Billy Bradford acknowledges that acquiring old bikes, repairing them in his garage and then giving them away for free is a “bad business model,” but it’s what he loves doing. “I can’t fix all the problems (of the world), but I can fix bikes,” he said. “Life is short. Have fun.”
Bradford publicizes his request for donated bicycles, parts and helmets through social media. He also scours yard sales, Craigslist and eBay for inexpensive bikes he can buy and rehab. After restoring them in his Castro Valley garage, which is packed with bicycles and parts, he puts out the word again on social media that the bikes are available to those in need (on a Facebook page titled Bad Business Model Bikes). Lucky recipients then stop by Bradford’s garage, often pose for a photo with their new bike and ride off, happy to be mobile.
The senior office technology manager for a large global law firm based in San Francisco by day, Bradford devotes much of his weekend and some weeknights to the project. Self-trained in the art of bicycle mechanics, he prefers to work alone, and seeks no funding for the enterprise, although he gets unsolicited monetary donations from fans locally and even abroad. Sales of t-shirts branded with the Bad Business Model Bikes logo also help to finance the modest workshop. Bradford does little bookkeeping, and he has no idea how many bikes he has rehabbed and given away, although if the traffic on his Facebook page is any indication, they number in the dozens over the past year.
“This is a labor of love from one person who extends his benevolence to the greater community,” said Ellen Griffin, the MTC public information officer who nominated Bradford for the Miriam Gholikely Public Service Award, named for a longtime MTC advisor and community activist.
“One person is making a real difference,” said Griffin, “saving old bicycles from the landfill, and giving people who need transportation the means to be mobile. Billy’s Bad Business Model produces beautiful results.”
