Iowa City Bike Library

What Iowa City Bike Library does

The Iowa City Bike Library (legally Bike Library Inc, originally Community Bike Project) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization founded in 2004 in Iowa City, Iowa. It operates a "bike library" model — collecting donated bicycles, refurbishing them with volunteer labor, and redistributing them through a six-month checkout program with refundable deposits ($75-$300, minus a $50 sustainability fee introduced in 2017) and direct sale of as-is bikes ($10-$75 for kids, $100-$500 for adults). The organization is staffed by six paid employees (Executive Director Audrey Wiedemeier, Lead Mechanic Drew Boss, Fundraising Coordinator Kate Wiley, Youth Bike Coordinator Dustin Eubanks, Mechanic Ben Cottington, and Shop Operations Coordinator Emilia Schulter) and is governed by a board of approximately 14 members; it has no parent company and no venture or equity backing.

Operations are anchored to a single physical facility at 1222 South Gilbert Court, purchased in February 2021 after years of location instability. The portfolio spans youth cycling education (Bike Club K-6, Bike Safety Camp ages 9-12, WE Ride for girls 9-14, OutSpoken Teens), equity-focused programs (Mujeres en Bici for Spanish-speaking mothers, Women/Trans/Femme Tuesday nights, Cycling Without Age e-trishaw rides for seniors and people with disabilities using TrioBike/Nihola vehicles), and engagement offerings (community rides, Rent-a-Bench self-service repair workspace, Bike-in Beats annual fundraiser). The organization conducts an active "Bikes Create Community" capital campaign and partners with Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County, United Action for Youth, the University of Iowa TRIPS Lab, and the IOWA Injury Prevention Research Center (NIH-funded 2022-2024 study).

Revenue is community-sourced: small-ticket bike sales, refundable deposits, $5 suggested donations for Rent-a-Bench, tax-deductible donations, and limited grants (e.g., 2023 City of Iowa City Climate Action Grant). Distribution is exclusively in-person during limited open hours (Wednesday and Friday 12-5 PM, Saturday 10-3 PM), plus mobile outreach via the WE Ride to School Bike Bus and e-trishaw rides to senior living facilities. There is no app, no e-commerce platform, and no third-party retail presence. GTM is community-led: volunteer word-of-mouth, email newsletter, community events, press coverage from University of Iowa and local outlets, and partner referrals. The organization is currently hiring two additional part-time staff.

Name

Iowa City Bike Library

Legal name

Bike Library Inc

Website

https://icbikelibrary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Iowa City Bike Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that refurbishes donated bicycles and redistributes them through a refundable-deposit checkout program, as-is sales, a self-service repair workspace, and youth and equity-focused cycling programs serving the Iowa City community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

akta.pro primary industry

Bikeshare (Station-Based/Docked) (TLAFAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bike Rental, Demo & Tour Operators (Retail-Adjacent) (CRAMAHAJ), Used & Refurbished Bike Retail (CRAMAHAK), Bike Service, Repair & Maintenance Shops (CRAMAHAH), Cycling & Bike Retail (Sales, Service & Accessories) (CRAMABAH)

Keywords

• Bike library services
• Community cycling programs
• Bike refurbishment services
• Nonprofit transportation
• Recreational cycling access

Headquarters

HQ city

Iowa City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Bike Checkout Deposits: Six-month bike checkout program where customers pay a deposit ($75-$300 range, typically $100-$200) and receive a refund minus $50 sustainability fee upon return
2. As-Is Bike Sales: Sale of refurbished bikes as-is at various price points ($100-$500 for adult bikes, $10-$75 for kids bikes). These are final sale with no returns.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations accepted in person, by mail, or online through their donation platform
4. Rent-a-Bench: Tool and workspace rental for self-service bike repairs with suggested $5 donation
5. Capital Campaign Fundraising: Bikes Create Community capital campaign for building ownership and facility improvements

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Iowa City Bike Library is a nonprofit community bicycle organization based in Iowa City, Iowa. It operates a bicycle lending library, provides bike repair support, refurbishes and recycles donated bicycles, and delivers community education including ride lessons and e-trishaw outings for local residents.

Product overview

Iowa City Bike Library is a nonprofit community bike organization (founded 2004) offering a portfolio of bike access and education programs. Core offerings include a Bike Checkout Program (6-month bike rentals with refundable deposits), As-Is Bike Sales, and Rent-A-Bench (self-service repair workspace). Youth programs include Bike Club, Bike Safety Camp, WE Ride (girls' cycling program), and OutSpoken Teens. Community engagement features include W/T/F Night (women/trans/femme shop night), Wednesday Salvage (volunteer bike dismantling), Community Rides (Friday Night Ride, Stay Cozy winter rides), and Cycling Without Age (e-trishaw rides for seniors). Specialized outreach includes Mujeres en Bicis (Spanish-speaking mothers program) and Raise It Up Ride Series (social justice-themed audio rides). Annual events include Bike-in Beats fundraiser. The organization also runs a comprehensive bike donation and recycling program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cycling Without Age Johnson County: E-assisted bike rides program for seniors, adults, and youth who are unable to bike independently, using TrioBike and Nihola trishaws.
• Mujeres en Bicis
• WE Ride
• OutSpoken Teens
• Bike Club
• Bike Safety Camp
• Gatos en Ronda
• Women/Trans/Femme (W/T/F) Night

Products and services

• Bicycle Lending Library

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of pounds of metal and rubber diverted from landfills annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• Bur Oak Land TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership for W/T/F bike touring adventures including overnight trips to Belgum Grove and Ephemeral Wildflower Tour. Bur Oak naturalists lead hikes at conservation properties.
• IOWA Injury Prevention Research CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Multi-year research partnership from 2022-2024 evaluating effectiveness of Bike Club Safety Camp through naturalistic study. Study funded by NIH and evaluated adolescent bicycle safety education using PedalPortal camera/GPS system, trip diaries, and surveys.
• Neighborhood Centers of Johnson CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Long-standing partnership for youth bike programming including Bike Club, Bike Safety Camp, and WE Ride (women's empowerment cycling program developed jointly in 2018). Both organizations committed to promoting biking for confidence-building and environmental care.
• University of Iowa TRIPS LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership on youth bike safety education study funded by National Health Institute. TRIPS Lab team worked with Bike Library staff for program evaluation and data collection.
• United Action for YouthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for youth programming including Farm Cycle event and collaborative youth initiatives. United Action for Youth is a key referral source for youth participants.
• Cycling Without Age InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWA-JC is an official affiliate of the global Cycling Without Age movement. Affiliation grants access to program principles, training, and network of chapters worldwide.
• TrioBikecoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer of specialized e-trishaw bikes (TrioBike and Nihola models) used exclusively for Cycling Without Age program. No comparable bikes made in North America. Custom safety features include seat belts, rain hood, batteries, and insulated blankets.
• Friendship Yoga / Nancy FootnersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWA-JC team member Nancy Footner (Director, Friendship Yoga) provides leadership and coordination for senior cycling program alongside Bike Library volunteer Michelle Voss.
• Johnson County Conservation BoardsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for outdoor recreation programming including bike-packing trips to Kent Park. Provides access to conservation areas for cycling and hiking experiences.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Bike Project: Philadelphia nonprofit refurbishing donated bikes and distributing them through low-cost sales and earn-a-bike programs. Closely matches Iowa City Bike Library's bike donation, refurbishment, and affordable access model.
• Working Bikes: Chicago nonprofit selling refurbished donated bikes and shipping containers of bikes abroad. Comparable in donated-bike refurbishment and affordable sales to the community, with a similar volunteer-driven model.
• Bikes Not Bombs: Boston-based nonprofit operating a bike library, youth programs, and international bike distribution. Directly comparable as a community bike nonprofit with a library model, youth mechanics training, and similar mission of equity and sustainability.
• Des Moines Street Collective: Des Moines, Iowa nonprofit bike collective that built bikes and community programming; explicitly referenced in the Bike Library's fundraising coordinator's background. Most direct regional peer in Iowa.
• Free Ride: Asheville, North Carolina nonprofit bike shop and library using a membership-based model with repair workspace access. Direct match for the library/membership concept and DIY repair space approach.
• Bike Works: Seattle nonprofit combining youth bike education with bike refurbishment and sales. Closely mirrors the Iowa City Bike Library's integration of youth mechanics training with a community bike library.
• Yellow Bike Project: Austin, Texas nonprofit offering bike repair workspace access, bike refurbishment, and community education. Direct analog of Iowa City Bike Library's Rent-a-Bench self-service repair program and educational mission.
• Cycles for Change: Minneapolis/St. Paul nonprofit offering affordable bike sales, repair education, and youth programs. Comparable in equity-focused mission, bike library model, and youth workforce development.
• Community Cycling Center: Portland, Oregon nonprofit providing bike access, repair education, and youth programs. Comparable in the breadth of programs (bike library, youth training, repair education) and emphasis on equitable transportation access.

Broad incumbents

• Cycling Without Age: International umbrella organization headquartered in Denmark that the Bike Library's CWA Johnson County program is affiliated with. Comparable as the parent movement governing the trishaw-based senior cycling model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BikeLibrary
• Xx.com/icbikelibrary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Iowa City Bike Library