Our Mission
Bikes Not Bombs uses the bicycle as a vehicle for social change to achieve economic mobility for Black and other marginalized people in Boston and the Global South.
Our WorkEach year we collect roughly 5,000 used bicycles and tons of used parts from our supporters around Greater Boston and New England.
We ship most of these bikes overseas to economic development projects through our International Partners in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Some of the bikes are repurposed in our Youth Programs where teens learn bicycle safety and mechanics skills in the process of earning bikes to keep for themselves. Our retail Bike Shop also reconditions and sells some of the donated bikes that we receive, while employing many graduates of our programs. The Shop's profit from the bicycle sales, parts sales, and repairs goes towards funding our youth and international work. |
our core valuesThe Bikes Not Bombs community:
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Frequently asked questions
How many bikes can we expect and how will the container be financed?
Bikes Not Bombs ships containers with approximately 550 bicycles, and an extensive selection of used spare parts. The bicycles are mostly adult bikes, but also include children's bikes of all sizes. We cannot ship less than a full container, and we cannot send shipments of only spare parts or tools. The re-sale value of one container of bicycles ranges from $9,000 to $20,000 USD depending on the country.
Bikes Not Bombs donates the contents of the container and the international partner pays for shipping ($4,000 - $5,500 USD) and importation ($2,000 - $4,000 USD) depending on the country. BNB works with partners to create a payment plan after the aid is received. In special cases, Bikes Not Bombs may decide to subsidize shipping costs for the initial shipment.
Does BNB require that partners donate all the bikes shipped from BNB, or does it allow the bikes to be sold?
Bikes Not Bombs does not require that bikes be donated. The financial sustainability of our partners is important to Bikes Not Bombs, which often means that partners sell most of the bicycles in order to generate the financial resources necessary to make the business solvent, and to pay for shipping and importation. We ask that partners use a portion of the bicycles, or the profit from selling the bicycles, for social impacts in their communities.
What does BNB mean by "social, economic and environmental justice”?
Social, economic and environmental justice refers to the full and equal access for all people to social, economic and environmental resources, which include universal human rights, community self-determination, economic and food sovereignty, and climate justice.
Are BNB partnerships long-term or do they need to be renewed each year?
Our partnerships are long-term investments in social change work. BNB reviews partnerships according to agreed-upon time periods to ensure accountability to the partnership goals.
What kind of reporting does BNB require from partners?
We work with each partner to develop reporting that helps BNB to understand our partners' needs, progress and obstacles to success. We work with partners to develop monitoring and evaluation systems that help to track the impact of the partner organization, and how they are working towards their goals in their communities
Bikes Not Bombs ships containers with approximately 550 bicycles, and an extensive selection of used spare parts. The bicycles are mostly adult bikes, but also include children's bikes of all sizes. We cannot ship less than a full container, and we cannot send shipments of only spare parts or tools. The re-sale value of one container of bicycles ranges from $9,000 to $20,000 USD depending on the country.
Bikes Not Bombs donates the contents of the container and the international partner pays for shipping ($4,000 - $5,500 USD) and importation ($2,000 - $4,000 USD) depending on the country. BNB works with partners to create a payment plan after the aid is received. In special cases, Bikes Not Bombs may decide to subsidize shipping costs for the initial shipment.
Does BNB require that partners donate all the bikes shipped from BNB, or does it allow the bikes to be sold?
Bikes Not Bombs does not require that bikes be donated. The financial sustainability of our partners is important to Bikes Not Bombs, which often means that partners sell most of the bicycles in order to generate the financial resources necessary to make the business solvent, and to pay for shipping and importation. We ask that partners use a portion of the bicycles, or the profit from selling the bicycles, for social impacts in their communities.
What does BNB mean by "social, economic and environmental justice”?
Social, economic and environmental justice refers to the full and equal access for all people to social, economic and environmental resources, which include universal human rights, community self-determination, economic and food sovereignty, and climate justice.
Are BNB partnerships long-term or do they need to be renewed each year?
Our partnerships are long-term investments in social change work. BNB reviews partnerships according to agreed-upon time periods to ensure accountability to the partnership goals.
What kind of reporting does BNB require from partners?
We work with each partner to develop reporting that helps BNB to understand our partners' needs, progress and obstacles to success. We work with partners to develop monitoring and evaluation systems that help to track the impact of the partner organization, and how they are working towards their goals in their communities