Originally called Bicycles for Refugees, this initiative began in November 2015 when a group of refugees in Harrisonburg identified transportation as a major challenge. In 2020 we renamed the program, Bikes for Neighbors.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Just Pax Fund, we are reinvigorating our Bikes For Neighbors Program. Through their generous funding, we have big plans to expand the program, grow our impact, and connect more people with bikes for transportation.
What will Just Pax Support Allow Bikes for Neighbors to Accomplish?
- Bicycle Repair – Cover the cost of professional bicycle repair for more bikes
- Right-Sized Bikes – Purchase bicycles when we need specific sizes that are rarely donated. (Like small and extra small frames)
- Expand Capacity – With Just Pax support, the Coalition will be able to commit (new) staff time to this project to grow our volunteer base and connect with more Valley organizations and agencies serving people who could use a bicycle for transportation.
Our Vision
We envision a joyful and inclusive transportation system built on the pillars of justice & environmental sustainability. Too often, refugees, the poor, women-headed households, and others are abandoned to systems of movement that rely on high-priced vehicles, the absence of which leads to isolation and inability to access needed services, social networks, and grocery stores.
We invert that paradigm through empowering transportation and environmentally friendly mobility.
