Hello, bike friends!
As part of our year-end reflection in 2023, we set three goals: (1) to expand our education offerings, (2) to (continue to) build a diverse cycling community, and (3) to support local sustainability efforts.
As tempting as it is to come up with big new ambitious goals each year to get folks excited about our work, the goals we set were not ones that you simply check off a list at the end of the year and say “We’re done!” They were and remain ambitious, requiring sustained effort over months and years. So, we’ll take this opportunity to share our progress and invite your help to keep these efforts going.
Goal #1: Expand our Education Offerings
Interest in our educational offerings continues to grow, and we again saw record numbers of applications for our 6-week maintenance course. Here’s how we’re working to provide bike education to the community:
We hired a part-time Education and Operations Coordinator (EOC) who coordinated several education offerings and led the administration of our fall maintenance course.
With the help of our EOC, we overhauled our 6-week maintenance course syllabus and experimented with new class sizes and formats.
We offered a new three-hour maintenance workshop format in partnership with the AADL, with plans to repeat this offering in spring 2025 and expand the model with other partners.
“Common Cycle is an amazing, wonderful space of solidarity and community. The work they do is empowering to the people of Ann Arbor and I have learned so much from their ethos and approach to biking and bike maintenance.” – Nandini, 2024 Maintenance Course Attendee
Goal #2: Build a Diverse Cycling Community
We’re committed to helping more and different people move around the world on more and different bikes, and we see education, empowerment, and community as the way to accomplish this. Here is how we’re working to build a diverse cycling community:
Our Femme/Trans/ Women/Non-Binary (FTW) group had a standout year in its mission to advance the mechanical skills of individuals from underrepresented genders.
Supported a multi-week workshop for high-school students in Ypsilanti.
Provided financial support to Luki Bike Adventures, a great new Detroit-based bike non-profit.
“Bikes have been a tool for women’s liberation for over 100 years, and the Common Cycle FTW group proudly carries on this tradition! Whether it’s riding around town to visit our favorite trees, fixing up donated bikes, or sharing a meal around a campfire on a bike-packing trip, this group of women and non-binary folks is funny, welcoming, and excited to learn.” – Katie Waddle, FTW Ride Leader, Amateur Bike Mechanic, and Official Hype Woman
Goal #3: Support Local Sustainability Efforts
Over the past year, we have deepened and expanded ties to community-based sustainability efforts, and we expect these ties to continue to grow. Here’s what we’re doing to support sustainability efforts locally:
We refurbished and distributed over 500 bicycles to community members who need a bike but cannot afford one through a network of non-profit partners.
We partnered with Recycle Ann Arbor’s Boost Reuse program to help divert over 300 bikes from the landfill.
We continued to participate in City-wide sustainability efforts as an A2Zero Collaborator.
“Partnering with Common Cycle for our community reuse drive program, Boost Reuse, was a great experience! It was inspiring to see strong community participation in the program. We collected so many bikes that Common Cycle was able to repair and give back to the community as functional bikes for new users. That’s an incredible feeling, and reusing items like this has incredible environmental benefits! We couldn’t have achieved this without Common Cycle’s dedication.” – Megan Lunsford, Recycle Ann Arbor
So what is our goal this year? To keep up the momentum on all fronts. We’re proud of what we’ve done so far, but there’s more work to do. Let’s do it together, shall we?
As a mission-driven and volunteer-run organization, we rely on donations to support our impact.
You can contribute to our year-end fundraiser. We’re grateful for your support.
Interest in giving your time? Learn more about volunteering by filling out our Volunteer Interest Form.
Ride well, and have fun doing it.
Nate Phipps,
Board President, 2021-2024