Volunteer

The Bike Kitchen is a DIY community education bike shop located on the corner of Pacific Street and Morro Street. The Bike Kitchen accepts the donation of used bicycles that are refurbished by staff and volunteers and sold to customers. More than 2000 visitors use the bike shop facilities on an annual basis to repair their own bikes. Used bike parts and accessories are sold to customers.

Bike Kitchen volunteers break down barriers to bicycle maintenance! Our goal is to greet everyone with a positive and friendly outlook to make them feel welcome.

Bike Valet services are provided at SLO Farmer’s Market, Concerts in the Plaza, and other community events throughout SLO County. Since 2006, more than 54,000 bikes have been parked. Bike Valet services are contracted through our website.

Bike Valet volunteers have the opportunity to act as ambassadors for our organization! We greet every user of the Bike Valet with a positive and friendly outlook to make them feel welcome.

Cycling Without Age (CWA) volunteers take homebound seniors on trishaw rides to reduce social isolation and promote community engagement. Passengers get to feel the wind in their hair again! CWA is starting in San Luis Obispo, and for now is only available within SLO city limits, with future expansion into neighboring cities. 

CWA volunteers are trained to work with older adults and senior facilities, how to ride and generally maintain trishaws, and educated on safe ride routes. All CWA volunteers will be background checked, per senior facility preference. 

Volunteers will pick up trishaws at BSLOC’s warehouse facility, ride to a home or facility to pick up 1-2 passengers, and do a 30-60 minute ride around town. CWA volunteers can expect to get light exercise (the trishaws are electric pedal-assist), share stories, take in scenery, and promote joy. 

Cycling Without Age duties include, but are not limited to:

• Coordinating rides with passengers or caregivers, according to scheduling needs
• Piloting trishaws throughout town at slow speeds (12 mph and slower)
• General trishaw maintenance (safety checks, tire pressure, battery charge, accessory storage)
• Getting e-waivers and necessary documentation completed for passengers
• Assisting caregivers or facility staff in safely loading and unloading passengers
• Engaging with passengers while on rides 
• Setting a good example of cycling safety in the community

Kidical Mass helps kids learn about safety with their parents, and then take a fun and safe ride from Mitchell Park to the ‘Bill Roalman’ Neighborhood Greenway (aka Morro Street) to the Bike Plaza (at the corner of Morro St and Monterey St) where the Bike Valet is set up. All rides begin at Mitchell Park and end at the Bike Valet/Bike Plaza.  Check out Kidical Mass for upcoming dates and themes.

Kidical Mass duties include, but are not limited to:

• Have families sign waivers in the park before we ride
• Hold our safety signs at select intersections to ‘cork’ traffic as our group of families rides across together
• Ride with the group to set a good example (following all laws of the road)
• Leadership Opportunities:
  • Leading the group from the park to the Bill Roalman Greenway

Thanks for your help, we couldn’t do it without you! 

Ready to volunteer? Fill out our Volunteer Interest Form!

We host numerous events throughout the year and are always looking for volunteers to help out with various tasks, including:

• Greeting attendees of our annual “Bikes & Beauty” Bike Fashion Show Party
• Selling tickets
• Set-up and tear-down
• Lend your skills to help build/create backdrops for our events
• Photograph our events
• …and more! Reach out if you have an additional skill you would like to share for our events!

Thanks for your help, we couldn’t do it without you! 

Ready to volunteer? Fill out our Volunteer Interest Form!

Super Star Volunteers  |  Volunteer three times a month on an ongoing basis and aside from our love you’ll receive:

• • • An “I Bike SLO County ” Volunteer shirt
    • A personalized Bike SLO County name tag
    • A hefty discount on new and used parts for your bike! Looking for a sweet new seat or a pair of panniers? Become a Super Start Volunteer and save money while spiffing up you’re two wheeled friend!

Volunteer Only Night in the Bike Kitchen |  1st & 2nd Saturdays of the month  5:00 – 7:00 pm

• • • ALL Bike SLO County volunteers are welcome to join us as we open the Bike Kitchen just for you! These monthly work nights are a great chance to use the space for your own projects during off hours. Other volunteers and our Bike Kitchen manager are there to help share their expertise.

Bike Valet Volunteers (at Thursday Night Farmer’s Market)

• • • Receive a $5 Louisa’s Place Gift Certificate! Valid for food at the Louisa’s Place booth nearby – a perfect chance to grab dinner while parking bikes.

Volunteer Appreciation Events  |  3 times a year

• • • We provide dinner for our volunteers at our appreciation events 3 times a year, it’s just one way of thanking you for your incredible support! It’s a great way to meet other volunteers and swap stories with one another.

Barry Lewis Volunteer of the Year Award  |  Given each October

• • Each year we give a fantastic, custom trophy to the rockstar volunteer of the year at our Annual Red Davis Celebration! Previous award recipients include:
    • 2015 – Gary Havas
    • 2014 – Steve Yamaichi
    • 2013 – Jessica Berry
    • 2012 – Jim Pitton
    • 2011 – Vanessa Amerson

Ready to volunteer? Fill out our Volunteer Interest Form!