Beryl Fernandes, Ph.D. Volunteer Project Director
Fernandes & Associates, Inc., Seattle, Washington

A diverse coalition of individuals,  businesses and organizations in Washington State came to the aid of Louisiana residents in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita with a unique, grassroots program: the collection of more than 800 pre-owned bicycles for inexpensive and efficient transportation and Christmas gifts for children. 

Here's the story of how this unusual project came together, the efforts of hundreds of people spurred to action in Washington State and Louisiana, and what it accomplished. We hope it will inspire and encourage individuals, especially young people, to initiate and carry out other humanitarian projects.

       The Katrina Bikes Partnership was formed in Seattle in response to the plight of evacuees in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged the Gulf Coast in August 2005. The above photo, showing some of the hurricane's lingering aftermath, was taken by our Louisiana partners during their New Orleans bike tour in early 2006 .

               A grassroots humanitarian effort, it connected the hearts of Seattle-area residents with those of the people of Louisiana.  The objective was to collect used bikes in the Seattle area, repair, clean and truck them to Baton Rouge and Lake Charles.  Bikes were also made  available to New Orleans students temporarily attending the University of Washington in Seattle and other evacuees residing in Washington State. It began with one person's simple idea to help, followed by phone calls to assess the need for bikes and identify an infrastructure to distribute them. It grew beyond that idea with the synergy of hundreds of participants. Once the project was anchored in Seattle and Louisiana, we identified a way to truck them to Baton Rouge through the generous donation of two 28-foot trailers from Yellow Transportation - the largest trucking company in the world.  Still needing to transport some bikes from Baton Rouge to Lake Charles, we contacted Weyerhaeuser, who funded that leg of the journey.

Involving elementary and high school students, recreational and bike clubs, bike mechanics, small and large businesses, governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations, the Partnership received widespread recognition for its efforts. At the University of Washington's Katrina Thanksgiving Banquet in November 2005, Governor Chris Gregoire and University of Washington President Mark Emmert, both of whom knew of the project, separately came to our table to acknowledge and thank the volunteers for their contributions through this project.  

         The spirit of this project is perhaps best captured by the words of a Seattle Public School child, who wrote in one of 400 notes attached to the bikes: "We're in this Together".

Another Seattle Public School child aptly conveyed  the message of this project with a drawing attached to a bike that said: "I hope you like this bike".

       This project was designed and implemented through donated services and items, rather than by raising cash. Most importantly, the project's success is attributed to the caring, generous, enthusiastic spirit of the people in these two states, drawn to action to help fellow human beings in need.  

In a few weeks we assembled some 15 partners, 200 volunteers and 33 bike mechanics in Seattle, and eager partners in Louisiana. Greatly exceeding our goal, we collected  834 bikes, many of them arriving with touching stories. One couple told us they had not been able to part with a bike belonging to their son who had passed away ten years ago, but after hearing about this project they said they were finally able to give up his bike to this cause. Some traveled as much as 25 miles each way to drop off one or more bikes from areas outside of Seattle because they heard about it in the press - thanks to our partner/media consultant's tireless efforts. Those who could not participate on designated weekends dropped off food for volunteers, and mechanics worked alone in the Maguson Park hangar on weekday nights to repair bikes. An REI mechanic traveled 20 miles each way at 5am one weekday morning for a TV interview because media outreach was essential to get people to donate bikes.  Particularly moving were  offers to volunteer from  Washington State's and the U. of Washington's evacuees.  To read more about the 2005 bike drive, check out the Flyer, Partners, Volunteers, Mechanics, Press Releases, Media Highlights, Excerpts from School Kids' Notes and Photos.

 The majority of the bikes were repaired, loaded, transported, delivered and distributed towards the end of 2005 in Baton Rouge. Following the devastation of Hurricane Rita in the Cameron area, the bikes continued to be distributed through 2006.

Pictures of ecstatic volunteers and delighted recipients of all ages in Seattle and Louisiana can be seen in the photo gallery. The connection that was forged between our communities is now well established. The photo below shows our Lousiana Partners from Baton Rouge and Lake Charles on the arrival of the Seattle bikes. Bruce Wickert,  Bike-Ped's chief organizer, holds the note delivered by Yellow's truck driver with the keys to the two trailers, which says: "From Seattle with Heart".

           Most significantly, the community spirit generated by bringing together this diverse mix of Seattleites and Louisianans was remarkable. Partners, volunteers and bike donors thanked us for "the opportunity to do something". 

Katrina Bikes Partnership

2005-2006 Seattle

        Following the Seattle drop-off events in November 2005, the Katrina Bikes Partnership continued to receive requests from people who wanted to donate bicycles and accessories for evacuees in Washington State. We also received requests for bicycles from agencies sheltering evacuees in the Seattle area.

        The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, a Katrina Bikes Partner, served as the conduit for both drop-offs and pick-ups. Scheduling was required, at which time the location and appointment was provided. To schedule a drop-off or pick-up of bicycles or accessories in Seattle contact

       Louisiana Bikes Partnership 2005-2006 Baton Rouge & Lake Charles

        The Lake Charles-Cameron program was conducted as an ongoing effort in conjunction with Gumbo Feeds at Burton Coliseum, which has fed about 300 people over three events. In addition to food, evacuees were provided an opportunity to "shop" for clothes from the clothing drive, and allowed to select bikes housed in a trailer. The first event occurred two weeks before Christmas 2005 and continued  through the summer of 2006. The bikes were an especially welcome gift for children at Christmas time and for those who had no other way to get to work.  Our Lake Charles partners continue to look for additional helmets, locks, water bottles, and other bike parts. If you have ideas on where they might get these, please contact