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.
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 and transportation
To be eligible, students must:
- Be age 12 or older
- Participate in a 2 hour long outdoor group class
- Be experiencing economic instability
- If you have a child younger than 12, please check out our Kids Bike Party events
How does it work?
- Sign-up below for you and the number of people in your family or household who want to attend. A parent or guardian must register for anyone under 18 years of age and attend with them.
- Check your email to complete the necessary follow-up form.
- Once all forms are complete, you will be sent a confirmation for the class date and time you selected.
- Arrive to your class on-time. Masks dependent on CDC guidelines at the time of the class.
- Classes will be outside.
- Instructors are composed of current Gear Hub staff and Bikes for All Mainers graduates who will provide translations when possible for each class.
Informations disponibles en français
Informação disponível em português
Sign-Up
Thank you for a successful 2022 summer program season!
Registration for Bikes for All Mainers will open again in the spring of 2023
Thanks to funding and support from:
The Onion Foundation, Planet Bike, Kryptonite, J&B Distributors, the Michael T. Goulet Foundation, and individual donors.
Want to Help fund this Program?
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I get a Bike Right Now?
If you have the financial means, we hope you would consider taking a look at our refurbished bikes for sale at our retail location,155 Washington Ave. Bikes are reasonably priced and ALL of the proceeds from our bike sales go directly towards funding our programs.
My Child is Under the Age of 12, How do I get Them a Bike?
For kids ages 3-11, we will be having a 3 Kids’ Bike Parties in Summer 2022: 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. Once the class is full, we cannot take any more students.
