If you have traveled through Sunset, La in the last couple of years or even a resident then you have probably seen these decorated yellow bikes around town.
On a recent trip down Napoleon Avenue in Sunset I happened to notice the yellow bikes were newly decorated. Many of them were beautifully adorned with patriotic pieces and flowers, most likely for Memorial Day. If you have ever wondered what the story was behind these bikes in town, we have an answer!
Bike Lafayette, an organization that takes in donated bicycles to repair and donate back to those in need, donated bicycles for Sunset’s Beautification Committee. Often times it takes 2 or 3 bikes to repair one functional bike. The ‘scavenger’ bikes are those that are leftover which are no longer functional. These bikes are then utilized by the Committee to be repurposed for decoration rather than winding up in a landfill.
Originally the donated yellow bikes were part of an art/garden project and had baskets of real flowers. Now the areas where the bikes are located have become sites of seasonal decorations. A total of 20 bikes were donated initially for the project, although some have been removed due to damage, etc.
The next time you’re driving through Sunset, LA see if you can spot them all! How many can you find?
