Atlanta Magnet Man battles road debris
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Photos: Courtesy of Alex Benigno
Gotham has Batman. New York has Spiderman. Here, we have Atlanta Magnet Man.
What's happening: Almost every day for the past eight weeks, on his own time and at his own cost, Alex Benigno has mixed bicycling and the magic of magnets to pick up debris around the city.
Why it matters: On top of potholes, metal plates and poorly patched utility projects, Atlanta's streets are a minefield of sharp objects.
- Tiny things can cost motorists and bicyclists in repairs — and lost time. Left unresolved, residents build resentments, sapping their trust in the government to address simple issues.
Catch up quick: Benigno, a Midtown resident who documents his adventures on Instagram, started picking up debris after nails and screws popped his bicycle and motorcycle tires during the pandemic.
- "I was picking up stuff like every five feet," he told Axios. "Like, this stuff is everywhere. And I knew that there had to be a better way."
How it works: Benigno attaches the magnets and a broom brush to rails secured to the underside of his bike trailer. The brush helps rustle up the debris so the magnets can catch them.
- "Even if I'm going 20 mph, it's picking stuff up."
Yes, but: Finding a forever home for the nails and screws, which now fill several bins at his house, is not easy.
- Metallurgists think the debris is too impure to safely incinerate, Benigno said. Scrap yards offered him $6.50 for every 100 pounds. An artist has accepted some of the materials.
Threat level: You thought you hated Atlanta's metal plates. Depending on his speed, the giant slabs can pull magnets from the trailer or stop Benigno.
- "I want to make a sign: 'I pick up nails and screws so your tires don't have to.' Then underneath that I put 'I must stop for metal plates or metal plates will stop me.'"
By the numbers: Benigno tries to add new magnets whenever possible. He estimates he's spent roughly $1,000 purchasing magnets for the trailer on Amazon.
What's next: Benigno is raising cash to buy a "bike lane sweeper" and soliciting suggestions for areas that could benefit.
The big picture: "I like doing things to help," Benigno said. "It's not about making money. It's a problem that needs a solution, and no one else is doing anything about it."