First, I want to thank all my Ride Log Followers who gave generously last year  to Back Alley Bikes on my "Bike The Blizzard" behalf! I know there are so many worthy causes out there; Best Friends, Green Living Science, Michigan Nature Association, LCV, Freedom house, UN World Food Programme, UNHCR, National Parks Concervation Association, ... But if you can spare at least a few $$$ to Back Alley, it is a very "worthy vessel" (as William Burroughs would say.)

Help me help Back Alley Bikes to continue to be a valuable resource for Detroit's cycling community with this important annual fundraiser! For over 20 years, Back Alley Bikes' mission has been to provide cycling education and services with a focus on youth development, sustainable practices, and community access. 

During this turbulent time, they've managed to keep the doors open during the pandemic to continue to provide a safe environment with resources for Detroit's broad cycling community, like DIY Open Shop time with available used parts and educational resources. They have remained open for Volunteer time, which is the backbone of getting bikes ready to distribute to Detroit's youth! Back Alley Bikes has also been able to give dozens of bikes and helmets to housing insecure and other vulnerable community members with their Spokes for Folks partnership program.  

Help me with a donation to help Back Alley Bikes, and thank you! 

Back Alley Bikes, Detroit’s non-profit bicycle cooperative, is gearing up for our 10th annual fundraising event, Bike the Blizzard. We strongly rely on this annual fundraiser to keep our doors open, programs running, and to be the community spot the Detroit bike riders rely on!

Back Alley Bikes is a 501(c)3 non-profit community bike organization and has been promoting cycling advocacy in the Cass Corridor for over 20 years. Our mission is to provide cycling education and services with a focus on youth development, sustainable practices, and community access. Through this unprecedented year, we have worked toward this mission by offering a safe, supported environment and resources for DIY open shop space, educational programs, and volunteer training & opportunities. We’ve partnered with community groups to provide over 300 free bikes to kids throughout the city, and helped over 50 community members gain access to bikes for transportation.

This year, we are counting on our community to come out like never before to help us continue to support Detroit’s cycling community. These funds help Back Alley Bikes keep the doors open throughout the winter months and beyond, so we can continue offering support to Detroit’s cycling community in the form of getting free bikes to youth in the city, offering a safe space with resources and knowledge for DIY Open Shop, holding educational classes, and volunteer time, when community members help to build bikes for Detroit youth and Garage Sales.   

This fundraising event will occur on February 12 and 13, 2022, where people will ride bikes solo or in small groups to raise money for the co-op. Participants need not cycle in order to be involved. You can find more information about the event here.

Want to learn about our business sponsorships? Volunteer? Have questions? Send us an email. jai@backalleybikes.org

The mission of Back Alley Bikes (BAB) is to provide cycling education and services with a focus on youth development, sustainable practices, and community access. 

Our vision is a Detroit where all people who want or need bicycles can access the resources to build, maintain and repair them. 

What’s been happening at Back Alley Bikes during the year of Covid-19, and how have we been keeping to these principles? 

Once the state mandate loosened enough, BAB reopened to the community for DIY Open Shop time, Wrench Learn and Give program for adults, and Volunteer hours, all with precautionary measures to ensure the safety of the community space. Providing a safe space, with tools, resources and knowledge for folks to work on bikes has enabled the community to stay safe on the road.

After Bike the Blizzard 2022, we were able to get our Youth Earn A Bike program back up and running - where we held a 6-week course for youth to learn how to work on a bike and then leave with that bike! We also managed to get around 200 kids on bikes through our Kids Bike Giveaways! 

During DIY Open Shop time at BAB we offer stands, tools, parts, resources, guidance and a safe space for all people to work on their bikes. 

Wrench, Learn and Give is a series of 6 classes for adults, each focusing on a different part of the bike.  At the end of the class series, the bikes are looked over for safety and given to Detroit youth. 

Volunteer time at Back Alley Bikes is when kids bikes, Spokes for Folks bikes, and Garage Sale bikes are refurbished, among other activities.

Thanks to volunteers (and bike donations!), Back Alley Bikes has had 5 garage sales during summer months this year, which are great opportunities for community members to get on inexpensive, used adult bikes. All bikes for kids are free to Detroit homes. 

Next spring we are gearing up to get more Youth Earn A Bike, plus additional youth and adult classes running, and your donations are integral to making this happen.

• Lynne & Manny Varela donated $100.00 February 14, 2022
• ron barry donated $100.00 January 13, 2022
• Jeff & Pat McChristian donated $100.00 January 10, 2022
• Liz Buckner donated $50.00 February 14, 2022
• Simmer donated $50.00 February 14, 2022
• Tom and Leslee Kovalaske donated $50.00 January 17, 2022
• Chris and Beata donated $50.00 January 10, 2022
• Allison donated $30.00 February 20, 2022 ... "Thanks for sharing your ride logs! Love you!!!"
• Rachael Louie Holmes donated $25.00 February 14, 2022 ... "Yay!"
• Connie donated $25.00 January 10, 2022
• Anonymous donated $20.00 January 9, 2022
• StreetArtNomad donated $20.00 December 30, 2021 ... "Ride on!"