From Spyhill Landfill to Africa: The Global Journey of a Bike

A bicycle in Canada is a tool for fitness, mountain biking, or commuting. A bicycle in a rural community in Africa is a tool for survival, education, and healthcare. Through our strategic alliance with Bicycles for Humanity Calgary, we help bridge that gap—one shipping container at a time. Bicycles for Humanity (B4H) Calgary ensures that bikes change a life—just on a different continent.

Bicycles for Humanity is a grassroots  humanitarian organization that sends used bicycles to developing countries to provide life-changing mobility. In Calgary, this mission is powered by the tireless work of people like John Atto and Thian Hundert, who rebuild donated bikes and sell them to fund the significant costs of shipping these containers across the ocean.

Strategic alliances aren’t always glamorous. Our volunteer work with Bicycles for Humanity happens at Spyhill Landfill. Alberta Bike Swap helps B4H maximize their impact through extreme packing. We work alongside them to:

• Remove pedals and tie handlebars: It sounds simple, but this technical step is vital to ensure every square inch of a shipping container is used.
• Filling the Brims: We ensure these containers are packed to the absolute brim. Every extra bike we fit is another person empowered.

This alliance goes beyond transport. A dedicated group of nurses assemble and sew medical and maternity kits. As we load the bikes, we also pack these life-saving supplies into the containers. It’s a holistic approach to community aid—transportation and healthcare moving forward together.

We appreciate B4H because they never waste an opportunity. They take what others might discard B4H turns it into opportunity. We are honoured to support B4H because they remind us that the work they do has ripples that reach halfway around the world.

Support Bicycles for Humanity Calgary by donating your old bikes or purchasing a refurbished one through B4H. Your contribution helps cover the shipping costs that bring mobility and medical supplies to those who need it most.