Pam ​​Dorr laughed at the idea that a bicycle made of bamboo would be fragile. This is not the first time she has heard such suspicions.

"We just built one for a 300-pound man in Colorado, and his road is very rough," Dole said. "He told me,'I am a big man, and I hope it will last.' I said,'Well, I will get you a thick bamboo.'"

She doesn't have to go far to get it. One block of her team's studio in Greensboro is enough to make hundreds of bamboo bicycles every year, and more in the surrounding area.

Doll moved there more than 10 years ago to lead a black belt non-profit organization aimed at kicking off the revival of Hale County. The goal is to build affordable housing, stimulate economic development and initiate youth development programs. Bamboo bicycles provide a unique way to do this.

Dorr, executive director of the Hale Empowerment Revitalization Organization and its branch HERObike, said: "We develop products with what we have, and a lot of what we have is bamboo."

They formed a partnership with the School of Architecture at the University of Kansas, where Professor Lance Lake and students helped design the bicycle. The result is a carbon fiber woven bamboo frame that attracts racers and enthusiasts.

"Bamboo is a shock-absorbing material, so if you are a racer, you really don't have to wear padded shorts," Dole said. "It provides a more comfortable ride experience."

Other companies make bamboo bicycles, but the cost is between US$600 and US$2,500. HERObike is one of the cheapest options. This has led people all over the world to buy Greensboro bikes online-most of their sales come from France, Germany, Japan and Thailand.

HERO used the money to build affordable housing, and bicycles are far from their only project.

PieLab, a non-profit organization, bake and sell homemade pies, while teaching job skills in the retail and hospitality industries. The Youth Program will dry the algae in fish ponds during part of the summer to clean water and use by-products as household fertilizers.

They also plan to install solar technology in companies that have monthly electricity bills of more than US$20,000 in black belt areas. Dole said such projects help the community while also teaching green technologies.

"If you do this, it will be much easier to learn," she said with a smile.

At the same time, Professor KU Rake is studying some new uses of bamboo.

HERObike has been involved in the manufacture of bamboo skateboards, electric bicycles, paddle boards and strollers. It even holds workshops to teach people how to make their own bamboo bicycles.

There are now about 30 people working there, and the total number fluctuates according to demand.

The Black Belt is a county in western and southwestern Alabama that has struggled with poverty and unemployment for many years. Hale County’s unemployment rate in December was 1.5% higher than the statewide average, but still 3% lower than neighboring Green and Perry counties.

So, is bamboo the solution to the problems in this area?

"This is one way," Dole said. "In any economic development plan, I hope that there are multiple aspects."

You can view more information on herobike.org.