Alternatives is giving you a chance to step up and share the wealth.

The group's new #BikeMatch program seeks to connect people with a spare bike to someone in the city who needs a bike to travel safely to essential jobs or for doing errands or aid work (the kind of work done by the city's own bike angels like Vin Barone, as Streetsblog reported last week).

The program was inspired by TransAlt art director J Oberman, who realized he had a bike he "that was gathering dust in a hallway," TransAlt Executive Director Danny Harris said in an email. So, Oberman got creative.

"He reached out to his social network, and advertised the bike as up for grabs. By the end of the day, J was waving goodbye to his old bike (through a closed window, of course) and another New Yorker had access to much-needed transportation," Harris wrote.

And now Transportation Alternatives will do the work for you. To donate or request a bike, fill out the form and be prepared to follow a few simple rules. Only offer up a bike that's ready to ride now, sanitize it thoroughly (especially the parts people touch, like the handlebars, gear shifters and seat) and be prepared to do the dropoff or pickup of the bike in a public place while observing social distancing guidelines.

Also, obvs, but if you're feverish or coughing or you've been around someone with those symptoms, don't offer or ask for a bike.

It's not the only good offer for people who need bikes. First responders, healthcare providers and transit worker can snag free 30-day Citi Bike memberships for all of April.

Happy donating and happy riding!

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Universal Daylighting Has Majority Support on the City Council — Will Speaker Adams Give It a Vote?

Adrienne Adams is sitting on a landmark daylighting bill that could make every intersection safer for pedestrians.

July 9, 2025

‘Anti-Car Crusade’: Dinowitzes Slam Bronx Harlem River Greenway Bike Lane Touted by Mayor

The father-son duo are throwing a tantrum over the first leg of Mayor Adams's Harlem River Greenway.

July 8, 2025

Eyes on the Street: DOT’s ‘Broadway Vision’ Starts to Clear Up

The Department of Transportation has transformed Broadway into a new corridor for pedestrians and cyclists.

July 8, 2025

Amsterdam Leads the Way on E-Bike Regulation — Should New York Follow Suit?

The city's biking- and walking-friendly streets expose the hypocrisy harsh e-bike enforcement without better street design.

July 8, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines: Rethinking Avenue B Edition

DOT is taking feedback on the future of Avenue B. Plus more news.

July 8, 2025
See all posts