Who We Are

Raleigh Community Kickstand is an all-volunteer bike collective working to ensure everyone has access to safe, reliable, and self-sufficient transportation. Founded in 2017 and guided by our motto: "Fix, Teach, Give", we repair and distribute donated bikes, offer free maintenance, and teach bike repair skills. We serve people who cannot afford traditional bike services, with a primary focus on people experiencing housing insecurity. We also serve as a hub for people who want to learn how to maintain their own bike and share those skills with others in the community.

We focus on mobility justice by helping our neighbors experiencing housing insecurity reach work, food, appointments, and other essential resources. We remove transportation barriers by repairing and distributing bikes, teaching bike maintenance, and connecting community resources to bridge the "last mile". A working bike provides independence, flexibility, and dignity. As housing insecurity continues to rise in Wake County, reliable transportation has become an increasingly critical barrier. We believe everyone deserves mobility independence regardless of income, housing status, or prior mechanical experience.

What We Do

We operate primarily through pop-up repair events around the city where we provide safety checks, repairs, maintenance training, and distribute bikes at no cost. These events are hosted at parks, shelters, resource centers, and community hubs that already serve people experiencing housing insecurity. We meet people where they are and work with service organizations to repair and share bikes with people who face the greatest transportation barriers.

In addition to direct repair and bike distribution, we focus on building shared knowledge and self-sufficiency through hands-on repair education. We welcome people who want to learn how to maintain and fix their own bikes using shared tools and community shared skills. Folks can learn by coming to community shop hours to work on their own bikes, attending maintenance workshops, or volunteering at repair events and learning alongside more experienced mechanics. This approach helps people take care of their own transportation while building a broader network of neighbors who can share skills and support others.

Partners

We are fiscally sponsored by Oaks & Spokes, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which advocates for a city where biking and walking are safe, accessible, and integral to everyday life.

Our community partners include Oak City Cares, Haven House, Healing Transitions, A Place At The Table, The Great Raleigh Cleanup, Southeast Raleigh Promise, Wake County South Wilmington Street Men's Shelter, Step Up Ministry, Feed the Pack Pantry, Raleigh Rescue Mission, Housing Options for Students Today (HOST) NC, Triangle-Area Ministry Food Pantry, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, NeighborHealth, Carroll's Kitchen, Fernandez Community Center, Welcome House Raleigh, Cornerstone Center, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Raleigh United Mutual Aid Hub, Raleigh Really Really Free Market, Raleigh Food Not Bombs, and Raleigh Parks and Recreation. These partners help connect us directly with people facing transportation barriers.

We are also supported by local bike shops, cycling groups, and community organizations including Oaks & Spokes, Oak City Cycling, Oak City Cares, Durham Bike Co-Op, Carrboro Recyclery, Charlotte Recyclery, The Pedal Factory, and Triangle Free Bike Repair, who contribute tools, parts, expertise, and ongoing community support.