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

Old Bikes + New Immigrants = Warm Welcome

Two dozen asylum-seekers — some of the city's newest and poorest residents — were given donated bikes yesterday as part of the "Asylum Seeker Bike Program" created by Bike New York and the Adams administration.

Anderson Muñoz gets his bike, courtesy of Bike NY and City Hall. (And that’s Manuel Castro, the commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, giving him the helmet). Photo: Auden Oakes

Welcome to New York — now get on that bike!

Two dozen asylum-seekers — some of the city's newest and poorest residents — were given donated bikes yesterday as part of the "Asylum Seeker Bike Program" created by Bike New York and the Adams administration.

Eventually, 200 bikes will be doled out — crucial for helping the newest New Yorkers get around a complicated city with a (relatively) expensive transit system.

“A lot of them don't have any means of transportation, and they're not really working, so it's hard for them to move around,” said Diana Perez, a volunteer for Mixteca, a Brooklyn-based immigrant assistance group. “We have people who have gotten tickets for jumping and for not paying the MTA. … They don't have employment, so a lot of them just go to whatever job they can find, for instance, delivery.” 

The initiative began in January when Bike New York reached out to the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs to offer assistance to the asylum seekers in the form of donated bikes refurbished by Recycle a Bicycle. The Department of Transportation and Kryptonite, the lock company, donated locks, lights, and helmets.

A spokeswoman for the immigration office said that asylum seekers have additional challenges beyond merely being a stranger in a strange land.

“This wave of migrants is quite different from the previous waves of migrants since many of them do not have support systems here,” Shaina Coronel said at the launch event, which was at Mixteca's headquarters in Sunset Park. And New York is a difficult city to navigate. “Getting acclimated to New York City is a huge learning curve that [the migrants] have to go through,” she added.

A bike is a perfect device in this situation, advocates said.

Etienne Demosthene checks out his new (recycled) bike. Photo: Auden Oakes

“I know how powerful a bike can be. It can be a way to get to work or the park, but it is also an opportunity for these migrants to go to their appointment with their immigration attorney," said Hildalyn Colon-Hernandez of New Immigrant Community Empowerment. "They have to get there, and this gives them the freedom to discover New York City.”

Etienne Demosthene, an asylum seeker from Haiti, accepted his bike on Wednesday with great excitement and also great familiarity, given how common cycling is in his native land.

“It’s very important for me to have a bike because it’s a way for me to get to work, and also to get some exercise,” he said.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

America Has A New ‘Friendliest’ State for Cycling

...but even the best of the best isn't doing enough to protect people on two wheels, a top advocacy group warns.

December 12, 2024

Two Council Members Abandon E-Bike Registration Bill After Divisive Hearing

Council members Chi Ossé and Yusef Salaam pulled their support of a City Council bill that seeks to register all e-bikes.

December 12, 2024

DEP Will Make Idling Complaint Videos Available Online for Violators

The Department of Environmental Protection hopes increased transparency will spur more companies to plead guilty to idling violations without demanding a trial.

December 12, 2024

Thursday’s Headlines: Ghost Car Update Edition

It's not all bad news out there! Sure, the City Council may restrict e-bike use, but the mayor's initiative against ghost cars is gaining speed. Plus other news.

December 12, 2024

Better Buses Will Be Big for Business on Flatbush: Report

Mayor Adams has yet to follow through on his promise to bring bus lanes to Flatbush Avenue, where 70 percent of bus riders are going to shopping, dining or entertainment destinations.

December 12, 2024
See all posts