Bikes for All Mainers is a free educational program offering people ages 12+ an opportunity to earn a bicycle and build skills in basic bike maintenance and traffic awareness. This program is specifically designed to provide a bicycle as a means of affordable transportation and recreation for anyone experiencing economic instability or uncertainty.
The Bikes for All Mainers program allows whole households and families to apply at the same time and take this course together. Students must be at least 12 years old to apply and a parent or legal guardian must fill out the application for anyone under the age of 18. For household or family members under the age of 12, please see our Kids Bike Party event.
We work with current Gear Hub staff, former Bikes for All Mainers graduates, and interpreters to provide translations into multiple languages for each class.
Bikes for All Mainers graduates receive:
- A fully refurbished bicycle
- A new helmet, lock, and safety lights
- Training on basic bike maintenance
- Training on safe road bicycle riding practices
- An appreciation of riding for fun, recreation, and as active transportation
To be eligible, students must:
- Be age 12 or older
- Participate in a 2.5 hour long outdoor group class
- Be currently experiencing economic instability, especially if you are:
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utilizing any of the following programs:
- General Assistance
- Women, Infant, and Children Nutrition Program (WIC)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- experiencing any of the following:
- Seeking asylum or are an immigrant or refugee
- Homelessness
- Enrolled in a Recovery program
- Adverse Medical conditions
-
How do I sign up?
- Sign up in advance. There are 100 bikes available, but spots fill up quickly!
- Sign-up for each participant individually (1 sign-up per person).
- Individuals under 18 (and over 12), must have a parent/ guardian fill out registration.
Informations disponibles en français
Informação disponível em português
Sign-Up
Our classes for Bikes for All Mainers is currently full!
Please check back next spring (2024) for more Bikes for All Mainers Classes & Sign-ups
Thanks to funding and support from:
The Onion Foundation, Rines Thompson Fund, Martin’s Point Health Care, Planet Bike, Kryptonite, the Michael T. Goulet Foundation, and individual donors.
Want to Help fund this Program?
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I get a bike right now?
All earn-a-bike opportunities are through our Bikes for All Mainers and Kids Bike Party programs. Please view our class schedule, review your eligibility, and sign-up for an available date. We also offer refurbished used bikes for sale at our retail location: 155 Washington Ave. All of the proceeds from our bike sales go directly towards funding our programs.
My child is under the age of 12, how can they get a bike?
For kids ages 3-11, we host 3 Kids’ Bike Parties. Sign-ups in advance are required and parents must attend with the child earning a bike and helmet. Sign-ups will be available by May 2022
What should I do if your classes are full?
We have a limited number of spots for people to earn bikes each summer. Sign-ups are on a first come, first served basis. We have class spots for 200+ students and bikes every year, May – October, open to all ages.
