People in Cork with unwanted bikes at home are being urged to donate them to the Schools Bikes for Africa Project, which will see suitable bikes be given to school children in Africa.

A new phase of the Schools Bikes for Africa Project has recently been rolled out in collaboration with the Department of Climate Action, Communication and Environment through the Local Authorities.

As part of the project, unwanted bikes are being collected with suitable bikes being repaired/refurbished by inmates at Loughan House Prison and Shelton Abbey Prison.

Once refurbished, the bikes are then sent by Rotary Ireland to Gambia.

Any unsuitable bikes will be added to scrap metal disposal.

Cork City Council has approved funding for the repair of 400 bikes as part of the project and has delivered a 20 foot branded container to the Kinsale Road Civic Amenity Site where members of the local communities can drop off their unwanted bikes.

The container, which can hold 120 bikes, will be monitored by the Rotary Clubs in Cork. 

When it is full, the suitability of the bikes will be assessed by assigned Rotary members.

Rotary Ireland says the bikes are a significant enabler to ensure that the recipient can access education, with many schoolchildren in Africa often having to travel 10km or more to get to school and back in a day.

As the bicycles will be used over rough terrain by students in the 10-17 age group they must be suitable for local conditions, and the Rotary club of Cork says strong, sturdy bikes with a 24”diameter are most suitable.

Racing type bicycles with narrow wheels and tyres, and children's bikes with stabilisers are not suitable.