Finland Times

 

FTimes Photo.

The bicycles rode by asylum seekers across the eastern border and those paddled from Raja-Joosepi to the Ivalo police station will be repaired in Rovaniemi and then sold or rented out, reported the local media.

 

Sie & Mie Keskus, a cooperative establishment of Rovaniemi, has undertaken this project with its repairs centre at the city’s Ainonkatu Street. The 12-member cooperative believes asylum seekers and unemployed and young people would be able to use the repaired bikes while working during the summer.

 

“This could help the long-term unemployed supported by the municipality, even if by way of renting. Companies could also be involved in the rental service,” said Sie & Mie Keskus project planner Kari Kähkönen.

 

The project also plans to rent the bikes to the local residents and tourists, since the city does not have any bicycles rental service.

 

There are approximately 150 bicycles to be repaired. If left unrepaired, they would be ferried to the landfill. 

 

Sie & Mie Keskus has collected the funds necessary for the transportation and storage of the bikes. “We estimated that the costs could be recouped when the bicycles are repaired, sold and some rented,” said Riitta Kemppainen-Koivisto of Sie & Mie Keskus.

 

The bicycles will be brought to Rovaniemi on Tuesday. The repair centre’s team will clean, service and ride the bikes to ensure they are ready for use during the summer. 

 

“At the same time we will offer bicycle maintenance service. The used bicycles will get a new gloss. Some may be newly painted while others may carry the renting companies’ own markers and advertisements,” said Kähkönen.

 

Sie & Mie Keskus was founded in April. Its goal is to create employment by offering services and promote the cases of the disadvantaged, especially the employed immigrants.