apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Working Bikes is a volunteer-run not-for-profit organization that obtains landfill-bound bikes through reclamation at the landfill, scavenging and donations, and then restores them to working condition. They have a wide range of recycled bicycles such as the ever-popular vintage cruisers (lots of Schwinns), fixed gear, single speed, road bikes and mountain bikes. Many of the volunteers also get the opportunity to customize and build their own bikes. A warning - the bikes aren’t perfect, they are used, but they’re a good deal if you’re in need (or want) of a bike and don’t need a brand spanking new one. Costs vary and depend on the condition of bike, but we got a vintage Schwinn cruiser for about $35 – good deal!

The Working Bikes storefront is only open Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday from 12-5, and get there early because the good stuff goes fast. Early means 10-11am if you’re eager – not 11:45. Once you’ve found a bike you get to take it for a test ride, and if you like the price, it’s yours. However, it is hit or miss, and if you’re looking for something in particular it’d be worth making multiple visits. If you can hold out until the winter you’ll find a better and less picked over selection.



Working Bikes is not just about saving bikes from the landfill and fixing them up for the masses. Working bikes is a not-for-profit volunteer-driven cooperative. All its operations are funded through the sale of bicycles at its storefront. Working Bikes uses that money to provide bicycles to charity organizations within Chicago and also ships bicycles to the Gulf Coast, Cuba, Guatemala, Ecuador, and many other places of need.

“In the countries to which Working Bikes ships, a bicycle can often mean the difference between work and unemployment. The bicycle is the primary means of vehicular transportation for the majority of the population and is used both for personal transportation and for carrying cargo. Due to wage differences, a bicycle worth $20 in Chicago can be worth the equivalent of $1,000 in Africa. Each year Working Bikes gives away over 5,000 bicycles locally and internationally. It distributes about 500 bicycles and wheelchairs in the Chicago area alone: to City programs, refugees and day camps.”

The Working Bikes Cooperative storefront is located at 1125 S Western Ave, the warehouse (for donations) is located at 
927 S. Western Ave., 2nd floor. Check out the website for more drop-off locations around the Midwest.

Top photo of bikes in warehouse by Andrea Small, all other photos via danlitchfield1