The Working Bikes workshop in action during the pandemic – credit, Working Bikes
Today’s good news comes from the Good News Network.
Chicago Bicycle Refurbishers Pedal Good to the World for 26 Years With 150,000 Bikes Saved from Landfills
For 25 years, a local nonprofit has been refurbishing bikes for resale or donation to communities in need in Chicago and the world.
Over the years, its horizons have continued to expand beyond the Windy City and out to the farthest corners of the world.
Working Bikes, located at 2434 S. Western Ave in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, has seen an awful lot of bikes pass through its doors; pulling them from landfills, picking them up off the curbside, or accepting them from community members. Over 150,000 have been repaired since the registered 501(c)3 got its wheels turning in 1999.
12% of all the bikes they restored are sold in the Working Bikes storefront. 15% meanwhile are donated right back to the people of Chicago through local program partners that will ensure they arrive in the hands of people in need of transportation.
The whole operation is volunteer-supported: anyone can come in and fix a bike or learn how. A few dedicated employees ensure that salable models are in excellent condition, or boast unique designs and features.
“I think there’s always a need in Chicago,” said Trevor Clarke, current director of Working Bikes, in an interview with CBS Chicago.
“There are disinvested communities here who really lack access to transportation, and we saw that spike in with the new arrival population, so we had an acute need for people who were just coming to Chicago.”
Thousands more bikes—the majority, in fact—await delivery to Working Bikes’ overseas partners in Mexico, Venezuela, Albania, Uganda, Angola, Egypt, Cuba, and many, many more countries.
Working Bikes provides not only bicycles and spare parts but also training to the Bwindi Bicycle Program in rural Uganda, which trains women to repair and maintain bikes. This is just one of many local organizations supported by Working Bikes.
“The focus is really on employment for the ladies,” Clarke said. “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.”
100,000 of the 150,000 bikes the Working Bikes team refurbished have gone to these overseas difference-makers. They arrive unrideable, but with the training and tools to repair them. Each bike is then sold for prices relevant to the local economy, and many of these partners provide microloans to prospective buyers.
WATCH the story from CBS below… or for viewers outside the US, WATCH HERE…
The good news in this story is what would normally be waste is turned into usable products that have purpose. Today’s JohnKu talks about elimination waste. I hope you have a super weekend.
Reuse by John W. Howell © 2025
Why discard something,
When someone could value it . . .
Need to think before.
Fiction Favorites 
I remember when my dad refurbished a bike for my foster brother; you never saw a broader smile on a kid’s face!
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I can imagine kids getting one when it seemed impossible, and it would be quite a thrill. Thanks, GP.
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We donate lots of stuff to the local veterans group. It’s personally rewarding and helps others who’ve helped us. I see too many used, but very functional, items Steve the curb for trash pickup. As your JohnKu says, ‘think’ before discarding.
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I agree on seeing too many usable items on the curb, Steve. There should be a better way.
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What a great post, John. I regularly donate what I’m not using. But I don’t have the talent of these young visionaries!
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I agree. We donate but could never refurbish stuff. Thanks, Gwen.
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Thanks for the uplifting article.
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I thought it was as well, Charles. 😀
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Sounds like a useful group.
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I think so too. 😊
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Love reading articles like this – thanks, John!
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Thank you, Teri.
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What a wonderful project! Reading about it put a big smile on my face.
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I’m so glad,
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What an amazing non-profit organization! Thanks for sharing this, John.
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I agree, Tim. I loved this story.
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😊
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😀
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Donate is the way to go. One person’s ‘trash’ is another one’s treasure. Fabulous program.
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I so agree with your Lois. 😀
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What a fabulous enterprise! We donate a lot of things to TROSA, a local group of recovering addicts that does everything from resale to picture frames to landscaping to moving. We used them a lot and found all the men to be respectful and hard-working.
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Sounds like a worthwhile organization, too. Thanks, Noelle.
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It is, and it had grown by leaps and bounds.
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😀
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What a great story, John. There was a group in Vermont that used to do something similar, though on a teeny tiny scale in comparison. That’s a lot of bicycles saved from landfills and put in the hands of those who can use them. 🙂 Love it.
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I really liked this story too. Thanks for the addition, Diana.
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It’s so simple and so meaningful – acts of caring.
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Indeed. 😀
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Another story to bring a smile to our faces. It’s great 😊
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Smiles are the best. Thanks, Esther.
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What a wonderful way to recycle! Thanks for sharing, John!
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It is a great story. Thanks for the lovely comment, Jan. 🤗
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Thanks for republishing this, John. It’s encouraging that groups like this are seeing a need … and doing something to address it!
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I agree, Debbie. Thank you.
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Thanks for republishing this, John. It’s encouraging that groups like this are seeing a need … and doing something to address it!
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This IS wonderful news for sure. My husband and I were members of Michigan Bicycle Touring and b-a-c-k in the day, outfitting ourselves to pedal over hill and dale in Northern Michigan cost a pretty penny. He always donated our used bikes upon purchasing another. 3 cheers for these people!!!
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Three cheers to them and to you for donating your bikes. Thanks, Annette.
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I am all for re-cycling John and do so regularly with charity shops etc with no longer wanted items… As for this company… FULL MARKS to them for their achievements… Its wonderful work… A pity more companies do not think in this way, instead will fill landfill sites with so many things which parts could be recycled…
Excellent shout out and share John.. Thank you xx
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I so agree that more companies should be doing more. Thank you, Sue.
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👍💕
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Excellent share, John.
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Thanks Pat.
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What a wonderful thing they’re doing there!
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I agree.
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This is amazing. Thanks for sharing with us, John!
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Always happy to share a good news story. Thanks, Becky.😊
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So very special. Thank you for sharing the video, too. 🚵🏻♀️🙌🏻
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It was a fun one for sure. Thanks, Michele.
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150,000 refurbished bikes is quite amazing. When I still lived in Sweden I used to get to my University and my work using a bicycle. It was fast, clean, and healthy.
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A lot more should follow your example, Thomas. 😊
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Another homerun with good news, John! Love the idea of refurbishing all those bikes.
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It is a great idea, Monika. Thanks.
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John, these Good News Network stories are like sun rays. Thanks for spreading around the brightness 🌞
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I’m so glad you like them, Dave. I like that sun ray analogy. Thank you, 😊
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A perfect JohnKu to accompany this terrific story.
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So nice to hear, Jennie.
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😀
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😊
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This is an excellent good news story John, thank you!
The video was really good. It was neat to see all those bikes not being wasted. It adds a lot to actually see the project in action.
You know how I feel about waste. I just wish more important people would want to wear one one of my Art Gowns. They are supposed to be like ambassadors for reusing clothing and old fabric anythings. .. Like quilts, or tents or something useful, not landfill.
Your JohnKu is spot on!
O🚴🏾♀️ O🚴🏾♀️ O🚴🏾♀️ O🚴🏾♀️
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It would be great to have some stars at the Met Gala wear your gowns 😊X
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Yes!!! O💃🏽
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😊X
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What a fantastic idea. There should be more of this all over the world.
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I agree
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That is a LOT of bikes. But hey, there really is no reason that they should be wasted when there is a real need, as this story tells us.
More Friday goodness, Boss man.
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Thank you, Pilgrim. Seems a waste to see those bikes hit the landfill.
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For sure.
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Amazing effort! 🙂
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It is. Thanks, Debby.
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Great & reasonable solution! More we reuse, better the planet is. There are mounts of useless objects in the world. Thank you, dear John!🍤🍤🍤🍻
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So true, Maria. We should reuse more.
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