Bikes for the World collected and shipped 5,601 bikes in 2005, another 7,697 bikes in 2006, 7,922 in 2007, 10,301 in 2008, and 8,900 in 2009, making it in each of the last three years the largest bicycle re-use program in the United States.  Thank you!  

The bulk of bikes coming toBikes for the World are donated by the public at scheduled collections—public events sponsored by a community service organization, typically held on a weekend morning in the spring or the fall, and staffed by the sponsoring organization's volunteers.  In 2009, we supported more than 80 collections, concentrating in the Washington DC-Baltimore area but ranging as far south as Winston-Salem NC and as far north as Bucks County PA and Williamsville NY.

A provisional collection schedule can be found here, and will be updated regularly. (If not, click on "Collection Schedule" above and you may have better luck--our webmaster tells us it's easy to overlook updating links.

Bike donors will be asked to contribute an additional minimum $10 per bike to defray a share of shipping & handling costs, and be provided a receipt for the value of the bike and the accompanying financial donation.

Potential donors unable to make a scheduled collection have four additional options for getting a bicycle to us.

1. Bring the bike(s) and a $10 financial contribution to one of our scheduled collections or participating bikes stores (see here for details).  As of early 2010, nearly 20 bike shops generously serve as drop-off sites.  Upon pick-up, Bikes for the World will mail a receipt for tax purposes (this receipt will confirm that BfW actually received the bike).
   
   
2. Drop-off at the home of a volunteer.  For current drop-off locations, write BfW directly at info at bikesfortheworld.org and mention your location/preferred drop-off area.  When bringing a bike, please remember to include a suggested $10/bike donation.  If the volunteer does not have a re eipt, we will mail you one subsequently.   
   
3. BfW also accepts drop-offs (by appointment only, thank you!) at the home-office of its director in Arlington VA—write info at bikesfortheworld.org or call 703-525-0931 to make an appointment and receive directions.  $10/bike donation suggested, and a receipt and program info gladly provided.  
   
4. Ship via FedEx or other shipper to BfW at 3108 17^th Street North, Arlington VA 22201.  This is suitable for individuals living at a distance from BfW's mid-Atlantic collection footprint.  In such cases, recognizing that the bicycle is likely to be of average greater value and the donor is making a significant expenditure in shipping the bike, BfW will welcome a bike without the suggested $10 donation (however, donors mailing bikes are always welcome to make this contribution as well!).  BfW will mail a receipt for the value of the bike (and the donor should know that any expenditure on shipping a donated bike to BfW is potentially tax-deductible "to the extent permitted by law").