BicycleWORKS Offers Great Programs & Great Bikes
Gas prices got you down? Try bicycling either to work or for errands. If you need a good & inexpensive used bike I know just the place: BicycleWORKS.
Located in the Shaw neighborhood at the corner of Shenandoah & Thurman (map), this non-profit teaches kids to rebuild bicycles through the Earn-A-Bike program. Their mission statement:
Saint Louis BicycleWORKS was founded in 1988 by a Shaw Neighborhood resident who saw the need to provide area youth with the opportunity to develop a skill and to challenge them to test the limits of their abilities. This vision combined with the universal appeal of the bicycle became the building block of this innovative organization. BicycleWORKS is the first St. Louis program to use the bicycle as a vehicle to teach youth responsibility and good work habits. Its programs are structured and work-intensive. BicycleWORKS combines vocational training with educational enrichment and challenging physical and mental activity. Bicycle Works is located in the Shaw neighborhood at the southwest corner of Shenandoah and Thurman and welcomes applications from youth ages 9-17 from any St. Louis neighborhood.
Adults seeking a good used bike will have luck there as well as the volunteer staff rebuilds bikes to sell to help fund the work they do with kids. I know many of the people involved in the group and trust me, they know bikes!
Their main hours are 10am to 1pm on Saturdays. Volunteers are needed if you are interested.
Even if you are not in the market for a bike I suggest you check out their new website — it is really well done with some great photos.
– Steve
“Eat it up. Wear it out. Make it do. Do without.”
…or something like that.
Perfect timing! I have a friend in the market for a used bike and the other shops we’ve checked locally just have new stuff in stock (read as: way too pricey). I’ll send him over to BikeWorks this weekend!
I volunteered at B-WORKS in the mid-90’s. A great experience for me and(hopefully) for the kids. Led quite a few bike rides (with other adults) around the City. BTW, the “Shaw Neighborhood resident”? Roy Bohn. Lost touch with him a few years ago; I hope he’s doing well. It’s unfortunate that BW doesn’t mention him in their history, although I recall that there was some tension between the board and Roy at the latter point of my involvement(97-98?). I’d rather not go into the particulars, but I guess things ended on a less than positive note for everyone. Perhaps that’s why Roy’s name doesn’t appear in BW’s info. Too bad, Roy is a good egg.