The Good Bike Project Gets Trashed

A couple months ago while driving through Toronto, I spotted a neon bicycle outside of Wrongbar.
A few blocks down I saw another at Trinity Bellwoods. I started wondering if I was hallucinating.
Did someone randomly go on a spray paint rampage?

As a street art enthusiast, I look for interesting art movements and pieces around Toronto.
These neon bikes made me wonder... Is this art or random vandalism?

After chatting with some artist friends, I learned that the bikes are part of a bigger movement. The Good Bike Project was started by OCAD students as part of the good, a blog about Toronto’s creative community. The project recycles abandoned bikes and transforms them into green art.

These installations raise conversation about regenerating communities and adding colour to drab landscapes.

Have you noticed any neon bikes in your neighbourhood?

Each colour has a different meaning.

THE ORANGE GOOD BIKES

mark sites important to emerging artists in Toronto

THE MAGENTA GOOD BIKES

mark site of art historical significance in the city

THE ROSE GOOD BIKES

mark spots that hold personal significance for a local

THE YELLOW GOOD BIKES

signify hots spots in the city where community gathers

THE GREEN GOOD BIKES

pay homage to Jane Jacobs by marking sites where urban planning efforts have both succeeded and failed

THE BLUE GOOD BIKES

celebrate community builders

THE AQUA GOOD BIKES

are abandoned bikes that were spruced up

Students requested a bike be placed outside of Humber College.

Have you seen it?

Initially, the city wanted to be involved in the project working with the artists to place these bikes in cultural areas.

Potential benefits

• Catalogue street art and enhance accessibility
• Build community and create discussion using social media
• Work with bloggers to share the message
• Promote landmarks and build art and eco tourism in Toronto

The program ended up being cancelled by the city because bikes are being vandalized, beaten, robbed for parts marked with graffiti and stolen. It’s brutal that people would trash art with such a strong and beneficial message.

The city should be more involved with the art community connecting with artists for ideas and solutions on how to make Toronto a more beautiful and eco-friendly place to live.

Do you think the city of Toronto should embrace public art and become more involved with projects like these?

Was the Good Bike Project a fad? Or an important message from Toronto’s art community?