Based in San Andreas Itzapa, Guatemala, Maya Pedal refurbishes donated bikes from North America. Started in 1997 by Canadian citizens as a means to support sustainability in the region, the group has been under local management since 2001.
Besides selling their upgraded bikes to members of the community, Maya Pedal also designs utilitarian machines that run on the power of a person riding the stationary bike. These bicimáquinas include blenders, grinding mills or corn threshers, water pumps, nut shellers and even coffee depulpers. Each of these bicimáquinas is made with spare bicycle parts. Their website offers downloadable sketches and detailed description of each machine.
Maya Pedal supports many community projects in collaboration with local, national and international groups. They provide training workshops to those interested in implementing pedal technology in their own communities, including bicycle machine repair and maintenance and innovative uses of the machines. Each group brings their own energy and creativity to the project, helping to successfully meet the needs of diverse communities. Resulting examples of this community outreach include a women´s collective that makes and sells their own aloe gel and a family that produces their own animal feed.
Maya Pedal has a free volunteer program and could especially use the help of those with bike repair experience as that is what they spend most of their time doing. They also accept donations with a list of needed items on their web page.