{"id":31677,"date":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-03-03T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/31677\/re-cycling-with-regar-beiruts-bicycle-kitchen"},"modified":"2023-08-14T10:52:33","modified_gmt":"2023-08-14T10:52:33","slug":"re-cycling-with-regar-beiruts-bicycle-kitchen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/en\/31677\/re-cycling-with-regar-beiruts-bicycle-kitchen\/","title":{"rendered":"Re-Cycling with Regar: Beirut\u2019s Bicycle Kitchen"},"content":{"rendered":"

For many, bicycles are regarded as nothing more than a mode of leisure and entertainment. They\u2019re ridden around parking garages and public spaces for a couple of years before being ultimately retired when we\u2019re old enough to get a driver\u2019s license, left to rust away and deteriorate. But for some, a bicycle is much more than a mere toy and serves a greater function: a method of transportation. Despite its efficiency and benefits, cycling remains relatively unpopular in Beirut and many would rather push gas pedals than bike pedals.<\/p>\n

A team of young cyclists and bicycle enthusiasts are hoping to change all that and reunite Beirut with bikes through Regar: Beirut\u2019s bicycle kitchen.<\/p>\n


(Photo via Facebook<\/a><\/small><\/small>)<\/i><\/p>\n

Nestled in a humble 10 m\u00b2 space in Zqaq El Blat\u2019s The Mansion, Regar is a bicycle kitchen dedicated to the repair and restoration of disused and derelict bicycles, so that they may be ridden once more or passed on to a new owner; the more bikes in the world, the better. In essence, Regar is a non-profit bicycle kitchen; a space equipped with the necessary tools and materials for the repair and modification of bikes. But the team also sees it as \u201ca place for thoughts and ideas,” hoping that it can also become a place for people to come and learn how to fix and care for their own bikes.<\/p>\n

Regar is the brainchild of cyclists Mohamad Cheblak, Matt Saunders, Rayya Haddad, Saleem Salha and Siwar Kraytem, the same team who brought Beirut its first ever bike messenger service, Deghri Messengers,<\/a> in September 2013. Through their services, the Regar crew hopes to promote and popularize cycling in Beirut. \u201cIt\u2019s a convenient way of transportation, it makes me feel good, it\u2019s about freedom; you choose when you\u2019re moving and how and where,\u201d says Cheblak, who adds: \u201cOne of the things we try to communicate to people is that we\u2019re not superheroes, we\u2019re normal people. We\u2019re not sporty and all in Lycra. Literally anyone can do it within Beirut, so imagine how life could be if there was no traffic, no valet parking.”<\/p>\n


(Photo via Facebook<\/a><\/small><\/small>)<\/i><\/p>\n

From physical exercise to reduction of pollution, there are plenty of reasons to take up cycling, but the one that most people would agree on is the infamous Lebanese traffic. Traffic is among the most persistent of Lebanese grievances, showing no signs of improvement or progress for years and years. Cheblak explains: \u201cIt\u2019s an infinite loop. People are buying cars and they get angry because of the traffic, but they\u2019re not doing anything about it. They keep on buying cars and banks keep on giving loans. It\u2019s a crisis, and cycling is one of the solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n

But just like motorists, cyclists face various problems in Beirut, both physical and social. One major obstacle is bad road infrastructure. Certain obstructions such as potholes and rubbish, may be easily bypassed by drivers and go undetected, but to a cyclist they are major inconveniences and can be hazardous. Other issues include the lack of bike lanes, designated areas for cyclists on the streets, and the lack of bike racks to park bikes in. Kraytem recounts an incident when she locked her bike to a metal post only to be to be told by a police officer that parking a bike there was prohibited.<\/p>\n


(Photo via Facebook<\/a><\/small><\/small>)<\/i><\/p>\n

The root of all these matters is definitely the general attitude that the Lebanese have towards bicycles and cyclists. Cyclists are perceived as inferior and are either attacked, like when drivers disregard their safety and speed past them, or dismissed, considered childish and get told off for riding their bikes in the street. \u201cWe have the right to be on the street. We\u2019re equal to other cars, we don\u2019t have less rights than other cars on the street,\u201d states Cheblak.<\/p>\n

So far, Regar has repaired one bike, a bicycle which was in pretty bad shape after being left out in the open for about six months. Now it\u2019s back to its prime and its owner couldn\u2019t be happier. The crew eagerly anticipates the arrival of even more bikes for them to bring back to life, but they\u2019re not stopping there: Regar hopes to reach out to people with older vintage bikes, such as models from the 1970s, as well as providing their services to migrant workers at no cost and conducting workshops teaching people how to repair and maintain their bikes.<\/p>\n

To find out more about Regar, visit their Facebook page<\/a>, and get in touch if you would like to donate an old bike or send yours in for repair. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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