Back Alley Bikes, Detroit’s non-profit bicycle cooperative, is gearing up for our 13th annual fundraising event, Bike the Blizzard. We rely on this annual fundraiser to keep our doors open, programs running, and to be the community spot the Detroit bike riders rely on!

Back Alley Bikes is a 501(c)3 non-profit community bike organization and has been promoting cycling advocacy in the Cass Corridor for over 20 years. Our mission is to provide cycling education and services with a focus on youth development, sustainable practices, and community access. We have worked toward this mission by offering a safe, supported environment and resources for DIY open shop space, educational programs, and volunteer training & opportunities. We donate hundreds of kids and adult bikes every year to people in need and we help repair hundreds more.

This year, we are counting on our community to come out like never before to help us continue to support Detroit’s cycling community. These funds help Back Alley Bikes keep the doors open throughout the winter months and beyond, so we can continue offering support to Detroit’s cycling community in the form of getting free bikes to youth in the city, offering a safe space with resources and knowledge for DIY Open Shop, holding educational classes, and volunteer time, when community members help to build bikes for donation to Detroit youth and others and for Garage Sales. 

This fundraising event will occur on February 22th and 23th 2025, where people will ride bikes solo or in small groups to raise money for the nonprofit. Participants need not cycle in order to be involved. You can find more information about the event here.

Want to learn about our business sponsorships? Volunteer? Have questions? Send us an email! [email protected]

The mission of Back Alley Bikes (BAB) is to provide cycling education and services with a focus on youth development, sustainable practices, and community access. 

Our vision is a Detroit where all people who want or need bicycles can access the resources to build, maintain, and repair them. We provide a safe space for folks to work on bikes, with tools, resources and guidance to help the community to stay safe on the road.

During DIY Open Shop time at BAB we offer stands, tools, parts, resources, guidance and a safe space for all people to work on their bikes. 

Wrench, Learn and Give is a series of classes for adults, each focusing on a different part of the bike.  At the end of the class series, the bikes are looked over for safety and given to Detroit youth. 

During Volunteer Night at Back Alley Bikes we train volunteers to repair and refurbish kids and adult bikes for donation or sale through semiannual Garage Sales.

Thanks to volunteers (and bike donations!), Back Alley Bikes has been able to provide many great opportunities for community members to get on bikes for low to zero cost. And all bikes for kids are free to Detroit homes!

Your donations are integral to making all this happen. Thank you for your support!