Green Bike Program

The student-run Green Bike Program (GBP) promotes cycling, bike safety, and sustainability at The Claremont Colleges. To do this, the GBP reuses old bikes and parts and organizes cycling events. Pitzer students can borrow free loaner bikes from the shop. The GBP also gives community members free access to tools and repair lessons. 

About Us

The GBP counters Los Angeles’ car culture by encouraging people to use bikes. At the end of each semester, Campus Safety confiscates abandoned bikes on campus. These bikes would usually end up in a landfill. Instead, the GBP refurbishes and raffles off the bikes at no charge. All students, staff, and faculty from the 5Cs can bring their bikes for repairs. 
 

Our History

Pitzer students Joey Haber ’05, Gus Porter ’06, and Fritz Rice ’05 founded the GBP in 2001. They received support from Professor Emeritus Al Wachtel and former Associate Dean of Student Affairs Chris Freeberg. They also received funding from Pitzer’s EcoCenter.  

Our Services 

What the GBP does: 

• Host a drawing to distribute bikes to Pitzer students in the first month of each semester. You must return your bike by the last week of the semester. 
• Give priority in the raffle to off-campus and exchange students 
• Charge student accounts for the value of lost or stolen bikes 
• Fix any problem we can for bikes owned by a student, staff, or faculty of any of The Claremont Colleges for free, plus parts 
• Sell and install new tubes, tires, cables, and handlebar grips 
• Sell locks 
• Provide day-use bikes on hand. We give day-use bikes to Pitzer students for 24 hours for free. Fill out a form with your name, ID, and phone number. We have locks and helmets for day-use bikes. 

You do not need to know a thing about bikes to volunteer at the shop. If you are interested, stop by during open hours. 

What the GBP does not do: 

• Sell new or used bikes 
• Sell new or used parts other than those listed above. We do give away old salvaged parts as part of repairs when needed. 
• Store bikes except when awaiting pickup after repair or (for raffle bikes) pending the purchase of a lock 

Repair Services and Prices 

 Stop by to check out our costs for repair parts. We provide all labor for free. 

• tubes 
• tires 
• locks 
• lights 
• cables 
• handlebar grips 
• brake pads 

Art Parts  

If you are in an art class, stop by! The GBP gives unusable parts (including wheels, frames, pedals, nuts, bolts, and washers) to art students from all 5Cs. Ask about the art parts box. Kindly send us a digital picture of your work to add to the shop.