The mission of Bike Works is to build sustainable communities by educating youth and promoting bicycling. For fourteen years they have worked to empower youth, and make bicycling accessible to communities in Seattle. Bike Works reduces the barriers to participation due to cost, lack of bicycling knowledge and lack of neighborhood resources through their youth and adult programs and their community bike shop.

Youth programs are the cornerstone of Bike Works. Their youth programs are designed to empower youth to be self-sufficient leaders and to build community through instruction in all aspects of bicycle riding and mechanics. Their youth programs serve 250 students annually, aged nine to seventeen. Bike Works is located in – and primarily serves – Southeast Seattle: Lake Washington to the Duwamish River, I-90 to Rainier Beach. Youth in their programs are as diverse as their neighborhood. By bringing together participants of diverse backgrounds they help foster relationships across divisions of socio-economic class and race. Because their programs are low or no cost and they offer the opportunity for youth to earn the equipment they need, the barriers to participation are very low. Moreover, the nature of their programming is ongoing, consistent, and long-term – something youth can count on. The magic behind their programs is that youth love bicycles; their programs speak to their interests and hearts, and offer tangible rewards for their participation.

Values: 

Bicycling: They believe that bicycling is an accessible form of transportation that promotes public health, builds confidence, encourages environmental stewardship and strengthens community.

Youth: They are committed to youth empowerment. They provide youth opportunities to grow as leaders, give back to the community, work together and see themselves as owners and creators of their collective future.

Community: They work to build strong, supportive, inclusive community. They welcome and respect diversity of experience, identity and opinion and believe that collaboration is a powerful tool for social change.

Education: They believe that they are all teachers and learners, and they strive to be a place where they can work, learn, and grow together. Through their work they foster creativity, critical thinking, curiosity and cooperation.

Access: They are committed to making cycling accessible, affordable and welcoming to people of all backgrounds, abilities and incomes.

Environment: They believe that respecting and connecting to the world around us leads to more livable communities. To that end, they practice and encourage waste reduction and reuse, prolong the life of bicycles, promote cycling and teach environmental stewardship.

Social Justice: Inequalities of wealth and opportunity in their community privilege some and marginalize others. They see bicycles as vehicles of empowerment, and their work as contributing to creating a more just and equitable world.