Bambu Bicycles
Research - Northampton, Massachusetts, United States
Bambu Bicycles Employees
Bambu Bicycles Details
In 2015 we had done some research into the history and evolution of bicycles from their conception, to the ever-changing models of today. During the research we came across an organization known as HERO (Hale Empowerment and Revitalization Organization) in Greensboro, AL.A roughly 90-minute drive from Birmingham, Ala., and four hours from Atlanta, Greensboro lies in the so-called Black Belt, a former cotton-producing region now known for catfish farms and rural poverty.Pam Dorr, and innovator and creative thinker whom I spoke with long before my plan to visit HERO, is the powerhouse for the nonprofit community development group that helps get those in poverty into low-cost, small, but genuinely nice homes which they can eventually own over time. She's received national attention for her efforts to revitalize this Hale County seat of 1,700 through initiatives like HERO.Many may not know it, but Greensboro and a plethora of other places all over the U.S. view bamboo as an relentlessly invasive species which takes over their backyards. Yet, bamboo is lightweight, incredibly strong, and an ideal material for construction of many kinds...even bikes. By using a material which is sustainable, rigid, and historically recognized for its functionality, Pam inspired me to begin building bamboo bikes and with that came my "build a bike for your neighbor" system. In a place where having enough food on the table is an issue, buying a car is one of the lasts things on the mind for many Greensboro residents and others in similar situations all across the world. By allowing a space where residents can come in a build a bike using readily available sources and a little bit of elbow grease, we have designed a platform around spreading this idea to other locations across the U.S. - starting on the East Coast.
