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The Earn-a-Bike program is a five-to-six-week program where students ages 8-14 meet once a week for two hours a day with skilled Instructors. Students gain hands-on bike mechanic skills while learning social skills to help navigate their lives at home, in the classroom, and out in the community.
In the end each student earns a: 
ROADS ExpectationsOne of the tools Open Roads uses is Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports. This is a model of teaching students appropriate behavior. Open Roads focuses on five simple ideas:
R – Respect: Show kindness to other people in the program. O – Own your actions: If you do something great or make a mistake, own it! A – Attitude counts: Stay positive while working on your bike. D – Discipline: Finish what you start. S – Safety: Always wear a helmet! |
Interested in an Earn-a-Bike program for your class, youth group, or after school program?
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Once students graduate from Earn-a-Bike, 14-18 year-olds are eligible to apply for a paid leadership position as an Apprentice in our shop or Youth Board Member. When we give students the opportunity to influence other young people and act as leaders for this community -- the results are empowered students who feel valued and respected.
F.A.Q.
Do students have to attend all of the sessions to earn their bike?
Answer: Students need to attend all sessions in order to earn their bike at the end of the program. If your student needs to miss the first session of the program you must inform our Program Manager in advance, or that spot in the program will automatically go to a student on the waiting list. If transportation to and from sessions is a barrier to attending sessions, please contact us so we can support a solution that works for your family!
Do students need to bring anything to their Earn-a-Bike program sessions?
Answer: Students should wear or bring closed-toe shoes and will not be permitted to attend program that day if they do not have closed-toe shoes. If your student doesn't have access to closed-toe shoes please let us know at registration - we are happy to make proper accommodations. Students will receive a snack, water breaks, and all the other program supplies they might need from our staff team. Please consider dressing for the weather! We often play games and work outside, so jackets or long sleeves are encouraged October-April.
Can parents stay with their student for the program sessions?
Answer: We have a fantastic team of Instructors who are excited to work with your student! The staff to student ratio is at least 1:4, ensuring students get plenty of attention and support. We prefer parents stick with drop-off and pick-up, although we invite all parents to attend the last day of the program. If you are particularly concerned about your student's ability to thrive within a small group, please let us know and we will be happy to make accommodations that work for your child.
If you are a mechanically-inclined parent and interested in helping out all students in the program, we would be happy to have you as an official volunteer! Please contact info@openroadsbike.org if you would like to be a parent volunteer.
*If you prefer one-on-one time with your student, please consider attending our drop-in Fix bike repair clinics. Parents often attend these programs and it is much easier to accommodate parent helpers!
What if I have a student who doesn't fall into the age bracket who needs to earn a bike?
Answer: Students who don't fit in our 8-14 age bracket who need a bike should come to our shop to purchase a bike between $25 and $60. These are bikes that still need some repairs in order to be safe and functional. Once the bike is purchased, that student can come to our shop for our Thursday Fix programs between 4-6pm (during the school year) to receive guidance from our skilled bike mechanics on fixing that bike up. All replacement parts and assistance from our Instructors are free after the initial purchase of a bike. If a student cannot afford the bike fee between $25 and $60, we will have them fill out a scholarship fee waiver request in person at the shop. *Students ages 15-18 in immediate need of a bicycle for transportation purposes should contact our office at 269-365-9142.
Answer: Students need to attend all sessions in order to earn their bike at the end of the program. If your student needs to miss the first session of the program you must inform our Program Manager in advance, or that spot in the program will automatically go to a student on the waiting list. If transportation to and from sessions is a barrier to attending sessions, please contact us so we can support a solution that works for your family!
Do students need to bring anything to their Earn-a-Bike program sessions?
Answer: Students should wear or bring closed-toe shoes and will not be permitted to attend program that day if they do not have closed-toe shoes. If your student doesn't have access to closed-toe shoes please let us know at registration - we are happy to make proper accommodations. Students will receive a snack, water breaks, and all the other program supplies they might need from our staff team. Please consider dressing for the weather! We often play games and work outside, so jackets or long sleeves are encouraged October-April.
Can parents stay with their student for the program sessions?
Answer: We have a fantastic team of Instructors who are excited to work with your student! The staff to student ratio is at least 1:4, ensuring students get plenty of attention and support. We prefer parents stick with drop-off and pick-up, although we invite all parents to attend the last day of the program. If you are particularly concerned about your student's ability to thrive within a small group, please let us know and we will be happy to make accommodations that work for your child.
If you are a mechanically-inclined parent and interested in helping out all students in the program, we would be happy to have you as an official volunteer! Please contact info@openroadsbike.org if you would like to be a parent volunteer.
*If you prefer one-on-one time with your student, please consider attending our drop-in Fix bike repair clinics. Parents often attend these programs and it is much easier to accommodate parent helpers!
What if I have a student who doesn't fall into the age bracket who needs to earn a bike?
Answer: Students who don't fit in our 8-14 age bracket who need a bike should come to our shop to purchase a bike between $25 and $60. These are bikes that still need some repairs in order to be safe and functional. Once the bike is purchased, that student can come to our shop for our Thursday Fix programs between 4-6pm (during the school year) to receive guidance from our skilled bike mechanics on fixing that bike up. All replacement parts and assistance from our Instructors are free after the initial purchase of a bike. If a student cannot afford the bike fee between $25 and $60, we will have them fill out a scholarship fee waiver request in person at the shop. *Students ages 15-18 in immediate need of a bicycle for transportation purposes should contact our office at 269-365-9142.