Free Cycles Forever: A 30th Anniversary Campaign to Secure Our Space

The Goal: Raise $800,000 by July 1, 2026

Free Cycles Forever is a campaign to raise the $800,000 we need to pay off our property loan by July 1, 2026—our 30th anniversary. Located in the heart of Missoula, at the union of two recreational trails, our historic property is the ideal place to continue the work of Free Cycles and its umbrella organization, the Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation (MIST). Owning our building, debt-free, will guarantee that we can stay where we are and continue serving our community. This is our forever home!

Save Our Space, Strengthen Our Programs

Paying off our property debt will have immediate effects that go beyond saving our space:

100% of donations toward programming: Currently, a portion of our funding is diverted to paying our mortgage and interest on our loans. Eliminating our debt will end those payments, plus it will lower our taxes and insurance, ensuring that we can spend every cent of future donations on serving our community.

Urgent investments in our building: With a long-term home, we can begin necessary property and building maintenance and renovations. And we can invest in green electricity and heating to go off the grid—better for the environment and saves money.

Expanded open days and hours: Our hours have been limited. We’d like to stay open longer each day, for 5 days/week—if not more.

Living wages and specialized staff training: The work we do demands extensive training in crisis intervention, de-escalation, mental health resources, transportation justice, bicycle mechanics, and environmental stewardship. By investing in a trusted and trained team, we can better serve our community’s needs.

More staff, more repair stands, more patrons served: We provide personalized guidance and instruction through all stages of bike repair. More staff means more one-on-one help for more patrons, keeping up with the growing demand for our services.

More hands-on programming for kids: Our Youth Cycles program currently provides free, ready-to-ride bicycles for children 10 and under. We want to provide the option for more kids to work one-on-one to learn to build their bike from scratch.

Increased capacity for events: With firmer financial footing, we can meet the demand for all the groups that want to have events in our community space.

Our Mission: Working Together to Build a Healthier Community

Saving our space is an investment in our community’s well-being. Free Cycles believes we all have the right to move freely and safely in an unpolluted world, and we’re working toward that vision by providing community access to recycled and repurposed bicycles, as well as parts, tools, workspace, hands-on education, and a gathering place for a healthy community. Our services are—and always have been—donation-based and available to people of all ages, identities, ethnicities, abilities, and income levels.

Giving Back to Western Montana—With Your Support

Free Cycles started in 1996 by placing free bicycles on the street for all to ride. With your help, we’ve organically grown to encompass a variety of programs:

300,000+ people have learned how to fix their own bicycles in our Open Shop program.

30,000+ free bikes have been earned and built by Build-A-Bike participants.

1,000+ tons of material have been diverted from the waste stream.

12,000+ participants of our BikeWell classes have learned transportation safety skills with a focus on laws, street courtesy, crash prevention, and urban design.

We’ve hosted 1,000+ events, from musical acts and theater troupes to potlucks and community action organizations, to bring people together and spark positive change.

Ways to Donate

Let’s celebrate 30 years of people power, honor the passion of collective community spirit, and unite to keep us in our space for the next 30 years—and beyond! Please consider donating today in one of the following ways:

1) The “DONATE” button at our website: freecycles.org

2) Venmo @freecyclesmissoula

3) A check mailed to:

Free Cycles Missoula

734 S. 1st St W

Missoula, MT 59801

4) Donate in person at our community shop (734 S. 1st St W)

From Everyone at Free Cycles: Thank You

Our core team of mechanic-instructors—Bob, Christian, Elena, Gabe, Nick, Michael, Tyler, and Victoria—sincerely appreciate your consideration. Please visit the shop to see for yourself the difference we’re making in the community. For more information, contact:

Bob Giordano, Executive Director | mist@strans.org | 406.830.7676