Today we are doing a spotlight on our newest partner, Dr Cranky and their impressive bike recycling program in schools!
Dr Cranky is both a fun loving but frank character who wants to get kids on bikes and also a group of parent volunteers and schools helping to get more kids riding, recycling bikes and strengthening communities.
As of February 2019 Dr Cranky’s has repaired and/or given away 1511 bikes at thirteen schools with the help of over 30 volunteers. As a result the bike recycling program has generated over 135,000 extra bike rides a year!
Working with local schools and their communities, Dr Cranky seeks to provide bikes, helmets and locks to those who would not otherwise be able to afford or access them, to ensure every kid has access to a working bike that they can ride regularly.
Dr Cranky believes the program must be fun, frank and functional for kids and those involved. And must give kids freedom.
It all started in 2014 at Flemington Primary School, where Bart Sbeghen and Peter Hormann started their “Bicycle Hospital” for repairing donated bikes for students.
After this initial and unexpected success, Bart left his long term job as a bicycle advocate at Bicycle Network to help establish Dr Cranky Bicycle Hospitals at other schools.
Dr Cranky’s currently runs at eleven schools:
- Albert Park PS – second Tuesdays before & after school
- Clayton North PS – Every second Tues after school
- Flemington PS – Fridays before and after school
- Nightcliff PS, Darwin – Fridays before and after school
- North Melbourne PS – Fridays before and after school
- St Michael’s Nth Melbourne – as needed
- St Kilda PS – Mondays before and after school
- Trinity Catholic PS Richmond – Fridays before & after school
- Yarra PS Richmond – As needed
- Resurrection School Keysborough – Wednesdays before and after school (volunteers needed)
- Abbotsford PS – Fridays before and after school
For more information on Dr Cranky and how to get your school involved check out their website (www.drcrankys.com.au), social media accounts (Bicycle Hospital, Dr Cranky’s) and this article in The Age about the program!
