Have you ever thought about the life-cycle of a bicycle—that simple, clean-running, exercise-producing, two-wheeled vehicle you have in your garage or yard?

Originally, it was purchased, either new at a bicycle shop or used from another owner, or arrived in your life as a gift. (Hopefully, you didn’t steal it!)

At first, owning the bike was like magic, providing great pleasure as you rode around your neighborhood alone or with friends, pedaled into the countryside sight-seeing, or raced anyone who was willing. You might have even begun a training program for your health or endurance.

For most adults, this stage wears off quickly, and the bike is stored in the garage to be used on occasion. Perhaps it has a flat tire, or a derailleur that doesn’t shift quite right (in which case it might stay there even longer). The car is started up and the bike becomes a neglected family member.

If you’re a kid, you might ride your bike into the ground, or it might be destroyed or stolen. Maybe you take care of it and repair it regularly, but in doing that you would be the exception.

In any case, at some point bikes are destined for the landfill—thousands every year—adding material to the earth that takes centuries to decompose, and causing the needless waste of the space landfills require.

Now think about the recycle life of a bike. It is used a while, then donated to a bicycle recycle center, where it is rebuilt, safety-checked, and then loaned out. It sees lots more use, and then is returned. Again it is rebuilt, safety-checked and loaned out to a new rider.

At some point, the bike may disappear for a long time, and then reappear years later at the recycling center; or the bike is ruined and disassembled for parts. The frame can then be recycled.

A California bicycle recycling-reuse system is already in place in the City of Arcata, on Humboldt County’s north coast. It is California’s largest bike re-use recycler. Unwanted bikes are donated to the Arcata Bicycle Library and repaired by volunteer mechanics. For a $20 fully-refundable fee, anyone can loan out a bicycle for up to six months. It is then returned and recycled once more.

The program is practical, providing inexpensive transportation; and it supports the environment by helping to eliminate pollution while creating a calmer and friendlier atmosphere.

In order to easily replicate this system throughout California, a practical piece of legislation has been proposed, and is being considered for adoption: The Bicycle Recycle Bill. It would work in this manner:

The Bicycle Recycle Bill will be legislation similar to the Bottle Bill of decades ago, that provided for the recycling of bottles and cans. The Bicycle Recycle Bill will ask for a deposit to be made on purchases of new bicycles that will provide for bicycle recycling later. Like bottles being recycled, bicycles will be turned in for a return deposit at bike program centers. The Bicycle Recycling Bill will provide for bicycle recycling centers, similar to the Arcata Library Bikes program, Trips for Kids program in San Rafael, and Cycles of Change in Oakland.

Statewide, there are many benefits to such bicycle centers and they are aligned with Governor Schwarzenegger’s campaign promise to provide for kids’ after school programs.

The bill will call for a $7 deposit on all bicycles purchased in California. An estimated 1 million bicycles are sold in California every year.

A California Redemption Value (CRV) will be created for each returned bicycle of $3.50. Only California purchased bicycles will be eligible for a CRV payment—they will be designated by an official sticker similar to the license sticker.

Bike shops, recycling centers, and bicycle centers will be eligible to be redemption locations. Prospective redemption centers shall make proposals for providing the function of recycling the CRV bicycles.

The redemption locations shall provide for a kids’ educational component in their bicycle recycling operations, which shall make use of at least 10% of their proposal funding. As part of this educational component, kids’ bike riding, driver education and after school programs will be encouraged.

An insurance seed account of $1 million will be established from these funds to secure insurance providers for the program. Annual premiums for risk expected on liability of operations will be limited to this amount maximum per year. The extent of reuse and bicycle recycling may be limited by this insurance cap, in which case first-established programs will continue. After six years, the new risk data will be established for insurers. Also after six years, the Bicycle Recycle Bill will be revisited by the legislature for continuation, alteration or cancellation.

Insurance providers may bid on a Northern California, Central California, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles Urban District and Southern California suburban and rural zones liability policy to provide coverage to the CRV bike centers.

The program funds will be released through the Solid Waste Management Board of California.

A Bicycle Program Admistrator (BPA) will provide organization of the duties of the Bicycle Recycle Bill. For three years this organization will have full authority over the operations of the Bicycle Recycle Bill funds and decisions about the qualifications and merits of proposed centers.

The BPA must have 5 years’ experience in recycling bicycles, have a degreed engineer on staff, have participated in national and international bicycle conferences, have experience implementing bicycle infrastructure, and experience with bicycle events management.

Arcata Library Bikes will provide supervision of the manufacture and distribution of CRV stickers, Library Bike operations manuals and procedures, and printed start-up material for bicycle reuse programs.

Cycles of Change will provide curriculum, operations manuals and procedures, and printed start-up material for kids’ bike after school programs.

Trips for Kids will provide curriculum, operations manuals and procedures, and printed start-up material for kids’ bike riding programs.

Many side benefits will be noted when this bill is passed by the legislature:

• Additional community bike riders benefiting from the recycling centers will find themselves in greater health.
• Clean air transportation will add to an less polluted environment
• Less parking infrastructure for cars will be needed.
• Bicycle recycle centers will also serve as bicycle transportation centers.
• School kids will have their own space to repair and build bicycles, and a place of practical learning to hang out with their friends.
• The recycle centers will provide an ongoing workshop for the building of creative and kinetic bike transport, and pedal-powered tools.
• The recycle center will be a place for meeting and dialog about transportation issues.
• Less oil will be needed as fewer cars are used, with the result contributing to world peace.

Arcata Library Bikes is an excellent example of a well-functioning bicycle recycling and reuse center, and is a model for future centers throughout California. (A similar bike lending program exists in Paris, France, and others are being started in Madison, Wisconsin, Austin, Texas and Portland, Oregon).

The Bicycle Recycling Bill, with its intention of increasing these centers, is supported in California by Governor Schwarzenegger, and by state senators and assembly members.

Arcata Library Bikes offers all riders an invitation to visit our headquarters, and to get further information from our website at: http://www.Arcata.com/greenbikes.