Atlanta’s Magnet Man Prevents Flat Tires One Nail at a Time
Meet the Atlanta Magnet Man Alex Benigno
Atlanta’s very own, Mr. Alex Benigno, popularly known for his online alias as the ‘Atlanta Magnet Man’, is revolutionizing his everyday exercise into a service for local motorists.
Benigno isn’t just another man riding a bike around the city, he does it with a purpose. His resolve is simple, “I just want to ride all over the city and pick up nails and screws wherever I find them,” he says. Benigno developed a unique method using a bicycle trailer outfitted with powerful magnets, transforming his workout into a civic cause that is gaining traction online.
“It’s nobody’s job to take care of this. It’s just, it’s the job of our tires to pick it all up. That doesn’t square well with me,” remarks Benigno who is now known as the ‘Atlanta Magnet Man’.
The Road to Becoming the Magnet Man
His journey started rather incidentally — upon spotting a giant bag of screws spilled in a parking lot one day. Despite waiting for hours, there was no one in sight to clean it up. Hence, deciding to do it himself, Benigno realized there must be an easier and efficient way to address this issue.
“It’s so satisfying to see how much I’ve picked up,” Benigno says. With his escalating social media presence, people are now reaching out to him with requests to clear certain areas.
In a short span of 8 weeks, Benigno pedaled his way across 522 miles around the Atlanta area, collecting an astounding 410 pounds of metal, effectively preventing hundreds of possible flat tires.
Turning Trash into Treasure
As it turns out, one man’s trash truly proves to be another woman’s treasure. Laura Lewis, a local metal artist, sees a potential in the discarded metal stuff that the Magnet Man finds. “I’m really excited to see what gets birthed from the junk,” she exclaims.
Driven by recycling and artistry, Lewis gives these scraps a second life in her artwork. “Really excited to be part of the cycle of making something good out of, basically, garbage,” she adds. With this collaborative effort, Lewis and Benigno are not just contributing to the safety and aesthetics of Atlanta, but are also doing their part to protect the environment.
A Man on a Mission
As for Benigno, he perceives himself as just a man on a unique mission, using the power of magnets to keep our tires safe from flatting. “It’s extremely satisfying to know that none of these nails and screws are going to be hurting anyone’s tires, and not going to be ruining anybody’s day,” he expresses.
Undoubtedly, Alex Benigno or the ‘Magnet Man’ of Atlanta has come to symbolize a prime example of how simple, innovative ideas can bring about meaningful changes to our communities. Atlanta thanks him for preventing flat tires – one nail at a time.
