ATLANTA — The Atlanta Magnet Man is the area’s new superhero, patrolling the streets to protect drivers from flat tires.
Alex Benigno knows what it’s like to suffer the sinking feeling of a flat tire. During the pandemic, he grabbed a few nails while traveling to work.
“Three or four nails per tire in two months,” Benigno said. “Flat after flat. It was like, ‘What’s going on?’”
Now, he's found a positive way to attract trouble. His bike, armed with 60 magnets, snags roadway terrors.
It took several tries to get the right design, but he now uses a standup bike with a trailer outfitted with metal strips and magnets that snare nails, screws, bolts and anything else that might puncture a tire. Over the past two months, he’s biked 522 miles, collecting 410 pounds of hazardous materials.
He often posts the results of his efforts on his Atlanta Magnet Man Instagram page.
“One person could see what I was doing and pulled over to thank me,” said Benigno. “Over time I’m getting less and less as I ride around which is a great sign. It means it’s working.”
He’s peddling the thought that others should join his mission.
“When I started doing this I had no idea how much stuff was out there,” said Benigno.
He’s giving trouble a ride, standing tall so drivers don’t go flat.