volunteer
How to Volunteer with US
1. come by the shop
We welcome volunteers of any age, skill level, and background, and have lots of resources to help get you started! First, please drop in to a weekly Thursday Volunteer Night from 6 - 8 PM. You’ll get to see the shop, meet other volunteers in the program, and assist with a first task!
Volunteers under 16 years of age are then asked to attend shifts with a guardian or for one of our Tuesday or Thursday evening shifts 6-8 p.m. where we don’t have the same age restrictions
2. SET UP A VOLUNTEER PROFILE
Setting up a volunteer profile will help us get to know you a little better and get you plugged into the best fit based on your skillset!
3. SIGN UP FOR A SHIFT
Now that you have a profile you can sign up for any shift that matches your interests and availability. Come volunteer to make new friends, learn new skills, and make a huge difference in your community - all while having some fun doing it!
Our Biggest Volunteer Need
In Shop Volunteers!
Applications for our Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway are pouring in and we are looking for volunteers to help us build 600+ bike for the event and to help in our warehouse as we process increased bicycle donations from the community.
Referral partners are asking children under age 11 to draw a picture of their “dream bike” and we are going to invite all 600 of the referrals we receive to see those dreams brought to life on Dec. 13. There will be lots of ways to get involved with the big day and volunteer shifts for it will be posted by Nov. 1, but in the meantime we need help getting a jump on all the work that goes into getting the bikes themselves ready.
No experience is needed to get started at our shop - we are happy to orient you in the space when you arrive for your first shift as long as you sign up ahead of time using the link below in order to let us know to plan on you.
types of volunteer positions
Teen Nights (Paused for Winter)
We’re happy to teach mechanic skills to young volunteers!
From January - September we host a small volunteer night every Tuesday from 6 - 8 PM set aside for teenagers ages 13-17. Teens are still welcomed during Tuesday evenings Oct - Nov, but we expand the shifts to include other volunteers as we prepare for our year-end giveaway.
Since the shop is closed to the public during these shifts, staff will be more available to help as you take on new repairs.
Please sign up ahead of time to reserve a stand as we purposefully restrict the number of participants to 15 each week!
VOLUNTEER NIGHTS
Our most social volunteer opportunities are our weekly Volunteer Nights
This is a great shift for volunteers looking for a regular community meet-up to assist with the shop’s most pressing needs. This could look like setting up for a bike giveaway, preparing for a special event, or offering free repairs to kids in the community.
Our volunteers take on different projects every week, but since the shop is closed our staff can be more attentive. This is another great opportunity for new volunteers to get oriented in our programs and to practice new skills.
in-shop volunteer opportunities
People can volunteer in our shop during business hours in two ways.
Volunteer mechanics help refurbish bikes to give away with our programs. BBP donates ~1,600 bikes a year to adults & kids lacking transportation to school, work, etc.
Donation support volunteers assist in our warehouse as bikes are donated - helping to identify which bikes can be safely refurbished and recycling bike components from the ones that can’t be fixed. This is a good opportunity for those looking to build bike mechanic skills.
MOBILE FIX-IT REPAIRS
Volunteers and staff visit different schools, apartment complexes, or community centers every week to provide free bike repairs for kids. Most of these repairs are very simple and easy to learn on the spot- along the lines of adjusting brakes, shifting, or repairing a popped tube.
There’s almost nothing as immediately gratifying as teaching a kid how to fix their broken bike and seeing their excitement when they get to ride again!
Community Events and Membership Program
We offer a diverse range of volunteer opportunities, particularly at events we organize or participate in publicly. Whether it's tabling at breweries and beer festivals or supporting advocacy campaigns around town, we engage in a variety of events annually.
Volunteers can contribute in various ways, such as repairing bikes, distributing information about our programs, assisting with equipment transportation, setup, and more.
And, for our membership program we are always looking for volunteers to assist with administrative tasks at the shop such as mailing renewal notices and benefit coupons to BBP members.
Clean Water and Open Space levy
We are joining Yes For Boise for several door knocking events to help educate the public about the upcoming levy vote in November.
The Clean Water and Open Space Levy would collect about $10 per $100,000 of taxable assessed property value from Boise residents in 2026 and 2027 (averaging out to about $40 per homeowner both years) and would help pay for improvements to protect our waterways and pave new bike and pedestrian pathways throughout the city. Boise has passed this levy twice before, with the approved funds going to designate seminal Boise landmarks like the Polecat Trail system and much of Military Reserve and Stack Rock.
If passed this year, it can help fund 160 miles of dedicated bike path directly benefiting many of the neighborhoods our programs serve.