For a lot of people, a bike is a childhood memory. That first taste of freedom, wobbly and exhilarating. But for plenty of others, a bike is something more practical than that: a way to get to work, to class, to the grocery store. That distinction is what drives Bikes for Kids Wisconsin, an organization based at 354 Coyier Lane in Madison that has grown well past what it set out to be.
Founded in 2017, it started simple: a seasonal bike giveaway. What it's become is something closer to an essential community resource. Executive Director Kristie GoForth walked us through how that happened. The real turning point, she says, was 2020. When the pandemic shut down schools and public transit, the organization stepped in, distributing more than 1,100 bikes to workers and community members who needed a way to get around. From there, the reach expanded statewide, and in 2023 the organization reintroduced itself as Bikes for Kids Wisconsin, an independent nonprofit built around one clear idea: affordable, accessible transportation for the people who need it most.
Shifting Gears to a New Mission
Bikes for Kids has gone through a significant change since starting in 2017. It originally launched as Free Bikes 4 Kidz Madison, a chapter of a national organization focused on a single winter bike giveaway each year.
Once the pandemic hit, schools and public transportation shut down, as a result, the organization made a call. They pivoted to serve essential workers, many were frontline healthcare workers, who still needed a way to get to work. "That was the moment our mission really changed," Kristie explained. "We went from making kids smile to serving people in need of transportation."
They expanded from Madison into Dane County, then across Southern Wisconsin, and eventually statewide. In December 2023, they officially became Bikes for Kids Wisconsin, an independent nonprofit. The whole operation ran, with only two people on staff, Kristie and Harvey, the shop manager who doubled as a mechanic and volunteer coordinator. Today their team includes two mechanics, communications coordinator, and executive director.
Power Behind Every Pedal
Running Bikes for Kids Wisconsin means wearing many helmets: nonprofit work and skilled, labor-intensive trade. Each year, the team repairs more than 2,000 donated bikes, carefully restoring each one to safe, rideable condition before it goes out the door. That numbers behind that effort are hard to ignore: more than 15,500 bicycles distributed to date, representing over $3.5 million in parts and labor. For the people receiving them, these aren’t just bikes. They’re how people get to work, school, to the store.
Even with donated inventory, getting a bike road-ready runs about $150 in parts and labor. That work requires skilled mechanics in a trade that's facing a shortage. But the return is there. Better school attendance. More mobility for families. Kids who gain confidence and independence that sticks with them long after the ride home.
Empowering Communities on Two Wheels
Every program Bikes for Kids Wisconsin runs traces back to something the community has asked for.
The most popular Bike Giveaway Program continues to provide refurbished bicycles to individuals and families in need. The Youth Bike Mechanics Program takes things further, bringing middle schoolers in to fully rebuild bikes from scratch, giving them hands-on STEM skills and a practical foundation that goes well beyond the shop. More than 50 students have graduated so far, leaving not just with a bike, but with a toolkit and the skills to use it.
Other programs are about what happens after someone has a bike. Guided Rides teach young riders how to navigate their communities safely, building independence that stretches past their own block. And the newest additional, Meals on 2 Wheels, is rethinking what bikes can accomplish, using cargo bikes to deliver around 40 pounds of groceries to homebound individuals.
Together, these programs reflect something bigger than a single giveaway. A bike isn’t just a one-time fix. It's a way to stay connected, stay mobile, and build a community.
The Road to What's Next
None of this runs without volunteers. Washing bikes, prepping repairs, delivering groceries through Meals on 2 Wheels — there's a place for almost anyone to pitch in. Kristie puts it plainly: "If you can dust your home, there's a space for you here." With flexible opportunities and a particularly active winter season, volunteers don’t just support the mission but become part of it.
The Meals on 2 Wheels Rollout is on Tuesday, June 2nd at 10:00 a.m. at their Madison location, spotlighting how bikes can help expand food access while bringing people together.
Looking ahead, Bikes for Kids Wisconsin has its sights on a permanent home. Their current warehouse space is temporary, and the vision is to create a dedicated bicycle community center, part repair shop, part retail space, part giveaway hub. all designed to serve those who need it most. Think of it as a transporting food pantry, a place where getting a bike is as essential and approachable as visiting a food pantry. As Bikes for Kids Wisconsin continues to grow, so does its belief that something as simple as a bicycle can change lives.
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