Bikes Across Borders is a horizontal--non-hierarchical--consensus-run collective with the goal of promoting autonomy and community through the use of human-powered transportation, do-it-yourself technologies and the arts.

We seek to build a network of mutual aid among communities struggling for self determination and challenging capitalist ideals both locally and across borders. By seeking partnership with communities across political borders we aim to draw attention to the arbitrarity of those borders and the negative consequences of globalization policies on peoples and the environment. Through our work we aim to expose some of the problems caused by capitalism, states and borders while simultaneously demonstrating how we can choose to live outside of these artificial structures.

STRATEGIC PLAN

In our goals and our methods for achieving them, we actively seek to resist patriarchy, racism, homophobia and all other forms of domination, while also having a great time. We value spontaneity, and as a consensus-run organization, we recognize that the actions we take to meet our stated mission will change as people with different interests and talents come and leave the group. Some of the concrete actions we are currently taking to accomplish our goals are:

* We liberate bicycles and bike parts from the waste stream and put them back to use in Austin and in other communities across the border.

* We run a bike library made up of salvaged and refurbished bicycles. We lend these freed bicycles to whoever needs them the most in our Austin community. At the end of the year we deliver all those bicycles to activists and communities in Mexico.

*We are trying to secure a location to house a community bike shop in which we could run our bike library, work on bikes to send on the bike caravan, and provide skillshares on bike mechanics, pannier and trailer construction, puppet making and more.

* Every year we set out on a DIY bicycle caravan from Austin to a pre-determined community in Mexico. Through this caravan we promote the use of bicycle as a viable and fun form of transportation. With this caravan our goal also is to connect communities in South/Central Texas and el norte de Mexico.

* We collaborate with organizations in Austin whose work aligns with our mission

* Our music, puppetry and graphic design creates interactive puppets shows and posters and present them for free at parks, schools and community events to share the fun and joy of our activism and as a friendly way to get people thinking and talking about autonomy, patriarchy, borders, mutual aid, bikes, the environment...etc.

*Potential future project: mobile bike shop

Definition of terms:

Non hierarchical/horizontal: In our organization there are not appointed leaders or bosses. We work together in an egalitarian manner and actions are performed by the passion and voluntarism of the people involved in them.

Consensus: a democratic process in which decisions are made upon the direct participation and agreement of all the members of the collective. We believe that better decisions are made when the concerns of every individual are considered and addressed.

Autonomy/self determination: the quality or state of being self-governing (ie. having power to make decisions about the things that affect you and/or your community). We welcome every action that will bring us closer to this goal and negate those that interfere with attaining real independence.

Mutual aid/solidarity: relationship between people/organizations in which each individual derives a benefit. In a system based on mutual aid, goods and skills are circulated within the community without the mediation of money. This stands in contrast to charity, which sets up a paternalistic dichotomy between “helper” and “helpless”. We believe everyone has something to offer regardless of their circumstances.

DIY : creating things for yourself without the aid of experts or mass marketed products. While capitalism promotes ignorance to foster dependence on external institutions and maintain power imbalances, the diy ethic promotes self empowerment and collaboration through the sharing of skills and knowledge that allow communities to meet their own needs