Program on the Environment

Cities are pushing for low-emission, sustainable transportation through top-down methods, investing taxpayer dollars to create safer, more connected bicycle networks in hopes of stoking interest. However, these efforts often prioritize infrastructure expansion over long-term maintenance systems. Each year, approximately 15 million bicycles are discarded globally due to limited access to repair knowledge, high maintenance costs relative to bicycle value, and barriers to use. The gap between infrastructure investment and bicycle longevity suggests that bicycle repair knowledge must be accessible, approachable, and equitable to support vélonomie—the practice of independent bicycle maintenance and sustained use—thereby extending bicycle lifespan and reducing waste. This study builds on prior research on identity-based barriers to bicycling, examining how community bike shops promote and sustain bicycling in an equitable way. Methods include a case study of Seattle REconomy’s Bike Shack, semi-structured interviews with eight community bike shops across the Pacific Northwest, a survey of Seattle-area bicyclists examining bicycle repair knowledge, and a review of existing literature on community bike shops. Thematic analysis of the collected data shows that community bike shops take a bottom-up approach to equitably promote and sustain bicycling through affordable pricing, welcoming spaces, repair classes, dedicated programs for historically excluded groups, and community partnerships. These findings suggest that equitable bicycle infrastructure extends beyond physical bike lanes and must also include accessible systems of repair that support continued bicycle use and longevity. Community bike shops and their role in fostering vélonomie should be considered integral to equitable urban mobility infrastructure for a successful transportation transition.