Say hello to Alex Yasbeck of the Box Bike Collective in Santa Cruz, California. He has no idea who these children are.

During the Silicon Valley Bikes Festival last weekend in San Jose, I watched several caregivers hand their children over to Alex, a complete stranger. The children all hopped excitedly into the front of the box bike and go for a ride around the festival location at Kelley Park. Alex then phoned in his ransom demand of a $1,000 contribution to his crowdsourcing campaign per child. I’m joking about that last part.

You can buy one of these electric-assist box bikes from the Box Bike Collective.