Bike New York, Inc

Bike New York is the leading nonprofit for bike education and safety in New York City. Through free classes, community programs, and advocacy, we help New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds ride safely, confidently, and independently.

Our Bike Path Workforce Development Program in Industry City provides job training for formerly incarcerated New Yorkers, preparing participants for union-level mechanic positions with Citi Bike’s operator, Motivate. The three-week program teaches hands-on bicycle and e-bike repair and guarantees each graduate an interview. Since launch, 174 participants have been hired, with a 100% job placement rate in 2025 and a 75% 90-day retention rate—higher than the general Citi Bike mechanic workforce. Graduates start at $26.75 an hour, often moving into full-time, permanent roles. Bike Path’s success demonstrates the power of direct employer partnerships, wraparound support, and second chances.

Recycle-A-Bicycle, our community-based online shop based in Brooklyn, refurbishes donated bicycles, offers affordable repairs, and sells or donates bikes and safety gear to make cycling accessible to everyone. Working from our Industry City workshop, we salvage about 1,800 bicycles each year, diverting roughly 45,000 pounds of waste from landfills. Each bike represents both environmental sustainability and new opportunities for affordable mobility.

Our Brooklyn Bike Education Centers at McCarren Park and Pink Playground host 14–20 free classes annually for children and adults. These community programs help new riders gain confidence, improve health, and build independence. The centers receive no city funding and rely entirely on community and philanthropic support to keep free instruction and maintenance programs available.

The Earn-A-Bike program, also based at Industry City, gives young people ages 14 to 18 the chance to learn bike mechanics through an eight-week, hands-on course. Participants rebuild donated bicycles and earn the bikes they repair, gaining reliable transportation, problem-solving skills, and confidence. Many graduates move on to advanced training or jobs in the cycling industry, building a foundation for future employment and independence.

Across these Brooklyn-based programs, Bike New York uses the bicycle as a tool for empowerment, education, and equity—helping New Yorkers gain skills, confidence, and mobility while strengthening their communities and creating a more sustainable city.