Programs

The Bike Kitchen’s mission to empower and educate through refurbishing bicycles is fulfilled through our three programs and is facilitated by a small staff of part-time paid employees, a handful of volunteer staff members, and a larger group of volunteers from the general public.  The three programs enrich each other and provide our volunteers the opportunity to empower themselves in whatever way best suits them.  They inherently foster new volunteers that will in turn extend and grow our operation.  The by-product of these efforts generates the necessary bicycle inventory we sell to pay for our organization’s overhead.

Community Bikes

The Bozeman Bike Kitchen receives donated bicycles and parts from throughout the Gallatin Valley which are refurbished by our staff and general volunteers from the public (some of whom are participating in our Earn-a-Bike program).  These bicycles are then redistributed back into the community through multiple channels. We have solid partnerships with local social organizations such as the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, HRDC, and Love Inc. through which we have arranged a voucher program offering bicycles free of charge to those in need. Under this program we also offer FREE coaster-brake bikes for kids (no voucher required).

Earn-a-Bike

The individuals and families who volunteer toward our Community Bikes program are eligible to earn a free bicycle frame, parts, shop time, and access to tools to build a bicycle for themselves.  This is a great way to get hands-on experience toward building and maintaining your own bicycle and provides a low-to-no-cost reward for our volunteers.  To learn more about how these hours are arranged and recorded, see one of our staff members on site at The Kitchen.

Community Shop Access

The  Bozeman Bike Kitchen maintenance shop is open year-round to meet the needs of the Bozeman and Gallatin Valley community. Our staff and general volunteers are available to assist members of the community with all of their bike needs.  This includes helping with simple tasks like flat tires, adjusting brake and shifting cables, and other minor bike adjustments, as well as more significant repairs (our shop is outfitted with full sets of professional bicycle repair tools). Although bicycling is primarily a fair-weather activity, many people in the Gallatin Valley continue to use their bicycle as a primary mode of transportation year-round. We are always amazed – summer and winter – at how busy our shop is and how much our services are needed and utilized.  Use of our work stands and Park Tool Professional tool sets can be had for a modest donation, or work trade through our Community Bikes program can also be arranged.  Please see a staff member on site at The Kitchen to learn more.