Volunteer opportunities
Are you interested in helping us spread the joy of biking, walking, and rolling?
Bike Walk Tompkins is a largely volunteer based organization that relies on community members to further our mission of educating and making active transportation accessible for all. Volunteers help us provide services at our community bike shop and our learn-to-ride programs.
How IT WORKS
You can find registration for volunteer orientations below. Feel free to email hello@bikewalktompkins.org with questions about upcoming orientations. Once you’ve completed training, you can sign up for a shift(s) by following the link to the schedule.
EXPECTATIONS
We thank all our volunteers for their generosity and understand that other commitments exist day-to-day. However, if you sign up for a shift, we expect you to be present unless otherwise communicated. Thank you for your cooperation and teamwork!
Upcoming and ongoing volunteer roles
Bike Skills Education
Bike Walk Tompkins is growing our volunteer bike education team! Join an upcoming training to learn how you can work alongside our staff to help youth and adults build confidence riding a bike, instruct learn-to-ride classes, and assist with intermediate group rides.
It’s a rewarding way to share your skills while helping create a safer, more connected biking community.
BIG UPCOMING EVENTS!
Big Upcoming Events require a lot of hands to make them happen! These events are usually outside and weather dependent. If the event gets cancelled or delayed, we will communicate that with you beforehand. Training will be provided on-site unless otherwise noted.
Halloween Lighted Bike Rides
October 29th & October 31st
Meet up near Hickey’s Music in Downtown Ithaca
Ride begins @ 6:30pm
Theme: Mythical Creatures
bikewalktompkins.org/lighted-rides
COMMUNITY BIKE SHOP
Some of these roles may require Orientation. Please note that after orientation, your first shift will be a training session (if applicable). Our shop is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Front Desk/Shop Assistant
No experience required, but you should be comfortable interacting with people face-to-face. The Front Desk/Shop Assistant is responsible for greeting customers, determining what their needs are, and directing them to the right place. Familiarity with bicycles is great but not necessary. This position also handles transactions and sales during Open Shop hours. This position will also engage in Shop organizational tasks as designated by the Shop Manager. Orientation/Training is required. Click to see the Schedule.
Shop Maintenance (Beginner)
No experience required. Volunteers will assist the Shop Manager with a variety of tasks including organizing/sorting parts, maintaining the workbenches, updating the bike inventory, bike breakdowns and moving bikes. Training will be provided on-site. This is the place to start if you want to start or continue your bicycle mechanic skills journey. Click to see the Schedule.
Open Shop Mechanic (Advanced)
Volunteers are responsible for assisting customers with bike repairs and maintenance. Individuals should have experience and a good understanding of bike mechanics. Individuals should also be comfortable interacting with people face-to-face and giving instruction. Additional training and resources are provided. Orientation/Training is required. Your first shift is a training session. Click to see the Schedule.
Shift (FTWN-B) Open Shop Mechanic (Intermediate)
The Shift Program is created for and by femme, women, trans, and non-binary community members to learn and wrench. Volunteers are responsible for assisting customers with bike repairs and maintenance. Individuals should have some understanding of bike mechanics. Individuals should also be comfortable interacting with people face-to-face and relate to the FTWN-B community. Orientation/Training is required. Your first shift is a training session. Click to see the Schedule.
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS
Poster Distributor (Beginner)
Help get the word out! Resources provided. Email hello@bikewalktompkins.org to get started.
PERKS AND BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING
The more you get involved with Bike Walk Tompkins, the more ways we have to say thank you! (Engagement is tracked in terms of hours volunteered. This is done when you sign in at the community bike shop computer or schedule online)
All volunteers are eligible for a 15% Greenstar Discount! Please see their website for more information regarding time logging and orientation on their end.
Regular volunteers that commit at least 10 hours per season are eligible for a 15% discount in the shop. Regular volunteers will also receive a BWT shirt and name tag.