COMMUNITY MOBILITY: An ebike for Crash
Hi, my name is Crash and I am a disabled queer and trans person living in poverty!
Recently, I had to leave a care-work job because my health has gotten to the point where I shouldn't be relied on to do care-work for others. In order to find another job & make up the lost income, I need access to fast and independent transportation that doesn't wreak havoc on my body. I've done a bunch of research and found an electric cargo bike that I believe would allow me to go directly to and from obligations without help much of the time.
The fundraiser goal comes from the sum of the bike (when not on sale), the accessories I need to make it accessible to me, and some wiggle room for taxes and fees. Any spare funds will be used for a new helmet, reflectors, bungee cords, etc. If I have any after that, it will be split between two local Minneapolis charities.
Having this bike will take a 90-minute multi-modal bus/walk or bus/borrowed scooter commute down to about 25 minutes of seated, battery-propelled or pedal-assisted movement.
A non-exhaustive list of things I could do independently & without pain with this bike that I have to rely on family for or hire people to do for me right now:
+ get to and from work + go to in-person markets & events for my small business + go grocery shopping (with more store choice, too!) + pick up medications from the pharmacy + go to medical appts + visit friends & family + get to job interviews + visit the library
It will also dramatically reduce my time spent on transit/in rideshares (exposing me & my immunocompromised & high-risk family to COVID, flu, and RSV) and and decrease the stain on my body.
Currently I'm using a friend's electric scooter (like a Lime scooter) to fill the gaps between bus routes, but the rigid standing + the lack of any suspension/shock system has left my disabled & hypermobile body ragged. Being fully seated would keep me from getting injured and would be safer in a wider range of weather and road conditions.
I'm pursuing another job (this will put me back at three + a small business) so I can hopefully get this sooner rather than later, but even the job search is limited by public transportation schedules. Every amount you've given has helped tremendously, as I have NO margin in my budget yet to save for this.
Thank you for listening! [GoFundMe]