THE RECYCLERY COLLECTIVE

Join us every first Monday of the month 7pm-9pm for Spanish Open Shop. Our bilingual volunteers help the Spanish-speaking community to work on their bikes. New and used parts are available for purchase. $10/hour donation suggested.

Youth Open Shop, Monday afternoons 4pm-6pm, is for young people ages 11-25 to fix their own bikes and help us recycle donated bikes while learning bicycle repair. As they build their mechanics skills, participants may begin to assist other youth who come to the shop. Youth may earn themselves a bike or earn credit toward used bike parts and accessories. Please contact us for a parent permission slip if you’d like your child to participate: [email protected].

Every 4th Sunday 6pm-9pm The Recyclery runs W.T.F. Night in collaboration with Women Bike Chicago. The program is run by w.t.f. mechanics from Women Bike Chicago and The Recyclery. W.T.F. Night is for people who identify as women, trans, or femme. Participants learn new skills, get practical help with their own bikes, and contribute to our Freecyclery program. W.T.F. Night is a time for leaders and participants alike to share knowledge and skills with other community members. Check out the Women Bike Chicago website to find information about other programs dedicated to people who are women, trans, or femme.

By connecting with social services organizations in our area, we donate bicycles to those in need. Donated bikes, locks, and helmets provide self-sufficiency and practical transportation to refugees, people experiencing homelessness, and low-income families. We rely on volunteers to fix these bikes during Volunteer Hours and Open Shop times. Volunteer Hours are Tuesday noon-5pm and Friday 5-8pm. Freecyclery candidates apply for a bike through their social worker at these partner organizations:

Apna Ghar
Chicago House
Connections for the Homeless
Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago
Expanding Lives
Franciscan Outreach Association
Goldie’s Place
Heartland Alliance
Housing Opportunities for Women
Howard Area Community Center
Inspiration Corporation
LIFT Chicago
Refugee One
Thresholds
Youth Organization Umbrella

“Lack of transportation is a major barrier in both treatment and community integration of individuals with psychiatric disabilities. For many, their bike is their most valuable possession, serving as reliable transportation to work, school, or necessary medical appointments.”
-Brent Peterson, Director of Development
Thresholds

“I work but did not have enough money to pay for my rent, groceries, and other items I need plus bus fare. Having a bike made it easier to make my money last and not worry about calling off work.”
-Client
Connections for the Homeless

Partnering with local youth organizations, participants learn about safe commuting skills while on group rides and maintenance skills in our shop.

Older youth learn advanced mechanics and work ethics through our internships. We collaborate with local youth organizations to connect with potential interns. Placements are flexible based on the skills and interest of the youth.

We teach bicycle maintenance through our introductory Tune-Up class and our more advanced Overhaul Class. These classes are for adults.

Pay for a class below to sign up! Email us if you cannot afford the full amount. You may also pay at our shop, but you are not registered until we receive payment. If less than four people register for a class, we will cancel and return payment. Otherwise, there are no refunds for registration fees.

Bring your own bike to the class. We do not have storage, but we try to make sure it’s ridable by the end of each session. Geared bicycles are recommended over single speeds or fixed gears. We will provide hand-outs to help with learning. We’ll also provide new cables and housing for the overhaul class.

We sell used bicycles at our shop every Saturday morning 10 am – noon. We will have additional sale hours Wednesday evenings 6-8pm April – September. We offer a variety of bicycle styles and prices. All bikes are repaired by a Recyclery mechanic and sold as is. We also sell locks, helmets, lights, and other accessories. (Used parts are only available during Open Shop.) Most adult bikes cost between $150 – $300. We accept cash, check, and most major cards. Your purchase keeps a used bike running and funds our educational programs.

We DO NOT purchase bikes or make trades. We do appreciate and rely on your donations as support for our educational and charitable mission!