R Community Bikes

R Community Bikes

Website	http://www.rcommunitybikes.net/
Founded	2001
Location	Rochester, New York, United States
Language	English Spanish
Services Offered	Mobile Repair Services Workshops Free Repair Services Bike Giveaway
Mission Statement	R Community Bikes is an organization in Rochester, New York, that collects and repairs used bicycles for distribution, free of charge, to Rochester, NY's most needy children and adults. Our mission is meeting the basic transportation needs of those in the community who depend on bikes for recreation as well as for transport to work, school, rehabilitation programs, and training sessions.

R Community Bikes is a grassroots, all-volunteer, 501(c)3 organization that collects and repairs used bicycles for distribution, free of charge, to the Rochester, NY area's most needy children and adults. Our mission is meeting the basic transportation needs of those in the community who depend on bikes for recreation as well as for transport to work, school, rehabilitation programs, and training sessions. For this segment of the population, both quality of life and the ability to participate in our community are greatly enhanced when our mission is achieved. R Community Bikes also provides a venue for the Rochester bicycling community to conduct educational programs relative to bicycle safety and maintenance.

We are open to the public Monday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at our warehouse at 226 Hudson Ave. (at the intersection with Woodbury Street). Bike give-aways take place only on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the warehouse beginning at 9:30 AM. In addition, we perform bike repairs, free of charge, daily at the shop, and in the summer at four off-site locations.

We welcome donations of bikes, bike parts, tools and money to cover expenses such as spare parts. We are always in need of volunteers to serve as mechanics and a variety of other positions. We provide the necessary training.

Contact Info

The address and phone number for the shop is as follows:

226 Hudson Ave
Rochester, NY
(585) 234-2008

You may send mail to:

R Community Bikes
P.O. Box 26471
Rochester, NY 14626

You may send email to rcombikes@yahoo.com.

You can also find R Community Bikes on Facebook

History

Significant Events

Spring 2001	Bill D’anza, recently retired mental health administrator and recreational cyclist, helps a person with a flat tire while volunteering at St Joe’s House of Hospitality. In the weeks to come, more bicycles in need of repair show up. Dan Lill, recently retired teacher at Rochester School for the Deaf and volunteer at St Joe’s, joins Bill in conducting bicycle repairs for those in need.
2001 to 2004	Repair clinics are held in the parking lot of the shelter with some tools and a bike stand. More volunteers gather. Used bicycles are donated to the cause for parts. Some used bicycles are rehabilitated by volunteers for clients of the shelter without transportation. Eventually, the group of volunteers partners with an organization with shop space at 226 Hudson Avenue.
2005	The partner organization leaves the space at 226 Hudson Avenue and the group of volunteers begins to rent the space directly.
2008	The group of volunteers incorporates as a 501c3 charitable non-profit organization under the name R Community Bikes, Inc.
2010	A 14’ trailer is donated to serve as a mobile repair station and transportation for collected bikes. In the summer, the trailer is used to conduct repairs at the Westside Farmers’ Market.
2011	R Community Bikes, Inc. purchases 226 Hudson Avenue and renovates it to serve their needs better as a shop and storage facility.

Awards received by R Community Bikes and its Founders

Fall 2010	Bronze award as a Bike Friendly Business from The League of American Bicyclists
2011	Certificate of Recognition for 10 years of service from the Monroe County Legislature
October 2012	Finalist for the Farash Prize for Social Entrepreneurship from the Farash Foundation
2013	Thomas Richards Peacemaker Award
June 2013	E-chievement award from the eTown radio show
April 2014	Community Health Award from Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield
August 2014	Healthy Lifestyle Award from Conkey Cruisers

Some Statistics

Year	Giveaway Bikes	Repairs	Volunteer Hours
2008	586	[1]	5295
2009	1323	[1]	7849
2010	2434	[1]	14717
2011	2662	3048	14693
2012	2703	~3300	~13600
2013	2487	3835	14245
2014	2601	3905	15552
2015	~2600	~4200	~17000
[1] Number unknown

Services Offered

Bike Giveaway	Biweekly giveaway of refurbished used bicycles at the shop to those in need who can provide a referral from a social service agency or similar organization and a lock or money for a simple lock.
Free Repair Services	Repairs are conducted at the main shop on giveaway days during the warmer months and any day during the winter. During the warmer months, repairs are also conducted, often out of a trailer, at various off-site locations, each a different day of the week. Bikes are repaired by volunteer mechanics on a first come, first served basis and with emphasis on functionality and utility.
Training Workshops and Apprenticing	Periodic Sunday training sessions are held for those interested in working on bikes, to familiarize new volunteers with a basic list of components and the shop. After training, new volunteers are placed alongside more seasoned mechanics to receive guidance from and ask questions of.
Used Bikes to Purchase	Refurbished brand name bikes for sale during shop hours, with prices starting at $100. Proceeds go to pay for shop expenses.