Youth Programs
Throughout the year we offer a youth education program in which participants take part in a series of classes where they learn basic bicycle repair and maintenance, environmental awareness, and a recycling ethic while fixing up a bike of their own to keep. To date we have worked with youth in Point Breeze, where Free Ride is located, and with many schools and community organizations all over the city. If you work with such a group and would like to work with Free Ride to set up a kid’s Earn-a-Bike session for your group – or to find out more about how to sign up kids for Earn-a-Bike, please call, email, or stop in during open hours. click here for more info
Youth Scholarship Fund
You can directly aid our youth programs by contributing to our Youth Scholarship Fund. We are constantly brainstorming innovative cycling-related projects that we can do with youth all over Pittsburgh. A $100 donation fully sponsors a youth’s participation in one of our summer programs. Through these 6-8 week intensive bike mechanics programs, we emphasize how things work through basic bike mechanics. Our Bike mechanics classes are also infused with an emphasis on environmental awareness and reusability. By the end of the program, our kids leave with a bike, a helmet, a lock, and the self confidence that if it’s broken, they can FIX IT! This scholarship allows us to promote free programs for organizations that are unable to pay or are in need of reduced cost programming.
Please Click Here to make a tax deductible donation.
Youth Internship
We offer an intensive 40-60 hour youth training program designed to give kids the basic skills to be bike mechanics.
City Kids Rides
We organize group rides with youth. Ride safety, environmental awareness and physical fitness are all important components of this program aimed to show youth how to safely access the city through bicycle transport and show what the city has to offer. Destinations include local community organizations, community gardens, museums, parks and other nearby venues.
Ride Safety Classes
We offer classes to youth groups on how to safely ride in traffic, how to fit a bike and helmet along with basic maintenance tips. We offer affordable helmets as part of the class.
Bike Recycling 101
A class that reveals the mechanics behind how bikes are put together – by taking one apart. Learn how Free Ride applies the 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) in its daily operations.