Organization

Front Yard Bikes

Baton rouge, LA
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Mission

Front Yard Bikes is a community bike shop that focuses on teaching participants of all ages how to fix and maintain bikes. We teach and develop skills in mathematics, physics and mechanics, while promoting inclusivity, mentorship, recreation and academic achievement. We offer youth in the community a safe, free after-school program. They are taught responsibility and become peer leaders as they are faced with ethical and moral questions in their day-to-day lives. The heart of our program is motivated by compassion for kids from low-income families that are willing to work for what they get. We hope to impact the youth of Baton Rouge, one bike at a time, one heart at a time, because the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.

Front Yard Bikes
4385 government st
Baton rouge, LA 70806
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All Programs

Every Friday from 4:15 to 6:00PM we embark on a bike field trip. These rides include trips to parks, libraries, museums, monuments and more as we embrace the fun aspects of riding bikes while exploring educational and recreational opportunities available within safe biking distance. All participants are required to wear helmets and know the rules of the road.

The Build a Bike program allows members of the community the opportunity to build their own custom bike for the fixed rate of $50. Customers can choose their own frame, tires, bars, cranks and accessories and build the bike of their choosing. Shop mechanics will be on hand to assist and offer advice.

One of the many tasks at Front Yard Bikes is to help with the garden. Youth participants can water, plant, weed, harvest, and weigh food. Anyone who helps with the garden is allowed to take produce home. From tomatoes and watermelon to mustard greens and sweet potatoes, we have a large variety of food for our kids and volunteers.

Our main program allows youth from the community to have the opportunity to work in our bike shop to earn their own bike. Youth work hand-in-hand with our shop mechanics to learn bicycle mechanics and bike maintenance as they move towards the goal of receiving their own bike.

To give our students more opportunities to learn valuable job skills, we now offer a welding program throughout the year. Students gain hands-on experience welding while having fun welding sculptures as well as functional metal works for bike shop. The class meets at our fabrication facility at the Youth and Family Services Center. Additional paperwork is required to take part in all welding related programs.

Front Yard Bikes partners with VIPS (volunteers in public schools) to serve at Glasgow Middle, Westdale Middle, and University Terrace Elementary. We work diligently to keep our kids accountable in the classroom as they strive for their high-school diplomas. From recognizing positive behaviors to providing academic assistance during our Wednesday tutoring program, our kids understand the value of their education as they prepare for the job market.