Pedals for Progress Pedals for Progress Pedals for Progress is a simple, people-centered project that rescues bicycles destined for America's landfills and incinerators, and puts them to productive use overseas. Each year, Americans purchase 13 million new bicycles and throw out 5 million old ones. At the same time, millions of useable old bikes gather dust in basements, garages, and other storage areas. Meanwhile, poor people overseas often have little alternative to walking to get to jobs, schools, markets, and other services.
Old bikes are nearly worthless in the United States.
Other organizations use the bikes directly in programs providing agricultural extension, community health and literacy services to the poor. The bikes collected in the United States go to more than 15 countries, including the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Colombia, Ghana, Senegal, Eritrea, and Fiji. Local businesses have provided support. For example, City Bikes accepts bike donations on behalf of Pedals for Progress, Giant Food has generously provided three no-longer roadworthy truck trailers to be used for storage of bicycles, and Washington Gas has provided a site for the trailers. Area jurisdictions will often charge residents to dispose of an old bike, which is then landfilled or at best recycled into steel.