Bike School in Jamaica Plain
Every season, Bikes Not Bombs offers bike education and training programs at its Jamaica Plain Hub & Training Center, located at 284 Amory Street in Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.
Summer Bike School Applications will open on April 18th for Earn-A-Bike and Bike Institute.
Applications for our Summer 2024 programs will open on April 18th. Summer 2024 program dates are below:
Class Schedule:
- Saturdays 1:00 - 5:00 pm
Class Dates:
- July 6 - August 31, 2024
Bike Institute is a 40-hour training program for youth (14+) and adults who are interested in:
- Acquiring bike mechanics skills
- Earning their own refurbished bicycle
- Learning about bike safety, proper helmet and bike fitting
- Gaining experience working with our Youth Programs, our Bike Shop, or recycling and international shipping efforts
- Learning how to use the bicycle as a tool for social change, advocacy, and empowerment
- Becoming a Volunteer Bike School Apprentice
No experience in biking or mechanics is necessary to apply and every program graduate will ride away on their very own refurbished bicycle!
How to Apply
Apply for Bike Institute online, or you can fill out the form onsite at our bike shop. To qualify for enrollment, the application must be submitted in full and program fees paid no later than one week before the start of the program. Program fees are $50 - $100, on a sliding scale (you decide how much you can pay). If you are unable to afford the class fee, you can submit a request for a fee waiver. This will not affect whether or not you are accepted to the course.
BNB primarily serves BIPOC applicants living in Greater Boston in systematically excluded/marginalized neighborhoods, as outlined in our Strategic Plan. Additionally, Bikes Not Bombs prioritizes youth applicants between 14 and 25 years old.
If you have any questions please contact Bike School Program Manager at Jamaica Plain, Sam Becker, at samb@bikesnotbombs.org or (617) 249-3242.
Applications for Spring 2024 Bike School are closed. Stay tuned for details on Summer 2024 program dates and applications.
Class Schedule:
- Tuesdays 4:00 - 7:00 pm OR
- Thursdays 4:00 - 7:00 pm
Class Dates:
- March 26 - June 20, 2024
- * No class 4/14 - 4/20
Earn-A-Bike is a learning and earning bicycle program for youth aged 12-18. Over the course of the program, participants will completely overhaul a bicycle while learning how to safely ride and navigate the City of Boston. During mechanics lessons, participants will learn how to repair parts of the bicycle; then they’ll roll up their sleeves and do it themselves. On group bike rides, participants will learn the ins and outs of Boston’s system of bike lanes and paths, riding to and from parks, basketball courts, and local businesses.
Participants will also learn how to use the bicycle as a tool for social change, advocacy, and empowerment.
There are no lectures in Earn-A-Bike: you will learn how to rebuild a bike step-by-step. When you complete the program, you get to keep it!
How to Apply
Apply for Earn-A-Bike online, or you can fill out the form onsite at our bike shop. To qualify for enrollment, the application must be submitted in full and program fees paid no later than one week before the start of the program. Program fees are $50 - $100, on a sliding scale (you decide how much you can pay). If you are unable to afford the class fee, you can submit a request for a fee waiver. This will not affect whether or not you are accepted to the course.
There are a limited number of spots available in Earn-A-Bike. Applicants are chosen based on application date and the applicant’s availability and willingness to commit. Additionally, BNB primarily serves BIPOC applicants living in Greater Boston in systematically excluded/marginalized neighborhoods, as outlined in our Strategic Plan.
If you have any questions please contact Bike School Program Manager at Jamaica Plain, Sam Becker, at samb@bikesnotbombs.org or (617) 249-3242.
Volunteer Bike Instructor Training applications for Winter 2024 are now closed.
Volunteer Instructor Training is designed to teach adults aged 18+ the mechanical competencies to become a Volunteer Apprentice in our Bike School programs.
Participants will not only learn how to fully refurbish a bicycle, but also learn how to demonstrate different component overhauls and coach Bike School participants through their own bike refurbishments. In addition to bicycle mechanics, you will also learn and lead riding safety components of our curriculum and participate in social justice workshops. This program is free to attend, with the expectation that participants will pay it forward as Volunteer Apprentices in Bike School at BNB.
Winter 2024 Program Schedule:
- Jamaica Plain
- January 20th to March 30th (no class February 24th)
- Saturdays, 1:00pm - 5:00pm
After completion of our Volunteer Bike Instructor Training, participants will be required to volunteer at our Bike School for 40 hours, working the same number of hours as provided in the course. This translates to one class per week for one Bike School session, or every other week for two sessions. Our Bike School Classes take place at our Roxbury and Jamaica Plain Hubs. Please stay tuned for a detailed Bike School calendar with exact program dates. Our 2024 classes include:
- Bike Institute
- Saturdays, 1:00pm - 5:00 pm
- Earn-A-Bike
- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00pm - 7:00 pm
How to Apply
Apply for Volunteer Instructor Training online when applications open, or you can fill out the form onsite at our bike shop. If you have any questions please contact Senior Bike School Manager, Phil Gay, at phil@bikesnotbombs.org.