We've just received word today from our shipping line that they are unable to arrange a container for us to load tomorrow. Thus the November 21st loading for Guatemala is POSTPONED!

We will be rescheduling this shipment, likely for December 19th, and we'll post information here once we have it. We apologize to any of you who arranged your schedule around this volunteer event (especially since the shipping line postponed this same shipment twice).

AIR COMPRESSOR WANTED! We've received a request from Carlos Marroquin, lead engineer at Maya Pedal, for a donation of a small air compressor which would be used for spraying paint onto the production line bicimaquinas, as well as inflating tires in their bike shop. The donation would be tax deductible. Contact David Branigan at 617-522-0222 or david(at)bikesnotbombs.org.

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Once the loading is rescheduled, Bikes Not Bombs volunteers will load a 40' shipping container full of bicycle aid to send to Maya Pedal in San Andres de Itzapa, Guatemala.

The most popular bicimaquina shells corn and grinds corn and other grains.

We'll start at 10:00 am (bagels and coffee provided) and work until we finish, which we expect to be around 4:00pm. We'll take a break around 1pm for a pizza lunch (provided) and a short talk about the project. Volunteers can come for any part of this time that works for you. Experience not required. We'll be moving, sorting, and loading bikes, wheels, and spare parts. You may wish to bring work gloves.

This loading happens RAIN or SHINE! (In the case of rain we use a tarp to cover the short distance between warehouse and truck.)

Maya Pedal will put some of these bikes back on the road for transportation, but their primary work is the production of bicimaquinas (pedal-powered machines). These bicycle-based machines are used mostly for agriculture and food production and are purchased by farmer's cooperatives and families in the Chimaltenango region of Guatemala where electricity is scarce and expensive. The grain grinder, blender, and water pump remain popular models, joined by a peanut and nut sheller, and a masa mill (which turns soaked corn into tortilla dough). Bikes Not Bombs is partnering with Working Bikes in Chicago to help Maya Pedal in business development.

For more info on Maya Pedal see http://mayapedal.org.

For a list of other pedal-powered technology,
see our Appropriate Technology links page.

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Directions

This event does NOT happen at Bikes Not Bombs, but is just around the corner. We will be loading from a big parking lot at 179 Boylston St., Jamaica Plain, 2 blocks from the Stony Brook T stop on the Orange Line. Coming from the BNB HUB at 284 Amory Street, turn right on Amory. At the first traffic light turn right on Boylston Street (where the Stony Brook T stop is on your left) and then turn right into a large parking lot which is part of the Brewery Complex. You'll see our 40 ft. shipping container parked in this lot, just off the street.