The Mechanical Gardens Bike Co-op is an all-access bike repair education center. Founded in 2015, we fight for social justice and transportation equity by expanding fair access to bikes, repairs, tools, and mechanical education. 

Our donation-based programs put the tools for bike repair right into your hands. Come visit and we’ll guide you through how to fix, maintain, or upgrade your bike, or even build a new one. No experience necessary. And as you learn, you can volunteer to help others too. 

Over five years, we’ve developed bold and effective strategies for bike repair education, collective organizing, and social activism to combat the white supremacist capitalist patriarchy. As 2021 approaches, we’ve got an ambitious agenda for serving NYC communities. All we need is you! Join the charismatic group of bike riders, civic leaders, local partners, and financial supporters who are helping us expand bike equity farther than ever before — come stop by to work on your bike or volunteer, visit our donation page, or get in touch about programming opportunities.

Everyone deserves the chance to bike: It keeps dollars in our pockets and emissions out of the air, makes us healthier, fosters climate resiliency, and provides amazing, free urban transportation.

The Problem: countless New Yorkers can’t afford bikes or repairs, or face systemic discrimination in commercial bike shops because of their gender, age, background, or appearance. Bike lanes alone will never be enough to overcome social inequality, because fair access to biking depends on fair access to bikes, repairs, and hands-on mechanical education.

The Mechanical Gardens addresses these needs: With free, hands-on workshops in local community centers and neglected lots, using communal tools, reclaimed resources, and a strong social consciousness, we make bikes and repairs accessible to everyone who lives, works, and plays in NYC. We also invite all participants to join our our volunteer collective and take ownership over the co-op and its future.