Pedaling Change: 150,000 Bikes Rescued and Rehomed Globally!

Quick Smiles:

• Working Bikes has saved over 150,000 bicycles from landfills since 1999.
• 12% of refurbished bikes are sold locally, while 15% are donated to those in need in Chicago.
• 100,000 bicycles have been sent to international partners, empowering communities worldwide.

Nestled in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, Working Bikes has been on a mission for 26 years to rescue bicycles from landfills and put them back on the road.

Since 1999, they have refurbished over 150,000 bikes, transforming them into vehicles of change for communities both locally and globally.

At their location on South Western Avenue, Working Bikes operates with a dedicated team of volunteers and a few committed employees.

Together, they ensure that 12% of the refurbished bikes are sold in their storefront, while 15% are donated to local Chicagoans through partnerships with community programs.

Trevor Clarke, the current director, emphasized the ongoing need for transportation solutions in Chicago.

“There are disinvested communities here who really lack access to transportation,” he shared, noting the increased demand with new arrivals to the city.

Beyond Chicago, the majority of the bikes embark on journeys to international destinations.

Working Bikes collaborates with partners in countries such as Mexico, Venezuela, and Uganda, among others, to distribute these bicycles where they are most needed.

In rural Uganda, the Bwindi Bicycle Program benefits from this collaboration.

Working Bikes provides not only bicycles and spare parts but also essential training to empower women in bike repair and maintenance.

“The focus is really on employment for the ladies,” Clarke explained.

“They set up the shops, we help provide the training, we continue to provide the bikes—and the ladies who were trained eight years ago train this new group for a new shop.”

A staggering 100,000 of the refurbished bikes have been sent overseas, arriving with the tools and training needed to make them road-ready.

These bikes are sold at prices suitable for local economies, often with microloans available to assist buyers.

Working Bikes continues to pedal good into the world, proving that a simple bicycle can be a powerful catalyst for change.

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