I'm riding in the Bikes Not Bombs Bike-a-Thon on June 8. The 50 mile route goes from the home base of Bikes Not Bombs in Jamaica Plain through West Roxbury, Newton, Needham, Lincoln, and as far as Concord before returning to the start. It's a fundraiser: my goal is $1000. Please support this effort. Donations in any amount gratefully accepted.

When I went to Nicaragua in 1986 as part of a sister city project, we started our stay in a warehouse in Managua. There was a mess of bikes in one corner, and our group leader said, "Oh, those are from Bikes Not Bombs." Of course we had no idea what that was. Basically these folks collect thousands of used bikes every year and ship many of them to countries in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, while also providing bikes for people in Boston, and training local youth in bicycle mechanics. They allow people to earn a bike through work, have open shop time for anyone to fix their own bike, and maintain a store where one can purchase a new or used bike or have repairs done.  Ann and I have bikes that we got there.

For me this organization checks all the boxes. They are thinking globally and acting locally, and vice-versa. They are at once addressing social justice and environmental issues, and they're doing it all with BIKES.

And it's fun to ride! I was a bicycle commuter in Boston for many years. I'm really happy to see the proliferation of protected bike lanes in the city since the pandemic. Bicycle transit is part of the solution to numerous problems. Maybe some of you have been to Copenhagen, or Amsterdam, or Cambridge, England, and seen the masses of bike commuters present in any weather. That could be us someday.

From their mission statement. 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. Since 1984 we have shipped over 80,000 bicycles and our work has expanded to include Youth Pathways employment and training programs, as well as a full service, retail bike shop. 

Bikes Not Bombs takes its role in reclaiming bicycles out of the waste stream and repurposing them to communities in Boston and overseas seriously -- in particular, for our active international partners whose businesses and livelihood depend on timely container shipments of quality bicycles, parts, tools, and accessories to survive.

In Boston, there is also a greater need than ever to help youth develop vocational skills and pathways as an avenue for violence and gang activity prevention. Our three-year apprenticeship program engages youth staff as leaders in every BNB program.

Thanks! 

Tim