VI. SOCIAL OUTCOMES TRACKING

SOCIAL INDICATORS OF SUCCESS

Youth Training -- Recycle-A-Bicycle has worked with over 4,500 youth and staffed an average of 15 positions per year.

Recycle-A-Bicycle improves the lives of many at-risk youth in the region by offering an effective training program in the areas of bike repair, small business, and environmental education. Strategic partners provide qualified youth counselors to recruit and work with young people who need assistance with basic job readiness skills and who can intervene in the case of serious issues regarding the social or mental well being of participants. Partner programs also offer youth leadership development opportunities, tutoring, SAT preparatory courses, and career counseling services to our young people.

In addition to the skills training and self-esteem building that the youth training provides, many participants earn their own bicycles. The organization promotes bike riding as a form of recreation and transportation among the youth. The benefits of promoting an active lifestyle among youth are not calculated by the organization, but the benefits are assumed to be significant. In the future, Recycle-A-Bicycle may be able to track this increase in activity among youth participants.

ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS OF SUCCESS

Since its inception, Recycle-A-Bicycle has removed 109 tons of material from the waste stream and eliminated 104,244 trips by other polluting transportation sources.

In addition, Recycle-A-Bicycle has a strong impact on the environmental conditions of New York City. The organization removes tons of material from the waste stream each year. As the business increases its capacity to pick up, store and refurbish discarded bicycles, its positive impact on the waste stream will also increase. In 2002, Recycle-A-Bicycle recycled over 14 tons of material destined for New York City’s landfills. Over the next five years, the amount of tonnage removed will steadily increase. Additional environmental benefits are accrued as bicycles are used as alternatives to driving. To calculate these benefits, Recycle-A-Bicycle assumes that each bicycle sold replaces 28 car trips each year.

Recycle-A-Bicycle will generate increased outcomes through its expansion and growth. The following chart outlines the expected outcomes over the next five years.

PURSUE SEVERAL NEW SOCIAL MISSION-SPECIFIC STRATEGIES

Recycle-A-Bicycle will continue to expand its social mission to groups that have unmet needs and can make use of the services offered by the organization. Recycle-A-Bicycle has published 3,000 manuals for starting ride clubs, which will be available in 2003. Youth-oriented organizations will be invited to a workshop in April 2003 to learn how they can start these programs. The goal is to start 10 ride clubs in 2003. These organizations can invest in a ride club “fleet” by purchasing bikes from Recycle-A-Bicycle. This will allow Recycle-A-Bicycle to further its social mission and put more kids on bicycles. Recycle-A-Bicycle will serve in a technical assistance capacity to these groups to ensure their success.

As the number of graduates from the youth training program increases with the creation of the manufacturing facility, Recycle-A-Bicycle will increase its efforts to place youth in local employment.

Lastly, the Tours By Teens program is an example of new programming that Recycle-A-Bicycle will be starting in 2004. This program will train teens to give tours of selected neighborhoods by bicycle. Teens will study the history of a neighborhood, research and compile a tour program. Tour leaders will be graduates of the Recycle-A-Bicycle bike repair curriculum so handling the groups’ mechanical needs will be covered. The Tours By Teens program will employ program graduates and will help Recycle-A-Bicycle improve its visibility throughout New York City.

Recycle-A-Bicycle will increase the impact of its efforts by adding several new programs to its portfolio, including enhanced ride clubs, adult education, and a tourist operation.