Finland, Turku
By: Uusi Tuuli ry
http://www.estelle.fi/uusituuli.php

People interested in ecological transport get cheap bicycles.

Solution
The Bicycle Flea Market repairs and resells donated bicycles. Funded by Uusi Tuuli it is run by volunteers, mostly unemployed, who are willing to work for the common good, and want to maintain their repair skills. The flea market began by selling everything, but was not profitable. Pepe came up with the idea of a bicycle flea market which takes donated bicycles from all over Turku, and stores them a in basement before they are either repaired or dismantled for spare parts. Volunteers work two to four hours every weekday. Sometimes they are joined by people sent by the Unemployment Office, who are taught how to use tools and repair bikes, and leave three months later with a new skill. Repaired bikes are displayed next to the entrance. New owners are given a one-month warranty.

Background
Turku, population 170,000, is the cultural centre of Finland. The many students, who live in the city only during academic term time, want an ecological and cheap method of transport. Meanwhile, there are lots of unemployed people, many of them immigrants, who need work Voluntary work is sometimes the only way to maintain their skills or keep them in touch with society. At the moment there is only one Bicycle Flea Market. The scheme solves two problems: it revives bikes that people otherwise discard, believing it cheaper to buy a new one than repair the old one; and helps clear the spare bikes left in common parts of apartment blocks when their owners move out.

Current state of development
The scheme has been working well since 1990. In Finland, where bicycling is popular and bicycle prices high, recycling bicycles is not new one and happens in most cities. However, using voluntary work is unique to Turku. The main aim of Bicycle Flea Market is to make enough profit to maintain the ship Estelle. The flea market only makes 10,000 to 15,000 euros per year, too little to pay even one person. About 75% of the profit goes to maintain Estelle, with the rest used for buying spare parts, and paying bills.

The benefits

Society
It helps to develop or maintain manual skills and enable workers to feel a valuable part of society. Those who choose to work here are willing to learn and teach others. They also don’t pay any tax.

Environment
Uusi Tuuli’s philosophy is to make the world better in simple ways, as bicycle riding, kite flying or sailing. It promotes ecological transport, reduces waste and turns abandoned bikes into valuable products.

Economy
Customers benefit from a cheap bike with a warranty
It helps Turku students save money on public transport, and commute in ecological way.

The quality of the experience
Feeling part of a community with respect for the nature and the environment. Behaving in sustainable way.

Future development possibilities
Designing bikes easy to dismantle and re-assemble, and a proper set of standard spare parts. Creating open workshops where people can undertake repairs supervised by experts. Better integrating mobility system with public and private transportation systems.

Authors
University of Art and Design Helsinki, Finland
Ryszard Poniedzialek

Anyone can come and donate a bicycle.
It will be stored in the basement…
…repaired or dismantled into spare parts…completed and resold to someone in need.
Another sold bicycle will be added to a long list.