Welcome to the sixth episode of The Post Podcast with NIP!
On this episode, we sit down with Tanya, founder of Bikes Without Borders, a Toronto based charity that spent over 15 years putting bikes into the hands of people who needed them most. From newcomer and refugee families to youth learning bike repair, Tanya shares the story of how a small idea turned into a program that impacted thousands of lives across the city and beyond. While Bikes Without Borders has now closed its doors, its impact continues through the people riding those bikes today.
Tanya talks about the history of the organization, the realities of running a charity on almost no budget, the most rewarding parts of the work, and where people can still donate or get a bike in Toronto today.
Contents of the Episode:
0:00 Intro
0:50 Welcome, Tanya
1:02 The history of Bikes Without Borders
4:49 The mission behind the organization
6:54 Why bikes matter, a personal connection
7:45 How Tanya got into cycling
10:17 Favourite bike and cargo biking with a family
11:56 Bike lanes, bike trails, and city cycling
14:05 Partnering with Toronto Police for safety education
15:22 What it actually costs to fix up a donated bike
18:00 Why a bike is one of the cheapest investments you can make
18:59 The Earn a Bike and Build a Bike programs
20:37 Funding challenges and space struggles over the years
25:49 Giving bikes to newcomer and refugee families
29:00 Volunteer management and burnout
31:02 Why programs like this matter for communities
36:23 Balancing storytelling and social media with the actual work
41:27 What Tanya would do differently starting over
44:54 Studying nonprofit management and governance
45:58 Competing for donor attention as a niche charity
48:25 What's next for Tanya after Bikes Without Borders
52:06 The ongoing challenge of getting donated bikes to where they're needed
54:32 Other organizations to donate to or get a bike from
59:44 Closing thoughts
Links and Resources:
Other organizations giving out bikes in Toronto:
Bike Pirates: https://bikepirates.com/
Charlie's FreeWheels: https://www.charliesfreewheels.ca/
Culture Link Bike Hub: https://www.culturelink.ca/bike-hub/
Scarborough Cycles: https://www.scarboroughcycles.ca/scarborough-cycles/
Others: https://bikeswithoutborders.org/donate-a-bike
Find local services in your area in Ontario: https://211central.ca/
City of Toronto Operator: 311
Ontario Operator: 211
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