All rates are negotiable and no one will be denied reasonable service for lack of funds. Volunteer exchanges can also be arranged for membership. Membership entitles you to full use of shop space and a professional set of tools with the assistance of a mechanic during open hours.
-Suggested drop-in rate: $5.00 per hour (no membership required)
-Month membership: $20.00
-Year membership: $50.00
-Lifetime membership: $100.00
If you are interested in getting involved with the core collective of the Bike Church, a committed volunteership is the way to go. We have a bi-monthly volunteer orientation (First and third Monday evenning at 7:15pm, right before our collective meeting) that we ask all potential volunteers to attend before beginning to help patrons. If you'd like to volunteer before attending an orientation, it is a great idea to spend time in the shop organizing parts and tools to become more familiar with the space.
Many skills are required of our core mechanics, and sometimes mechanical knowledge is the least of it: Patience with our patrons and potentially frustrating mechanical problems, an awareness of your own limits as a mechanic, developed listening and communication skills, a willingness to learn and a desire to teach are all assets at the Church. Talk with mechanics and clerks about what skills and knowledge you would like to gain as you work toward becoming a core member and running a shift. You may also express your interest to the meeting if you need guidance or assistance.
When you feel that you understand the collective structure and feel ready to be trusted with keys and potentially your own shift, find a mechanic willing to sponsor your nomination. With support from your sponsor, we request that you write a letter of intent to the meeting. At the following meeting, the group will discuss the nomination and make a decision. To create an atmosphere where all core members can express their concerns clearly and freely, we request that the applicants
not be present for the decision making process. (It's really not so intimidating as it sounds.)
Click here to meet some of our friendly core mechanics.
In addition to our no-one turned-away-for-lack-of-funds policy, the Bicycle Church allows individuals who need a bike but aren't able to pay to either apply for a free bike or to volunteer in exchange for up to $50 credit towards a used bike and used parts at $10 an hour. This is possible no more than once a year. The bicycles available for free require additional labor and a safety check from the mechanic on duty. This work is to be done by the recipient of the bicycle, helped and supervised by a bike church volunteer.
People may also come in and arrange with the mechanic a work-trade for shop use/assistance, necessary used parts, and occasionally a new tube. Chores are available that require no specialized knowledge. This is a privilege and not a right of our patrons, and whether or not to offer it is up to the mechanic on duty.
