Community Programs
The community has supported our shop over the past eight years. We appreciate that and offer the community the following:
Community Shop Space
You can come to the shop and use the shop stands, tools and shop manuals at no charge. If you would like help from us, we will help as time allows but will charge for our time at the shop rate which is currently $40/hr. It is not necessary to call ahead, but recommended if you want to be sure space is available.
Ride to School
If you ride your bike to school, you can come into the shop and sign up for the Ride to School Club. Club benefits include:
- Free service on your bike September-June.
- Free use of our Bike to School “loaner” bicycles during the school year if you do not have a bike and can’t afford one *
- 5% discount on purchasing any new bike
- Helmets and locks may be purchased “at cost”
- Fees waived for attending any of our repair or safe riding classes (Check out the Classes tab)
In order to be an active member of the club, we expect that students will do the following:
- Use their bikes as their primary means of getting to school when the temperature is above 40 degrees, the roads/sidewalks are clear of snow/ice and it’s not raining or snowing.
*Students using loaner bikes will need to agree to a contract that basically says they are responsible for treating the bike well and will need to pay $50 if the bicycle is lost or stolen.
Ride to Work
People who commute to work by bike or otherwise use their bicycle as their primary means of transportation for shopping and errands can join our “Everyday Bicycle Club.” To join you will need to sign up at the shop. Club benefits include:
- 5% discount on the purchase of a new or used bike.
- 10% discount on labor charges
- 10% discount on parts and accessories
- All fees waived for participation in repair and safe riding classes we offer. (Check out our Classes tab)
- A healthier planet
Syrian Bikes and Freedom Machines
In 2016/2017, 100 Syrian refugees were expected to arrive in Rutland, Vermont. Johnson and Son Bikeworks began working with local volunteers and the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program to provide free bicycles for these families. Roughly 10 bicycles ended up being given away before the immigration of Syrian families was stopped.
With the Syrian bike project on hold, we started a partnership with Freedom Machines in Glens Falls, NY. Johnson and Son Bikeworks and local volunteers have given roughly 16 bikes away to Freedom machines. We also have raised over $200 for Freedom Machines that they use to buy parts at cost from us. Here’s how we do this. Somebody donated a bike to Johnson and Son Bikeworks or Freedom Machines at the shop. Johnson and Son Bikeworks “buys” the donated bike and pays Freedom Machines for it. These are bikes that are less desirable to Freedom Machines. So far this is a synergy that is working well for both organizations.