Twenty Thousand Free Book Shares For Bookbike London

Celebrations are in order as Emdad Rahman’s Bookbike London reached a milestone figure of sharing 20,000 free books.

The bicycle project began before the Covid lockdown with a book donation from his late Father and a cycle from a friend, and now the avid cyclist shares books with communities, including families, the elderly and the homeless.

The project has been run by Emdad, known as The Wandering Londoner, who cycles 10 to 20 kilometres each day around different locations of London, Barking & Dagenham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Newham and Redbridge. This includes visits to care homes, schools, homeless hostels and areas frequented by rough sleepers.

Speaking after sharing his 20,000th book Emdad said, “Bookbike owes its success to the generosity of family, friends, colleagues and strangers, who have donated books and cycle gear non stop.

“This is a social enterprise project which I started to combine my passion of cycling and books. A lot of people don’t have internet access and a book and crossword has really helped them fight off anxiety and loneliness. Thank you everyone for your kind help.”

Bookbike london has been running since Zoinul Abidin, Head of Universal Services at Barking & Dagenham launched the project at the Barking Learning Centre. It is a social enterprise project which brings books to communities, makes reading accessible to people who are isolated, facing hardship and also homeless and is a green, free of charge service which connects people through the power of reading.

Emdad added, “I love the engagement side of things and I hope I’m playing a small part in helping London become a book friendly city!”

Emdad has celebrated reaching the milestone with Anya Sizer, Speaker of Hackney, Buttercup Primary School, the London Enterprise Academy and the Barking Learnjng Centre.

To donate a book please contact Emdad on X @emdad07