Macon Magazine

CLIFFORD SANDERS in Centenary's fellowship hall on Ash Street. People come and we work on bikes at no cost. We supply parts and share a meal. "We just spend time together around the bikes and food. People come who've gotten our bikes and people come who need a bike fixed. Some can do part of the work and some can't do anything. Some want to learn. Other people come volunteering to help with repairs, some just come for the meal and others want to be in on what's going on here: We're fixing bikes and providing transportation, right, but we're building a very diverse community that transcends racial, social, economic and other barriers. At its heart, that's what Re-Cycle is." OCIE LEWIS, 58, is at almost every monthly co-op. After earning his bike, he became such a regular and learned so much repair that it's difficult to peg him as a recipient or a volunteer – he's both. "I worked like a slave most all my life until I was disabled," he said. "I cut tobacco, picked cotton, picked pecans, pulled weeds, drove a tractor and did cotton gin work until I couldn't do it no more. Walking any distance made me almost cry and I couldn't get anywhere. at's without the bike. I was one of the first to get one – I can't get no car – but the bike lets me get to the doctor and hospital downtown. "It doesn't hurt so much and it's a healthy thing – that is, if people in cars don't run you down. You have to watch. You have to do your part to keep things safe because a lot of times those people in cars don't pay attention. You learn how to be safe at the co-op and they give you a lock and helmet. ey surely stress safety." Ocie said a truck once hit him, turning into his path without warning. It knocked him out, but he was at least glad he didn't land on his hip, which was "already torn up anyway." "But I can ride again now 'bout anywhere in God's world," he said. "We fixed my bike. It makes me all glad I can change tires and do a little work to help others. It may be only a little, but doing it, you know you're making the world a little better for someone. ere's nothing like doing that." RACHELLE WILSON is Re-Cycle Macon's program director. Her day job is development director at Rebuilding Macon. Wilson became a bike commuter out of necessity in her college days in Atlanta and is a vault of information about Re-Cycle. She will quickly tell you important dates like the co-op's one-year birthday bash set for Feb. 20 at Centenary's fellowship hall. She says the public is encouraged to attend. "Our process is simple for people with transportation access issues and it goes on all the time," she said. "Basically, it's to drop by Centenary and tell Eric you want a bike. He'll typically tell you, 'Show up Tuesday at 10 a.m., bring your lunch, be prepared to work your five hours and by 3 p.m. you can leave with a bike, a lock and a helmet. If it needs repair later, bring it to a co-op and someone will likely be able to fix it. And if it's not broken, come anyway, have a meal, meet people, be part of the community.' " Wilson said the biggest need is not for more bike donations, though they're welcomed, but for people all across Macon to be involved, share their lives and stories with others and help build a community. "We see bikes change lives," she said. "We see how being part of such a community can be life-changing for all involved." Wilson emphasizes bikes are earned – so there's equity involved. She said though records aren't perfect from their earliest days, people have earned more than 75 bikes. She 8 0 M ACO N M AG A Z I N E.CO M | F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 2 0

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