Bikes Not Bombs

Mission Statement:
Lasting peace and social justice require equitable and sustainable use of resources. BNB provides community-based education and assists development projects with recycled bicycles, related technologies and technical assistance, as concrete alternatives to the militarism, over-consumption, and inequity that breed war and environmental destruction. Our organization is part of a worldwide movement for peace and responsible stewardship of the earth.

I freakin’ love you, Bikes Not Bombs!

BNB as green as a business can be, and has been since its inception; the philosophy of building a just and sustainable world is, in a very real way, the heart and spirit of the business. This organization fundamentally understands the importance of community on many levels, from the local to the global. Within Boston, Bikes Not Bombs functions as a non-profit that empowers youth by providing them with extensive knowledge of bike mechanics. Through their Earn-a-Bike program, local teens have the opportunity to build and ultimately keep a bicycle of their own. Not only does this program teach youth dedication and the importance of having a good work ethic, but it also provides them with a vehicle that offers environmental, healthy, and inexpensive transportation. I cannot say enough about how special Earn-a-Bike is; it is everything that is right with progressive, sustainable, politics. The BNB team, from the teens to the staff to the founders, are truly wonderful people who are really making a difference. When you shop at BNB, you’re supporting a vital community resource.

Bikes Not Bombs is also committed to the three Rs of environmentalism: reducing, reusing, and recycling. BNB collects thousands of used bikes each year, and reconditions them for use in the Boston area, South Africa, Ghana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and El Salvador. Their products are top notch; I am continuously impressed with their extensive selection of refurbished bicycles. They’re functional, well priced, and often very beautiful. BNB’s store has a wealth of new and used parts, accessories for all of your cycling needs, and some really sweet t-shirts, too.

Lastly, Bikes Not Bombs also functions as a bicycle repair shop. The cost of their tune-ups and the like is a bit higher than their competition, but considering the importance of this organization, your money is money well spent. If you want a cheap, beater bike, there’s no doubt that Craigslist is your best bet, I won’t lie. But if you want an excellent, repurposed bicycle that will look and ride awesome, BNB is your place. They do a great job, and take real pride in their work, and it shows, right down to the smallest detail.