Earn-a-Bike Program

Heart of the City Bicycles teaches individuals how to repair a bike culminating in receiving a bike and gaining skills to maintain this independent form of transportation.

In 2008, Heart of the City developed Operation Bicycle, a bicycle repair and maintenance program designed to give individuals the opportunity to have independent transportation. Participants include at-risk youth from the Juvenile Detention Center as well as homeless and underemployed individuals in need of autonomous transportation.

Over a 6-week period individuals learn how to repair and maintain a bicycle. Area bike stores provide experts who visit our facility on Cass Street, teaching youth and adults how to maintain a bike. Program participants move through a series of skill levels. Upon graduation each participant has learned valuable skills and receives a fully functional bicycle. Approximately 200 individuals complete the program annually. This program is staffed by volunteers.

A core group of people return regularly after graduation to continue to repair donated bikes. The benefits of the repair education multiply with each bike repair.

A bicycle is vital to the economic health of struggling families. Partnerships with numerous organizations and individuals allows Heart of the City to positively impact these families in the heart of our city!

If you would like to donate your used bicycle to the Heart of the City Bicycles, please bring it to 1651 Cass Street, Door 3 (NW corner) any Friday between 9am and noon. If you would like to arrange a different time, please reach out to us on the Contact Us page.