Bikes Not Bombs
Bikes Not Bombs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise founded in 1984 that uses bicycle refurbishment, paid youth apprenticeships, and international shipping to advance economic mobility for Black and marginalized youth in Boston and communities in the Global South.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersEast Boston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Bikes Not Bombs does
Bikes Not Bombs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise founded in 1984 and headquartered at 284 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, with additional facilities in Dorchester (warehouse for container loadings) and Roxbury (Bike School site in partnership with Children's Services of Roxbury). The organization uses the bicycle as a vehicle for economic mobility, operating a three-pillar model of RECLAIM (refurbishing discarded bikes), EMPOWER (youth mechanic training and paid apprenticeships), and TRANSFORM (transportation equity advocacy). Its core products include a full-service Bike Shop and Training Center selling refurbished and new bikes (including Troxus e-bikes starting at $1,399 and Yuba cargo bikes) plus parts, accessories, and repairs; Bike School (Earn-A-Bike and Bike Institute) for youth aged 12–18; a three-year Youth Pathways model that progresses participants from Bike School to paid Youth Apprenticeships to alumni support; BOCA (Bicyclists Organizing for Community Action), a community organizing and advocacy program; and an international shipping operation that has delivered more than 83,000 bicycles to 13 countries in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean since founding.
Bikes Not Bombs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bikes Not Bombs
- Legal name
- Bikes Not Bombs
- Website
- https://bikesnotbombs.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bikes Not Bombs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise founded in 1984 that uses bicycle refurbishment, paid youth apprenticeships, and international shipping to advance economic mobility for Black and marginalized youth in Boston and communities in the Global South.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bikes Not Bombs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Youth Workforce Development
- NAICS
- Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance (8114)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cycling & Bike Retail (Sales, Service & Accessories) (CRAMABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Used & Refurbished Bike Retail (CRAMAHAK), Bike Service, Repair & Maintenance Shops (CRAMAHAH), Bicycle Programs & Bike Share (Parking, Repair, Rentals) (EDALAKAE)
Keywords
Where Bikes Not Bombs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- East Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Bikes Not Bombs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Bike Shop Sales: Full-service retail bike shop selling refurbished donated bikes, new bikes (cargo, road, hybrid, kid's, e-bikes), and parts/accessories. Profits fund youth and international programs.
- Repair Services: Bike repair and maintenance services at the Bike Shop & Training Center.
- Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and grants from foundations support operations and programs.
- Event Fundraising: Annual Bike-A-Thon and Century Challenge rides generate fundraising revenue. Bike-A-Thon has raised over $200,000 per year.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | Earn-A-Bike Program - Free for youth participants |
| Other | Monthly | Youth Apprenticeships - Paid employment for youth |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bike Shop Products - Various pricing |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Event Registration - Bike-A-Thon |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Bikes Not Bombs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bikes Not Bombs is a 501(c)(3) social enterprise that collects, refurbishes, and resells donated bicycles through its Jamaica Plain Bike Shop, while running paid Youth Apprenticeships and free Earn-A-Bike programs that train Boston youth in bicycle mechanics. It also ships thousands of refurbished bikes annually to economic development partners in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and operates community organizing (BOCA) and signature fundraising rides.
Product overview
Bikes Not Bombs operates a multi-component social enterprise centered on bicycle reuse, youth development, and international solidarity. The core offerings include: (1) a Bike Shop & Training Center (retail shop selling refurbished and new bikes, parts, and repair services); (2) Bike School education programs (Earn-A-Bike and Bike Institute for youth ages 12-18); (3) a three-year Youth Pathways model combining Bike School → Youth Apprenticeships (paid employment) → alumni support; (4) BOCA (Bicyclists Organizing for Community Action) for transportation equity advocacy; (5) Bike Recycling & International Partnerships shipping thousands of bikes annually to Global South partners; and (6) signature fundraising events (Bike-A-Thon, Century Challenge Ride). An e-commerce online shop sells refurbished bikes, new bikes (Troxus, Yuba brands), parts, and accessories. The organization targets Black and other marginalized youth and communities in Boston (Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan) and international partners in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bike Shop & Training Center Full-service retail bike shop in Jamaica Plain, MA selling refurbished donated bikes, new bikes (Troxus e-bikes, Yuba cargo, road, hybrid, kids), parts, accessories, and offering repair services and tune-ups. Functions as a social enterprise where profits fund youth and international programs.
- Bike School (Earn-A-Bike)
Quantifiable outcome
- Shipped over 83,000 bicycles to 13 countries since 1984
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Bikes Not Bombs
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Bikes Not Bombs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Bikes Not Bombs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Mattapan Food and Fitness (MFFC)coreCo-hosting the 2025 Youth Bike Summit in Boston, bringing workshops, group rides, and networking opportunities for youth involved in biking and bike advocacy.
- Learn Work Develop (LWD)coreAnnual partnership with bicycle-based social enterprise in Rwanda committed to creating employment for youth and women. BNB ships hundreds of bicycles annually to support their mission. Partnership involves youth fieldworker fellowship program development.
- Children's Services of RoxburycorePartnership for Healthy Living program at Roxbury Hub, implementing Bike School curriculum with emotional intelligence components for BIPOC youth.
- Massachusetts Department of Youth Services (DYS)coreSkill Up program at Metro Region DYS facility in Roslindale providing Bike School curriculum and rehabilitative services to youth involved in the juvenile justice system.
- Commonwealth KitchenminorPartnership with City of Boston's Office of Economic Opportunity and Commonwealth Kitchen for Saturday Morning Small Business Rides during National Small Business Month.
- Boston After School and BeyondminorPartnership providing enrichment programs. Awarded $2 million to sixty-eight after-school programs.
- TroxusminorBike-A-Thon sponsor providing e-bike giveaway prize. Authorized dealer relationship for Troxus e-bikes at BNB Bike Shop.
- Yuba BikesminorGreater Boston's newest Yuba Bikes authorized dealer. Offering cargo bikes with 10% discount through end of 2024.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bikes Not Bombs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Hub Cycling: Vancouver-based nonprofit cycling advocacy and education organization offering bike repair services and training programs with a comparable community-focused mission in a different geography.
- The Bike Project: UK-based refugee-focused nonprofit refurbishing donated bikes and distributing them to asylum seekers and refugees. Comparable mission of using bikes for social integration and economic mobility, though geographically separate.
Direct peers
- Yellow Bike Project: Austin-based nonprofit running a community bike shop with bike refurbishment, repair services, and educational programming — comparable in combining retail/service with community engagement.
- 88bikes: Nonprofit that provides bicycles to children in developing countries, with comparable international shipping and youth empowerment mission components to BNB's Global South program.
- Working Bikes: Chicago-based nonprofit social enterprise refurbishing donated bikes for local distribution and international shipment, with a volunteer-driven model and international partnerships similar to BNB.
- Bikes for the World: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit that collects donated bicycles and ships them to international partners for development and economic empowerment. Most directly comparable mission and operating model to Bikes Not Bombs.
- Free Bikes 4 Kidz: National nonprofit that refurbishes donated bikes and gives them away to children in need. Overlaps with BNB on bike reuse mission, though focused more on domestic distribution and less on youth training.
- Community Cycles: Boulder-based nonprofit community bike shop offering refurbished bike sales, repair services, and education, operating a similar social enterprise model for cycling access.
- Revolutions Bicycle Cooperative: Community-focused bicycle cooperative offering repair services, refurbishment, and education programs, with a volunteer-driven model parallel to BNB's Bike School and Earn-A-Bike.
Broad incumbents
- Bikes Belong Foundation: National nonprofit advocacy organization supporting cycling infrastructure, youth programs, and community riding initiatives across the U.S., operating as a broader umbrella than BNB's localized model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Bikes Not Bombs social profiles
Digital presenceBikes Not Bombs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bikes Not Bombs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Bikes Not Bombs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bikes Not Bombs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bikes Not Bombs
What does Bikes Not Bombs do?
Bikes Not Bombs is a 501(c)(3) social enterprise that collects, refurbishes, and resells donated bicycles through its Jamaica Plain Bike Shop, while running paid Youth Apprenticeships and free Earn-A-Bike programs that train Boston youth in bicycle mechanics. It also ships thousands of refurbished bikes annually to economic development partners in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and operates community organizing (BOCA) and signature fundraising rides.
Is Bikes Not Bombs a public or private company?
Bikes Not Bombs is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Bikes Not Bombs founded?
Bikes Not Bombs was founded in 1984. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bikes Not Bombs based?
Bikes Not Bombs is headquartered in East Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bikes Not Bombs make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Bike Shop Sales are the primary driver. The others are repair Services, donations and Grants and event Fundraising.
Who are Bikes Not Bombs's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Hub Cycling and The Bike Project. Direct peers are Yellow Bike Project, 88bikes, Working Bikes, Bikes for the World, Free Bikes 4 Kidz, Community Cycles and Revolutions Bicycle Cooperative. Bikes Belong Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Bikes Not Bombs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bikes Not Bombs.
What industry is Bikes Not Bombs in?
Bikes Not Bombs's product category is Nonprofit Youth Workforce Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMABAH, Cycling & Bike Retail (Sales, Service & Accessories), with a secondary code of CRAMAHAK, Used & Refurbished Bike Retail. Its NAICS code is 8114.