America Walks is proud to uplift and help youth-led efforts like this that develop mobility choices for all. As a part of this work, we’re proud to collaborate with the Nationwide Youth Bike Council to highlight and strengthen youth-led mobility initiatives throughout the nation.
The Tartan Bike Mission is a strong instance of freedom to maneuver in motion. By constructing group by way of bicycles, Kenedy and Hosea should not simply assembly a transportation want, they’re reshaping the tradition round their campus to heart entry, social connection, and collaboration. For years, community-led options have performed a crucial position in filling gaps and advancing transportation options. Their efforts present how mobility could be reimagined by way of youth management. Collectively, we are going to proceed to make sure that younger individuals not solely have entry to transportation however a strong position in shaping its future.
By Joshua F. and Ruth Rosas
It’s referred to as the Tartan Bike Mission.
What’s prime of thoughts for school college students as of late? Freedom to maneuver, reasonably priced transportation, and discovering actual, significant friendships. That’s the spirit behind the Tartan Bike Mission, launched by two graduate college students, Kenedy and Hosea, who collectively raised $20,000 towards an on campus ‘Bicycle Mission’.
Naturally, we have been curious—how did they pull that off? Briefly, it took a variety of planning.
Since final yr, the pair have been shifting on launching a bicycle restore & rental area on campus of their free time. Its purpose? To create a welcoming area the place Carnegie college students can collect round bikes, get repairs, borrow a experience, and hold campus life lively and cellular—particularly within the hotter months.
We Interviewed Kenedy
“Transferring to a brand new metropolis was tough,” Kenedy shared. “OBP was a giant a part of my group, so I wished one thing related in Pittsburgh.”
She’s speaking in regards to the Orange Bike Mission on the College of Texas (UT) in Austin, the place she did her undergrad. It was a student-run campus bike program that provided not simply instruments and repairs—however group. That have sparked the inspiration behind the Tartan Bike Mission.
When Kenedy began school at UT, she received a motorcycle. Then she noticed a name for volunteer mechanics on the Orange Bike Mission. That was her entry level—not simply into fixing bikes, however into a singular sort of scholar atmosphere with a shared vibe and goal. The bike store grew to become her second dwelling.
After shifting to Pittsburgh and assembly Hosea, Kenedy discovered herself in acquainted territory—needing to repair her bike. On prime of the necessity to repair it, she was on the point of put money into a greater and higher-end bicycle. The hole of there being no on-campus bicycle areas received the pair considering, possibly they weren’t the one ones with this challenge.
After a couple of semester of listening and getting used to Pittsburgh, they found out they have been proper. They weren’t alone of their wants. The hesitation amongst their friends to speculate cash or time to find out about bicycles largely stemmed from an absence of restore help on campus. That rising want, blended with their very own want for a shared scholar area, gave a brand new that means to one thing greater: the Tartan Bike Mission.
Getting $20,000
The primary a part of the journey to beginning a Bike Mission was not easy however they’d an thought: a pop-up bicycle stand. Hosea and Kenedy printed a ton of posters and hung them up across the bicycle racks on campus, drawing in over 80 college students to their one-day pop up bicycle stand. To ensure it was not a fleeting thought, the 2 ready a survey which about 40-50 college students stuffed out, the place they requested for volunteers, opinions and desires.
This initiative was so profitable that the pair have been invited to desk at Bike Week which got here up just a few months after the pop up desk. This initiative was run by Transportation Providers at Carnegie, led by Michele Porter, the division’s Director. This occasion provided bicycles that have been left round campus to passing college students alongside a variety of different facilities from off-campus bicycle suppliers. The principle challenge the 2 seen was that the bicycles that got away would find yourself deserted once more as a result of college students had no clue on find out how to repair up the bicycles. With the assistance of Kraynick’s Bike Store, who supplied them the instruments, the chance became one other promising success, the place they fastened as many bicycles as they may that day, constructing their case for why an on-campus bicycle venture was wanted.
They labored intently with the varsity and a few pals from Pitt Bike Cave to curate a proposal that went by way of the Graduate Pupil Meeting. Concurrently, they made certain to make pals alongside the best way with Michelle Porter.
Reflecting again, Kenedy talked about that her position fashions for beginning the Bike Mission have been extra
than simply the Orange Bike Mission college students, however Yellow Bike (additionally positioned in Austin), Pitt Bike Cave (positioned in Pittsburgh), and FreeRide. Every group’s presence in her communities helped make an impression on Kenedy’s resolution that an on campus Bike Mission could be price it.
The proposal was authorised by the Graduate Pupil Meeting which received them a multi-year dedication to help the Tartan Bike Mission with $20,000. (Later, the Graduate Pupil Meeting would approve one other 3K of extra funding to help different extra rapid venture wants.)
We Want Extra Of This
Kenedy left us with one piece of recommendation: “Join with individuals round you.” This recommendation is a message particularly to college students who could also be contemplating beginning a bicycle venture at their college.
Hosea and Kenedy know their venture is lengthy lasting as help of their work from Carnegie demonstrates the college’s multi-year monetary dedication to scholar transportation wants and fostering on-campus scholar relationships. Their present challenges are actually placing into motion all of the wants they talked about within the price range. The 2 have huge plans and desires, all the best way from providing credited lessons with the Tartan Bike Mission to being part of the varsity’s Transportation Service division.
Tartan Bike Mission will probably be open Fall 2025, beginning with just a few common hours, and a few social facets.
Do It Your self
Hosea and Kenedy should not the one ones with on-campus bicycle tasks. There are different long-standing bicycle tasks which have found out what makes a college bicycle venture work.
Tatiana from Georgia Tech, is the previous president of Starter Bikes, a bicycle venture similar to Tartan Bike Mission, at a Bicycle Pleasant College has agreed to offer us the ‘Necessities to begin a School Bicycle Program’ on July 14th at 11:30 AM ET. In the course of the webinar, Tatiana, will break down the important sources it is advisable begin or maintain a motorcycle program in your campus. From sourcing instruments and elements to securing area and allies, she’ll share sensible ideas and classes discovered from operating a thriving student-led bike store at Georgia Tech.
Join our Youth-Bike Hub E-newsletter to hitch the webinar.
