About

The Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition sponsors a bike repair and donation program for needy families and individuals. A warehouse and workshop is fully outfitted with storage, repair stands and tools for year round operation.

The Bicycle Exchange meets about once every month to repair and organize its inventory of donated bicycles. New volunteers often learn bicycle repair skills by assisting a team of more experienced volunteers.

The Bicycle Exchange donates children’s bicycles and helmets throughout the year to local charities. We also provide bicycles to homeless individuals to provide transportation from shelters to places of employment and schooling.

Tax-deductible donations of children’s bicycles are gladly accepted.

Sponsors

The Bike Exchange Program acknowledges generous corporate donations from Xerox through the Palo Alto Research Center. We are also grateful to acknowledge support from REI, the David and Lucille Packard Foundation and from individual donors.

The Bike Exchange Program thankfully receives volunteer support from the following organizations:

• Hands On Bay Area
• One Brick
• Responsible Organized Mountain Pedalers
• Team Wrong Way

The Bike Exchange is glad to have received help from the following bicycle businesses:

• Recreational Equipment, Incorporated - REI
• Cupertino Bikes
• Merry Sales Inc.
• The Packard Foundation

Volunteer

We encourage participation by volunteers of all ages and skill levels. An effort is made to team together volunteers in work that they find enjoyable. For the safety of our participants, it is the policy of the Bicycle Exchange that a parent or legal guardian must accompany volunteers under age 18. We cannot accept volunteers performing court ordered community service.

When

Our volunteer events are held from 10 AM to 2 PM on the second Saturday of each month from January to November. The volunteer work days meet at 2566 Leghorn Street, Mountain View behind BTN Automotive.

Check the Calendar for exact dates.

What to Bring

We have a few bike stands and a limited quantity of tools. It is helpful to bring a sack of goodies consisting of tools, steel wool, degreaser, lube, gloves, rags, etc. For lunch volunteers usually pitch in about $3 to order pizza, though volunteers have been known to bring drinks and other things.

Where

Our warehouse is located at 2566 Leghorn Street in Mountain View. Leghorn runs west of and parallel to HYWY 101 between San Antonio and Rengstorff. We are located in the back of BTN Automotive. Go all the way around to the rear of the building and look for the bikes!

Contact

For additional information, contact Dave Fork (650) 269-6051, [email protected].

Donate

Our program specializes in children’s bicycles. We do not accept adult size bikes unless they are in exceptionally good condition. We trade a limited number of adult bikes with local dealers in exchange for parts, or sell them at swap meets.

How to Donate a Bike

Bicycles and bicycle parts can be donated at our workshop located at 2566 Leghorn St, Mountain View, CA 94043 during our volunteer events, which are held on the 2nd Saturday of each month (except in December) between the hours of 10 AM and 2PM.

What to donate

Does your bike have more rust than paint? Are the tires rotting off the rims? Did your son run over it on his way home from driving school? It may be junk, but you can still donate it if you separate off the metal for recycling. We’ll supply tools/know-how, write a receipt, and salvage any usable parts.

Also, we are happy to accept donations of extra parts, rags, storage bins for parts, disposable gloves, lube. Parts that we are always running out of include small tubes (12.5″, 16″ and 20″) tires, all sizes, handlebar grips and tape, seats, cables and cable housing, and other "consumable" type items.

Sale

Although our program specializes in children’s bikes, we do accept adult sized bikes, some of which are available for sale to support the program. Bikes can be viewed and purchased during any of our regularly scheduled workdays at the Leghorn St. address. Prices are very reasonable, adjustments and some repairs can be made on the spot, and accessories are often available for purchase. Bicycles for sale are on a first come first serve basis.

Contact

For additional information, contact Dave Fork (650) 269-6051, [email protected].