The EAB program is a 15-hour work-trade opportunity for anyone 16 years and older. You earn hours by volunteering to work for our community bike shop. In turn, the work you perform as a volunteer helps support our programs, special events, and activities. After performing 15 hours of volunteer work, you pick a bicycle, which we help you tune up and maintain. The bike is yours to keep when you're finished!

Who is Eligible?
We believe everyone deserves access to a bicycle. Anyone 16 or older is welcome to Earn-A-Bike at Community Cycles. Those aged 10-15 years may join our Youth Earn-A-Bike Program or be accompanied by a parent during shop hours while earning a bike. Any minor working without parental supervision must have a waiver signed by a legal guardian. You may only earn one bike.

How do I sign up?
There are two ways to sign up. Either sign up online or stop by the shop and fill out a paper application. We use an online scheduling system called Volgistics that will allow you to track your hours, schedule/cancel shifts, learn about upcoming volunteer opportunities and more. To get started with the EAB program, sign up online now, visit the main shop or call 720-565-6019. If you're already enrolled in the EAB program you can log in and manage your schedule.

How will I earn my bike? What will I do?
We have a number of different options for how you can complete your 15 volunteer hours to earn your bike. You can choose from the following options:

• Learning Bike Mechanics
• General Shop Chores - Sorting parts, painting, cleaning....
• Youth Programs
• Special Events - Fundraising, Tabling, Flyering
• Handyperson - carpentry, electrical, plumbing...
• Office Work/Retail/Customer Service
• Event Planning
• Web Development

How long does it take?
We have a high demand for EAB, and are usually booked for a week or two out and even longer for a New Volunteer shift. The 15 hours of volunteering can be accomplished in a minimum of three days, but will take longer if you choose to volunteer for shorter shifts.

You have 45 days to complete your bike once you have completed your 15 hours of volunteering. If you are planning to use the bike for an upcoming event, it is your responsibility to make sure that it is ready when you need it. We will help you, but we cannot guarantee any date for the bicycles to be ready.

Tracking your hours
You must check in and out with the greeter at the main desk to log your hours. It is ALWAYS your responsibility to keep track of your own hours by signing in on our daily schedule. Any time you're working outside of the main shop, please be sure to sign in and out with the staff member on duty.

Your hours expire after a six-month period of inactivity, but you can begin the program again if your hours expire.

Your first shift - New Volunteer

Your first shift includes an orientation of the main shop. You may sign up for North Storage or Naropa shifts without having to sign up for this shift first. It is also not required for special event shifts.

• Please arrive on time for your first shift.
• Sign in with the greeter and wear an earn-a-bike button.
• A volunteer will give you a brief shop tour and orientation to the program.
• Please wear closed-toed shoes and old clothing.

Attendance Policy:
We have a limited number of spaces available in our earn-a-bike program. Consequently, we have a strict policy against habitual tardiness or absences.

Volunteers who miss shifts and do not call in more than once will not be allowed to restart the program for a year.

Volunteers who habitually call in for missed shifts without 24 hours notice will also not be allowed to restart the program for a year.

You can remove yourself from a scheduled shift by logging into the Volunteer Information Center, clicking on the "My Schedule" tab, and clicking on the "Remove Me" button next to the shift that you would like to cancel.

If you show up more than fifteen minutes late for a shift, you will lose your shift and be required to reschedule. It is your responsibility to get directions beforehand and arrive on time.

Picking a bike
We have many high-quality and brand name bikes available and our inventory is always changing. Although you may not get the exact bike you were hoping for, you will get a high-quality, functional bike. We have a limited number of road bikes available, so we cannot guarantee you a road bike. Ultimately, the perfect bike for you is the one you enjoy riding. Most bikes in the shop are available for the Earn-A-Bike program. You may pick any bike that

• Fits you correctly.
• Has a pink and a pink tag only.

When you have picked your bike, get it approved by a facilitator to ensure that it is the right fit for you and that it has no flaws that would make it unsuitable or unusable. Then, get a yellow tag from the greeter and fill it out completely. Store your bike in the loft until it is ready to go home with you. We are not responsible for bikes that are incorrectly stored or tagged and they may be recirculated into the group of bikes for others to choose.

Working on your bike
Once you pick your bike, we will help you tune it up and outfit it.

• You have 45 days to complete your bike.
• You may ONLY work on your bike at the main shop during open hours.
• You may NOT work on your bike on Thursdays.
• Your bike MUST pass a safety inspection before you can take it home.
• When you have completed your bike, please check in at the front desk.

Completing the program
Once you have finished working on your bike, you will need to do the following:

• Get a safety check on your bike by a skilled shop mechanic.
• Fill out an Earn-A-Bike Graduate Form at the front desk.
• Get your picture taken with your bike.
• Receive earned accessories: a seat pouch with tire levers, a patch kit, and a bike map of Boulder. You may also have a cable lock.
• Consider making a donation and/or purchasing a membership to our shop.
• You are welcome to continue volunteering or become a facilitator -- a high-level volunteer.

How much does it cost? Is it FREE?
With more than 200 people going through the program every year, the costs quickly add up. It costs Community Cycles about $250 per participant. We ask you to give what you're comfortable with and able to donate. We appreciate donations in any amount.

Anything you can contribute financially to offset our costs enables us to offer this unique program to as many people as possible.

If you would like to make a financial contribution to the EAB program, you can do so at the main shop or online