The Good Bike Project

Paul McQuaid is a cyclist and Bike shop owner who created the Good Bike Project, which has reconditioned and passed on more than 750 bikes to Ukrainian refugees living in Ireland since he launched the initiative.

“The public reaction has been amazing and I am thankful for all the support,” he said. “Between collecting bikes, repairing them and organising deliveries all over the country, I have been in here seven days a week for the past five months.

Mr McQuaid, who has been in business for over 40 years, says he is not surprised by people’s generosity – and revealed that he received 150 bikes from Ballymun garda station.

“These were stolen bikes that were never claimed by their owners and I am hoping garda stations all over the country will consider doing the same,” he said.

“I know there are hundreds of thousands of bikes in sheds and garages just deteriorating, so my aim is to put them to good use – it’s the very definition of a no-brainer.”

“There are bicycles being delivered every day to hotels in remote locations like the Burren,” he said. “Ukrainians have been sending me messages to say how much having a bike has changed their lives. It’s good for their mental health to be able to get out on a bike for a few hours – a bicycle is no small thing.”

.

The Good Bike Project is funded by the Irish Red Cross – more details are available on their website https://thegoodbikeproject.com/