Read more about the ideals behind Neighborhood Bike Works.
Mission
Neighborhood Bike Works promotes youth development by offering educational, recreational, and career-building opportunities through bicycling. It also promotes cycling as a healthy, environment-friendly form of transportation.
Vision
NBW foresees a future in which youth are empowered by bikes. Bicycles can aid in empowering youth in many ways. Bicycles promote self-reliance and self-confidence by giving youth self-propelled independent transportation giving youth the freedom to travel locally - to school, play, and eventually work. Self confidence and self reliance are also promoted by giving youth the ability to maintain and repair their own bicycle in addition to the accomplishment of having earned a bike through their own work.
Bicycles can be used, by youths and adults alike, to cross boundaries - literally and figuratively. Cycling can enable exploration beyond one’s immediate neighborhood. Cycling also cuts across social classes, both recreational and utilitarian cycling enables people to meet others with like interests that otherwise would not be realized.
To advance this vision NBW will form partnerships and alliances with other groups, both in the youth development community and the cycling community.
History
Neighborhood Bike Works (NBW) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit educational organization registered with the Pennsylvania Dept. of State. NBW started in 1996 as Youth Cycle & Recycle, a program of The Bicycle Coalition of the Delaware Valley. The group organized as a separate nonprofit in July 1999.
NBW is a youth development organization in West Philadelphia serving neighborhood youth from 8 to 18. The group’s first location is at St. Mary’s Church on the University of Pennsylvania campus. The Haddington Neighborhood Shop at 60th and Vine Streets opened in 2002. Since 1996, NBW has offered classes on bike repair & bike safety after school, on weekends, and in the summer. By completing the classes and fixing up used bikes donated by the community, students can earn a bike for themselves with a helmet and a lock. In addition to providing a positive activity for young people, NBW introduces them to the fun, the health benefits, and the freedom that come with cycling in the city.
Graduates of the basic program continue to participate through drop-in repair sessions, by coming along on rides, by helping with other community events, and by taking advanced classes. Some become youth assistants and help with the basic classes. Many parents and teachers report that participation with Bike Works has had a positive influence on other aspects of student’s behavior.
NBW provides services to the community as a whole in the form of bike safety checks at block parties and other events, valet bike parking at events including the annual US Pro bike race and Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia meetings, and through adult programs, which include the “Bike Church” adult bike repair sessions and adult classes in bike repair and urban riding skills. Many of these community programs provide a positive way for youth to give back to the community.
NBW’s partners are too numerous to list. These include the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the School District of Philadelphia and a number of individual public and charter schools, To Our Children’s Future With Health, the Philadelphia Housing Authority, the Youth Aid Panel, and more.
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