Provo Bicycle Collective

What’s Up with the Provo Bicycle Collective? Earn-a-Bike Program, Detention Center Course, Mechanics 101, and More

12472571_1339618106051984_5848250406367197860_n

by Heather Skabelund

The Provo Bicycle Collective is aiming to teach bicycle mechanics and maintenance to as many people in our County as possible. Their efforts have expanded in the last year and now include three main education programs.

Bicycle Mechanics 101 is an ongoing class on Tuesday nights at 7PM. Each class lasts 30 minutes and consists of a lecture and demonstration on a specific maintenance skill. Those attending are welcome to stay after to work on their bike or volunteer at the shop.

Earn-A-Bike is bike mechanics course offered for free to anyone ages 6-18. The classes are once a week for 10 weeks. Participants learn self-sufficiency skills including how to change a tire, to adjusting brakes, to taking apart a hub. Adam Khalilullah teaches 10-15 students each week and says, “I get to come here and work with kids after going to [BYU] all day. It’s the best part of my week.” Those who graduate, earn their own bike to take home with them and have skills they’ll keep forever.

At the Slate Canyon Detention Center, three staff members from the Collective teach a 12 week intensive bike mechanics course. The teens that participate receive a free bike voucher when they are released. Austin Taylor, the director of the Provo Collective, is often told that it’s a favorite class: “it’s a good outlet for them to be able to pick up tools and work out things with their hands.”

Learn more about the Provo Bicycle Collective by following their Facebook page here.

Share this post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *