Pedaling Towards a New Home for Freewheel

Dear Friends,

Madison Freewheel Bicycle Co is searching for a new home, and we're reaching out to our community to ask for support. For three years, we've operated the Madison Bicycle Center as a community bike shop, teaching people to build, repair, and maintain their own bicycles. However, our lease with the city-owned Bike Center ends on June 16th, and we need to find a new location.

We believe that a community bike shop is a vital part of the transportation infrastructure. We're proud of the work we've done, providing a place where the tools, parts, and know-how that allow anyone to fix and maintain their bicycle are available at a low cost, or for free to those in need. Our shop has been a lifeline for many people who rely on bicycles as their only practical means of getting to work. Typical bike shops are often too expensive and have too slow of a turnaround to accommodate daily commutes.

Since 2003, we've worked passionately to uphold our primary vision, that mobility is a basic human right. Along with providing a workspace for the community to fix their bikes, we have hosted hundreds of build-a-bike classes and workshops for thousands of students. We've sent free bikes to African nations where demand for affordable transportation is high and access is limited. We serve students and halfway house residents, as well as the homeless community. Our donation and refurbishment program prevents tons of metal and plastic from being landfilled. We believe that this work is a key part of a community committed to sustainable and equitable transportation.

Prior to the pandemic, we made an agreement with the city to operate the Madison Bicycle Center. We agreed to operate a commuter membership program that the city envisioned for the space, and to pay utilities, while the city subsidized rent. This model was the only way for our organization to be able to operate in this space, as we are a nonprofit whose mission is to increase bicycle accessibility. The arrangement seemed like an excellent opportunity to provide our services in a larger and more accessible space. Unfortunately, the Bike Center's opening in April 2020 coincided the onset of the pandemic, and a massive shift to remote work. Demand for commuter memberships was non-existent when we opened three years ago, and has not since materialized.

Without money from commuter memberships, we worked to pivot operations towards refurbishing and selling donated bikes, and providing paid repair services. We also worked to increase the number of paid classes we offer. However, the pandemic made both of these strategies challenging, as supply chain shocks made it hard to keep common parts consistently stocked, and following pandemic guidelines limited our ability to host in-person classes. At the same time, utility bills were double or triple anticipated, up to $2000/mo during the winter. Ultimately, we could not make enough money to stay afloat financially, and the city did not renew our lease. Despite all the setbacks, we are proud to have continuously provided access to low-cost and free bicycles and maintenance skills during the three years we operated the Bike Center.

Now we must blaze a new trail. We are committed to finding a new home, where Freewheel can continue making bicycles accessible and affordable to all. We deeply value our relationships with the Beacon, Attic Correctional Services, MMSD and adjacent school districts, and all members of our community who rely on Freewheel services to access and maintain a bicycle affordably. Wherever we land, we will continue to serve the community (with our passion and with our awesome tool collection). We don’t know where the road will take us, but we are determined to continue this journey together.

Over the last twenty years Freewheel has reinvented itself many times, and operated out of many locations, including a school bus. We believe that Madison is a city that deserves a community bicycle shop. Our organization is mostly run by volunteers, but providing and maintaining our services still requires resources. We need your support to pursue a new space in the coming months.

Please consider donating any amount today. With your generous support, we can keep providing access to low-cost and free bicycles and bicycle education for the Madison community we all treasure.

With gratitude and solidarity,

Madison Freewheel Bicycle Co.