Recycle Bicycles Into Art

When it comes to reducing carbon emissions, recycling and bicycling go hand in hand -- heck, they're almost the same word. So what better way to do both simultaneously than to take a bike that's seen better days and give it a new life? With that in mind, 20 Slovenian artists recently got together to transform 20 shabby old bicycles into one-of-a-kind works of beautifully rideable art. And they did it in just 10 days.

In the short clip below, produced by Multipraktik Collective, a group of artists add a whimsical touch to bikes that might otherwise be condemned to the rust pile as part of a project called The Making of Orto Bikes. What results are some of the most artful bicycles to hit the streets, crafted in just a week and a half, stuffed-animal fenders and all.

making of Orto Bikes from Multipraktik on Vimeo.
Sure, it clearly takes a bit of elbow grease to sand, paint, and prime an old junker back into a head-turner, but it's almost always cheaper and eco-friendlier to refurbish an unloved old bike than to buy a new one.