Neighborhood Bike Works

Established in 1999, Neighborhood Bike Works (NBW) is a nonprofit educational organization in West Philadelphia. The mission of NBW is to inspire youth and strengthen Philadelphia communities by providing equitable access to bicycling and bike repair through education, recreation, leadership and career-building opportunities.

Neighborhood Bike Works
TypeNonprofit
IndustryYouth organizations
FoundedJuly 1999
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Headquarters3939 & 3943 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Area served
University City, West Philadelphia, Mantua, Powelton Village, Belmont
Number of employees
Approx. 12
WebsiteOfficial Site

History and Locations

Formerly located at Saint Mary's Church (40th and Locust Walk), on the University of Pennsylvania campus, NBW started in 1996 as Youth Cycle & Recycle, a program of The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. It became a separate nonprofit in July 1999. NBW operated a shop in the Haddington neighborhood at 60th and Vine from 2003-2012, and a shop in North Philadelphia at 1426 W. Susquehanna Ave., near Temple University, from 2009-2015. NBW's South Philadelphia shop, called The Bikery, at 508 S. 5th St. was open from 2010-2013. In 2015, Neighborhood Bike Works moved all of its operations to its current and only location on Lancaster Avenue.[1][2]

2007 MLK Service Day
Slow bike race with Haddington on the Move, 2005.

Activities

NBW runs Earn-A-Bike classes for youth on bike repair and bike safety after school, on weekends, and in the summer. Students complete an eight-week basic bicycle repair class, fixing up used bikes donated by the community. Upon completion, they earn this bike for themselves, together with a helmet and lock. The program features mentoring and positive role models.

Many past youth participants have remained involved in the program, improving their skills while earning credits used to buy parts and accessories. Other programs for youth include summer camps, a youth cycling team that participates in cycling races, leadership development, academic support and tutoring, mountain biking training, and a yearly charity bike build.

NBW also operates a community Open Shop called "Bike Church" that offers local residents the opportunity to repair their own bikes without charge, as well as adult bicycle repair classes.

Every year since 2003, NBW has held an annual Bike Part Art Show, which allows local artists to make artwork from old bike parts or celebrating bike culture. Art is also sold in a silent auction as a fundraiser for NBW youth programs.

Achievements
  • Since 1999, over 4,000 students have earned at least 5000 bicycles.
  • In 2002, Neighborhood Bike Works received a Waste Watchers Award for its environmental stewardship from the Pennsylvanian Department of Environmental Protection.[3]
  • In 2008, Neighborhood Bike Works won a Sustainability Award from the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.[4]
  • In 2010, Neighborhood Bike Works received a Sustainability Award from Spiral Q Puppet Theater[5]
  • In 2010, Neighborhood Bike Works was named an Exemplary Social Service by the Exemplars Project of Partners for Sacred Places.[6]
  • In 2011, Neighborhood Bike Works was nominated for a Human Values Award.[7]

Media coverage
Bike ride with instructors and students at 40th and Locust, 2005.

For its unique approach to community development, Neighborhood Bike Works has garnered press coverage in The New York Times, CBS News,[8] The Philadelphia Inquirer,[9][10] Metro Philadelphia, Philadelphia City Paper,[11] The Daily Pennsylvanian, Comcast Network,[12] and a number of smaller local news sources.[13]

See also

References
  1. "Neighborhood Bike Works Makes A Big Move". Flying Kite. Issue Media Group. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  2. "Neighborhood Bike Works Announces Move to Lancaster Avenue". Generocity. Technically Media. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  3. "NBW wins PA Department of Environmental Protection Award".
  4. "Pennsylvania Environmental Council honors 7 Philadelphia Sustainability Award winners". Archived from the original on 2011-10-05.
  5. "Puppet theater honors community leaders in V-Day gala".
  6. de Forest, Ann. "Neighborhood Bike Works at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Hamilton Village" (PDF). Partners for Sacred Places. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-20.
  7. "Neighborhood Bike Works (NBW) in the news". Money Matters Today.
  8. Brotherly Love: Neighborhood Bike Works. CBS 3 News, Philadelphia. July 22, 2009.
  9. The art of cycling: A bicycle parts craft show. The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 11, 2009.
  10. Well Being: Ride of Dreams takes them far. The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 1, 2011.
  11. Biketopia: How to make Philly a cyclist's paradise. Philadelphia City Paper. June 3, 2009.
  12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3qzs5yl_tY
  13. Switching Gears: West Philly's Earn a Bike program brings kids wheels, skills and life lessons. Fourteenth Street Magazine. May 2009.

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