Bike Works Programs
Bike Works provides programs and resources in southeast Seattle, a richly diverse area that, compared with Seattle as a whole, has high rates of poverty and poor community health indicators. SE Seattle residents experience higher rates of diabetes and asthma than any other King County community. In addition, this area is home to some of the lowest performing schools in the county.
Youth Development
We empower youth to lead healthy and productive lives. Our programs introduce youth to the joy and freedom of bicycling, and provide opportunities to explore their world by bicycle. In our classroom and out in the field, youth build confidence, critical thinking and life skills. They also learn what it means to give back. As they log community service hours in order to earn their own bicycle, our youth discover they have valuable skills to offer others.
Community Engagement
Our adult classes, volunteer opportunities and community events are designed to engage folks in our neighborhood and promote bicycling. With thousands of volunteer hours from our youth mechanics and community members, Bike Works also donates recycled bikes to local nonprofits that serve homeless and disadvantaged populations as well as communities abroad.
Community Bike Shop
We aim to make bicycling accessible and affordable to people from all walks of life. Our shop sells recycled bicycles to the Seattle community while generating revenue to run our youth programs, and helps further our mission.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
We have recently added two classes to serve low-income and marginalized youth and adults: UGottaGetABike and Bikes-for-All!
In our UGottaGetaBike Program we go directly to schools and other partners in southeast Seattle for a one-day program that teaches youth how to fix a flat, get their chain back on, and safely ride over the course of an afternoon. The program culminates with their getting a βnewβ bike β refurbished by youth in our Earn-a-Bike and Drop-in Community Service Programs β and a helmet to keep. We work with youth who do not have a bike and are low-income (enrolled in the free or reduced lunch programs, if applicable).
The Bikes-for-All! class is similar to the UGottaGetaBike program, but for adults. Modeled after a program created by the Community Cycling Center in Portland, Bikes-for-All! provides participants with quality and in-depth bicycle safety instruction on and off the road, as well as a commuter bike complete with lights, lock, and helmet.
We are able to successfully run new programs while maintaining our long standing programs through the support of donors like you. All of the bikes used in our programming are donated to us by community members--we accept bicycle donations any time our shop is open. Beyond bicycle donations, Bike Works relies on community support and individuals to fund our core programming. Please consider making a gift today!