Our Mission
- To gather and repair bicycles that would otherwise be disposed of, disregarded or destroyed.
- To distribute these bicycles to those who need them in exchange for donated time, resources or revenue – dependent on each individuals’ circumstance and means.
- To increase the amount of people who ride bikes and time spent riding.
- To educate the various communities in Kansas City about bicycles: including mechanics, maintenance, safety, and potential solutions to related social and environmental issues.
- To empower individuals by providing the education, materials and skills that facilitate self-reliant transportation.
- To foster a sense of respect and community among participants that will extend to the greater Kansas City communities.
- As a collective, we will never exclude or deny any individual or group based on race, class, gender, sexuality, age, religion, ability, or any other aspect of their identity in word or deed.
The 816 Bicycle Collective is a 501c3 non-profit advocacy organization umbrellaed under The Greater Kansas City Bicycle Federation.
We are a collective of individuals from diverse backgrounds working on a volunteer basis to rescue & repair bicycles.
We believe in empowerment through education and support the use of bicycles as a healthy & ecological means of transportation.
A Little Background on the 816
In 2007 a group of friends whose interests converged on cycling sought to address the gap between those who need bikes as a means of transportation and the bikes they need.
Low-income commuters who rely on their bicycle as their main source of transportation needed a place where they could have access to tools. And a place where they could learn how to do some of the regular maintenance needed to stay on the road.
Between cold-posting on Craigslist and asking shops and other cyclists, we were able to build up a store of tools and parts in our basements, living rooms and, yes, our own bedrooms. In early 2008 the 816 Bicycle Collective opened in a basement shop at 31st and Troost.
While we had hopes and dreams for this project, the 816's longstanding success could not have been imagined in those early days. But fast forward to 2018 when we moved our operations to our forever home, a building we purchased and rehabilitated at 31st and Cherry St. This is where you can always find us.
Thanks to countless volunteer hours and generous donations, we have rescued and repaired thousands of bicycles in the last 19 years, and we intend to keep doing it.