Nearly 500 bicycles ridden in the desert at Burning Man to be donated in Mexico

September 21, 2026

As seen in the San Diego Union Tribune: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/09/19/burning-man-bikes-donated-to-mexico/

Volunteers from both sides of the border helped move donated bikes from San Ysidro to Tijuana over the weekend

From a vast array of colorful bicycles lined up in a San Ysidro parking lot, an eager group of volunteers each picked one and rode it across the border into Mexico. Their goal was to deliver nearly 500 donated bikes to those who need them.

Not so long ago, those same bikes were ridden through the Black Rock Desert by Burning Man attendees in northwestern Nevada before being abandoned.

The nonprofit World Bicycle Forum 12 Mexico, which advocates for cycling as a means of transportation, approached Burning Man representatives about salvaging the bikes for a good cause.

Samuel Terán Padua, who led the binational effort for the nonprofit, said the donation program aims to “guarantee the human right to mobility.”

The president of WBF 12 Mexico said this is their second time working with Burning Man. In 2025, bikes were donated to Mexico and crossed via the Texas border.

“The fact that it’s a meaningful project and these bikes are going to serve a meaningful purpose, it was a no-brainer,” said Jaymie Braun, program manager for Burners Without Borders, a program within Burning Man. “It was an easy decision for us to want to work with them.”

The weeklong Burning Man event, held every year in the days leading up to Labor Day, takes place in a temporary city built in the Black Rock Desert. Bicycles serve as the main mode of transportation to get around the approximately 3,750-acre area.

Although Burning Man does not encourage visitors to leave their bikes behind, as stated on its website, this does happen sometimes for many reasons. In 2024, more than 1,700 bicycles were abandoned, Burning Man reported. The nonprofit organization works with others to let attendees know where they can donate their used bikes.

On Saturday, dozens of volunteers from both sides of the border signed up to either ride bikes from San Ysidro to Tijuana or to collect them on the Mexican side.The Mexican Consulate in San Diego said that the organizations were following customs guidelines.

Chula Vista resident and avid cyclist Angela Cortés found out about the project on Instagram. She arrived with her 3-year-old daughter, looking to inspire her to “make a difference through volunteering.”

“Just as cycling has changed my life, I hope these bikes will make a difference in the lives of their new owners,” she said.

Others made the trip from Ensenada, which is about an hour and a half from Tijuana.

Margarita Alvarado is a part of EmBICIadas, one of the three Ensenada bike groups that came together to help. “I really like that sustainable mobility is being championed,” said Alvarado, who rides her bike to work every day.

Before heading to the Tijuana border crossing, the volunteers took the bikes for a quick test ride around the parking lot and, in some cases, rang their bells. Some said they had a SENTRI pass to cross back over the border faster.

Bikes will be donated to organizations in Tijuana and other Mexican cities, including migrant shelters, community service groups, and bike advocacy groups. Other recipients include search collectives, which are groups led by people searching for their missing loved ones.

On Friday, some of the same volunteers gathered at a warehouse in National City to clean and repair the nearly 500 bicycles.

With dust and mud still clinging to them from the Burning Man main event held a few weeks ago, some of the variously sized bikes arrived sporting stickers and other distinctive touches.

“We’re sitting on some beautiful gems here,” said Justin Lipford of the San Diego YMCA, who took part in the cleanup and rode the bikes himself to ensure they were ready.

“Every bike’s a different story,” he added. “They’re uniquely decorated from the festival … they’re in great condition.”

Some of the volunteers were from the organizations that will receive donated bikes.

“For our migrant youth, it means a time to have some fun,” said Valeria Ruiz, coordinator of binational relations at the Tijuana YMCA, which runs a shelter for migrant children.

Dafne Quintero from 7 en Ruta, an organization in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, will deliver some of the bikes to children in need in the Sierra Tarahumara region.

She said that they usually bring food and toys to the children in July. Last time, they asked the children what they wanted, and many said a bicycle.