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We have had a few hand me down bikes for my daughter who is nearly 6, shes now nearly 6 and has a couple of her own new mtb's and loves them.
With the hand me down bikes I recently dragged one out the shed and gave it a service ready for more use for someone else. I put the bike on a local social media group as a free giveaway. A friend contacted me and said her friend wanted it for her 3 year old daughter, the big thing here is they don't have enough cash to buy her one. So I contacted them and said come and get it.
The next bit surprised the hell out of me but shouldn't have done as I've had and loved bikes all my life, the 3 year old saw the bike and the excitement and happiness she showed was overwhelming, she couldn't believe it was going to be hers. I've since been told she is loving riding it. To me it was an old bike with no value but it did work once serviced.
So the idea, take old worthless bikes and fix them. Offer them to people less fortunate for their kids to learn, the only condition is they hand them back when they are done with them. There would be no need for any financial transaction unless they wanted to donate which would go towards any that need spares.
I've asked around and a lot of folk have old bikes in their sheds and garages they would give for this use. I assume there will be the odd one who takes the piss but we'd just have to go with that. I think there may be a concern regarding liability but not sure how to approach that being as they are being given away.
I have a bit of time to do this and don't mind tinkering in the garage, I can only think a social media page would be the way to run it but any comments on the idea even if it's just don't do it 🙂
It's a very laudable idea, I wish you much luck with it. There are already charities around the country who do pretty much that, (though I don't think they insist on having the bikes back at the end of ownership). Maybe there is one near you that you could get involved with, otherwise I guess you are on the 'slippery slope' (in a good way) to starting your own.
Here's one charity based in Newcastle who provide refurbished bikes to people of all ages. If it's something you want to start up OP I'm sure they could advise.
It's not a bad idea. I was given an Apollo kids full suss recently. It was in basically perfect condition, just needed the brakes and gears sorting out. My daughter already had a bike, so I tried selling it. Even for £15.00 it was near impossible to sell.
Will you means-test applicants?
Something like this would rely on goodwill I'm afraid which is one particular downside.
the only condition is they hand them back when they are done with them
You will have problems with this bit. I think realistically you will have to put up with people giving them back as a pile of rusty bits, or not at all in a lot of cases.