Bike Brigade (volunteer cyclists delivering free food)

Here’s a smashing idea from over the pond. In Toronto (Canada), The Bike Brigade is a group of around 1000 volunteer cyclists, that work with food banks to cycle free food (and pet food) to vulnerable people, who can’t get to the shops, due to disability or lack of transport. The idea began during the pandemic, and has grown ever since.

Read our post on food safety for people and pets. If growing food on allotments etc, read our posts on pet-friendly gardening and no-dig gardening (avoid netting to protect wildlife).  

The riders are all vetted. If one falls off a bike or can’t reach the recipient, they just send a text to let the organisation know they are okay, and someone else is sent out, to make sure everyone in the community eats.

This in a city where around 1 in 5 struggle to buy food (and 31,000 households in low income brackets live more than 1km away from the nearest supermarket). The organisation also delivers medications and other essential items, for people unable to pick up themselves.

And of course for volunteers, this means non-polluting exercise, and a great way to do real good within a community, and help to empower local people against the domination of big supermarkets.