The Common Wheel

The Common Wheel is Lancaster County’s Community Bike Org! 

Since 2014, we have been serving people of all ages through a variety of programs to help empower folks using the energy and equity of bicycles. 

Why Give to The Common Wheel?

Your donation supports cyclists from all walks of life by funding community programs run by staff and dedicated volunteers.

• Earn-a-Bike (EAB): The backbone of our programming: For this class, trained mentors and staff teach youth ages 11-18 valuable skills through the different systems that power a bike! Students learn how to overhaul, maintain, and ride a bike safely. Our curriculum provides opportunities for students to build STEM skills and learn financial literacy as they calculate the time and effort they put into rejuvenating their bicycle. After completing the course, students keep their bicycle and are provided with a helmet, lock, light set, and t-shirt. 95% of our students participated at reduced tuition or full scholarship for this class in 2023-2024. Funding for EAB helps us ensure we can provide this opportunity for all!
  

• Bikes for All: This adult program is for individuals over the age of 18 in need of a bicycle for transportation. Working with partner agencies to identify clients, our volunteers and staff refurbish donated bicycles for low-income individuals, refugees, and formerly incarcerated persons. Along with a helmet, lock, and light set, we meet clients where their unique needs are to ensure their bicycles are ready for anything.

• Youth Bike Workshop: From February through November, every Wednesday, our co-op space is open to school-age members of the community. During this time, our staff and volunteers provide free guided repairs for youth. In addition to this, all used parts are only $1! This is our most popular program and the best way for us to keep our kids riding around safely!

• Apprenticeships: Graduates of our Earn-a-Bike program may be chosen to participate in our paid apprenticeship to hone their STEM skills, and soft skills, and build their resume while still in high school. 

• Spring Bike Fling:  Throughout the year we collect donations of children's bicycles. Volunteers refurbish these bikes for elementary-aged children in the School District of Lancaster. This single-day event comes in May each year, and has become a staple celebration for us as an organization. The Common Wheel has had the honor of giving over 1000 bikes and helmets to excited children over the past 7 years!

• Queers & Gears:  This adult program is an affinity group for the LGBTQ+ community in Lancaster. Providing safe spaces for riding, repairing, and adventuring on bicycles is a goal of our organization, and in 2024 we have built up a gear rental library and led multiple overnight camping trips to give more opportunities for folks to enjoy the world of bikepacking!

• Adult Mechanics Class:  Are you 18 or older? Are you curious about bicycle maintenance? If so, this is the class for you! AMC teaches basic bicycle maintenance to adults on a sliding scale fee! This class runs monthly at The Common Wheel and digs into roadside repairs and more complicated tasks to help our community become more self-sufficient when it comes to riding!

A huge THANK YOU to our dedicated volunteers and to our donors. We would be nothing without your support over the years! This year saw us hit our tenth year milestone, and we are looking forward to rolling into 2025 and the next ten years with the support of our wonderful community.

Who We Are

The Common Wheel has two locations in downtown Lancaster, a community bicycle center and a co-op & donation center. With programming for children and adults, we strive to transform our community through the power of bikes!