Bikes Without Borders is a Canadian non-profit organization that uses bikes and bike-related solutions as a tool for development in marginalized communities.

Their programs are designed to support the United Nations Millenium Development Goals, with a focus on health and education.

All programs are designed to be: 1) sustainable 2) accountable and 3) have measurable results.

Bikes Without Borders is a project of Mike Brcic: while in remote Nicaragua in 2004, he encountered a young girl at a one-room schoolhouse. After talking with her, he discovered she walked 2 hours to school every day, then 2 hours back home at the end of her day. Inspired by her resolve yet feeling that something could be done to improve local access to education in communities like hers, Mike began bringing bikes to a hilltop community in Peru in 2006 (where his tour company Sacred Rides Mountain Bike Adventures operated), and formally incorporated Bikes Without Borders as a registered non-profit in Febraury 2008.

BWB now has 2 staff, 8 interns, and dozens of volunteers, with over a dozen local chapters across North America launching in 2009.

2009 Projects include:

1) reCycle© program: The reCycle program collects used bikes in communities in North America and Europe, repairs them and distributes them – via our international partners – to target populations in marginalized communities in the developing and developed worlds. Our first project will be collecting, repairing and distributing used bikes to our partners in Malawi, for distribution to HIV/AIDS workers. The bikes will allow the workers to visit patients in remote communities and access medication much more quickly.

2) WorldBike© program: The WorldBike program will design, manufacture, market and distribute a low-cost, durable bike designed specifically with developing world uses in mind and with affordability as the primary criterion. By partnering with providers of community-level microcredit, the WorldBike can be made accessible to millions of people around the world for whom a bike can have a significant positive impact.

3) PedalPower program©: The PedalPower program will design, manufacture, market and distribute affordable pedal- powered machines to assist with development in marginalized communities. These consist of machines such as water pumps, electric generators, washing machines and other machines that are entirely powered by pedal power.

Bikes Without Borders is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada - we can be reached via their website or via phone at 647-999-7955