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.
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.
Our Story
In 2007 a group of enthusiastic cyclists, some of who worked in commercial bike shops as mechanics, saw a growing need to create a place that could be a resource for all commuters.
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.
These cyclists collected tools and parts that had been accumulating in their own homes and started The 816 Bicycle Collective in a basement shop at 31st and Troost.
In 2018 we moved our operations to our forever home, a building we purchased and rehabilitated at 31st and Cherry St.
Thanks to countless volunteer hours and generous donations we have rescued and repaired thousands of bicycles over the years.