Bike Donations
 

Interesting article today in Canda's Globe and Mail about a charity that sends old bikes to developing countries;

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl.../National/home

Any other good (or bad) news stories about useful second lives for old bikes?

"Sends old bikes to developing countries"- can't you buy new bikes in some of those developing countries for what it would cost to ship one from here?

In NYC there are people who buy them in bulk from the police/government and ship them back 'home'. Evidently there is enough profit to run as a business.

As far as a donation goes, the charity might be able to give you some sort of tax write off assuming you want to go through the trouble to claim it. If you want to donate you bike, leave it outside a few days before recycling pickup with a note "Free bike, working condition, please take it".

The only bike I have I picked up off the end of someone's drive. This is devastating for a guy like me!

As geo8rge said, if you leave the bike at the end of your drive a few days before garbage day, it'll disappear. If you put a "free bike, working condition" sign on the front of it, it'll disappear very quickly. In my experience, I've bought one bike, and picked up three off the end of people's drives. Fixed one up, gave it to a friend. Fixed another up, using parts from the third. :D