RICH CITY Rides
Rich City Rides is a Richmond, California nonprofit that operates a community bike shop and delivers free bicycle access, cycling education, youth development, and park-equity programming to local residents, funded primarily through a shared $35M California Transformative Climate Communities grant running through 2028.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersRichmond, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What RICH CITY Rides does
Rich City Rides is a nonprofit community bicycling organization based in Richmond, California, founded circa 2012, that operates a community bike shop and delivers free bicycle access, cycling education, and youth development programming to local residents. Its service portfolio includes the Youth Fellows program (serving ages 16–24), Everybody Rides community rides, an E-Bike Lending Library, Wellness Wednesdays, School Programs across Richmond schools, and the Richmond Park Equity Program (RichPEP) run in partnership with the Trust for Public Land. The organization has distributed more than 3,500 bikes over its 11+ year history and operates with 1–10 staff.
The business model is grant-funded and donation-supported rather than revenue-generating. Services are delivered free of charge to end users. The organization is a core partner in the Richmond Rising collaborative, alongside the City of Richmond, Trust for Public Land, Our Power Richmond, and BCDC, and is a recipient of a $35 million Transformative Climate Communities grant from the California Strategic Growth Council running through 2028, with additional support from the Hellman Foundation. Its underlying operational technology is community-rooted logistics — bicycle refurbishment, e-bike lending inventory, school-based program delivery, and park-equity coordination — rather than software or platform infrastructure.
Leadership includes Najari Smith (Executive Director) and program managers covering Youth Fellows, School Programs, Outreach, and RichPEP. In 2025 the organization suspended its Bike Hub and reallocated resources toward the E-Bike Lending Library and park-equity work, indicating a programmatic pivot toward electric mobility and adjacent equity verticals while remaining anchored to bicycle access as its core identity.
RICH CITY Rides firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RICH CITY Rides
- Legal name
- Rich City Rides
- Website
- https://richcityrides.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Rich City Rides is a Richmond, California nonprofit that operates a community bike shop and delivers free bicycle access, cycling education, youth development, and park-equity programming to local residents, funded primarily through a shared $35M California Transformative Climate Communities grant running through 2028.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RICH CITY Rides industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Mobility and Bicycling Services
- NAICS
- Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other (487990), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bicycle Programs & Bike Share (Parking, Repair, Rentals) (EDALAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Used & Refurbished Bike Retail (CRAMAHAK), Bike Service, Repair & Maintenance Shops (CRAMAHAH), Bikeshare (Station-Based/Docked) (TLAFAMAE)
Keywords
Where RICH CITY Rides is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Richmond
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
RICH CITY Rides business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Grant Funding: Primary revenue source from government and foundation grants. The Richmond Rising Youth Fellows Program is funded by a $35 million grant from California's Strategic Growth Council through the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program. Additional funding from Hellman Foundation.
- Donations: Individual and corporate donations accepted through JustGiving platform. Bike donations also accepted as in-kind contributions.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
RICH CITY Rides product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rich City Rides is a Richmond, California-based nonprofit community bicycling organization that provides free bike repair, bike education, group rides, an e-bike lending library, youth fellowship programming, school-based bike programs, and a park equity initiative to predominantly BIPOC community members. It operates a physical Bike Hub, runs wellness and film events, and partners with schools to deliver bicycle-related programming to residents of all ages.
Product overview
Rich City Rides is a community bicycling organization that serves as a hub, nest, and incubator for community bicycling in Richmond, California. The organization operates a multi-program portfolio including the E-Bike Lending Library, which provides electric bicycle loans for eco-friendly transportation; the Youth Fellows Program, a paid youth development initiative focused on climate equity; the Everybody Rides Program, which distributes free refurbished bikes to community members; the Park Equity Program (RichPEP), a collaborative effort addressing park inequity; and the Bike Hub, a donation and repair facility. Additional offerings include bike donation intake services, the Why We Ride Film Series, Wellness Wednesdays community events, school programs, and advocacy events like the annual Fossil-Free Future Festival and Electric Transportation Fair. The programs collectively aim to promote sustainable transportation, physical and mental health, and human-to-human connections within the community.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Youth Fellows Program A paid youth fellowship program for Richmond-area young people providing stipended work experience, mentorship, and training in community cycling and nonprofit operations.
- E-Bike Lending Library A free e-bike lending program that allows Richmond community members to borrow e-bikes for personal transportation and recreation.
- Everybody Rides Program Core community bicycling program offering free group rides, cycling instruction, and inclusive access to bicycles for Richmond residents of all ages and experience levels.
- Park Equity Program (RichPEP) A park equity initiative that integrates cycling, outdoor access, and community programming to advance neighborhood-level equity outcomes in Richmond.
- Bike Hub A physical Bike Hub facility in Richmond providing free or low-cost bike repair, mechanic services, workshop space, and a community gathering point for cyclists.
- Bike Donation Program A donation-driven program that refurbishes donated bicycles and distributes them to Richmond community members who need transportation.
- Why We Ride Film Series A community film series hosted by Rich City Rides that explores cycling culture, transportation equity, and related community themes.
- Wellness Wednesdays Recurring wellness-themed community programming combining cycling and health/wellness activities for Richmond residents.
- School Programs Bike education and cycling programs delivered in partnership with Richmond-area K-12 schools, providing students with cycling instruction and related enrichment.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3,500+ bikes donated to community members over 11+ years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use RICH CITY Rides
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
RICH CITY Rides technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
RICH CITY Rides partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and major.
- Trust for Public LandcoreFounding project partner in the Richmond Park Equity Project (RichPEP), a collaborative effort to identify sources of park inequity in Richmond and develop strategies for addressing it. The partnership combines Rich City Rides' community roots with Trust for Public Land's expertise in park development and advocacy.
- PlaceWorkssupportingProvides technical support to the Richmond Park Equity Project. Contributes expertise in planning and community development to the RichPEP collaborative effort.
- Steam the StreetscoreCollaboration partner on the 'Why We Ride' film series, a collection of short vignettes exploring why community members ride and how biking impacts their lives and neighborhoods. Funded through a grant from Our Power Richmond.
- LifeLong Medical CaresupportingPartner featured in 'Why We Ride' film series. Dr. Daphne Miller, Faculty Leadership FMRP at LifeLong Medical Care, appears in a vignette discussing the health benefits of community bike rides.
- Bike East BaycorePartner organization in advocacy efforts including the 'Keep the Bridge' campaign to maintain 24/7 access to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge path. Co-sponsors community bike events and advocates for cycling infrastructure.
- City of RichmondcorePartner in Richmond Rising collaborative and Transformative Climate Communities program. City collaborates on youth fellowship initiatives, bike lane construction projects, and climate equity programs through 2028.
- San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC)majorRegulatory agency with authority over the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge path. Rich City Rides advocates for 24/7 path access through coalition building and public comment campaigns before BCDC.
- Richmond Rising CollaborativecoreMulti-organizational collaborative including Rich City Rides, partner organizations, and the City of Richmond working together on the Transformative Climate Communities program. Youth Fellows work alongside all partner organizations.
- Moving Forward 510supportingRichmond-based nonprofit partner dedicated to empowering community through health, academics, and service. Featured in 'Why We Ride' film series through Program Manager Anselmo Ramirez.
- GRID Alternatives Bay AreasupportingPartner organization participating in community events and collaborative programming. Organization focused on making renewable energy accessible to underserved communities.
- Urban TilthsupportingPartner organization in community events calendar and collaborative programming. Richmond-based nonprofit focused on urban agriculture and environmental education.
- Contra Costa HealthsupportingPartner organization participating in community events programming. County health department contributes to wellness-focused events and health initiatives.
- Parks Make Life BettersupportingCollaborative partner in wellness and park programming. Coalition of organizations working to enhance park access and programming throughout the community.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
RICH CITY Rides competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- PeopleForBikes: National bicycle industry coalition and advocacy organization funding bike infrastructure projects across the U.S. Operates in adjacent advocacy and infrastructure space at significantly larger scale.
- Bike New York: Large-scale nonprofit delivering bike education programs (Bike Rodeos, Learn-to-Ride, education in schools) across New York City. Comparable educational mission at a meaningfully larger scale than Rich City Rides.
- League of American Bicyclists: National advocacy organization representing millions of riders and pushing federal, state, and local bike policy. Operates at much broader scale in the same equity-and-advocacy space as Rich City Rides' Park Equity Project work.
- Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: National organization advocating for active transportation infrastructure including bike and pedestrian trail networks. Comparable infrastructure-and-equity mission to Rich City Rides' parks and bike-lane advocacy.
Direct peers
- Working Bikes: Chicago-based nonprofit that refurbishes donated bicycles and redistributes them domestically and internationally. Directly comparable to Rich City Rides' Bike Hub donation and refurbishment operations.
- Community Cycling Center: Portland, Oregon-based community cycling nonprofit operating bike shops, repair education, and youth Earn-a-Bike and leadership programs. Highly comparable mission, programmatic structure, and grant-funded operating model.
- Bikes Not Bombs: Boston-based nonprofit operating a community bike shop that refurbishes donated bikes for distribution and runs youth Earn-a-Bike and job-training programs. Closely mirrors Rich City Rides' bike refurbishment, free distribution, and youth development model in a different city.
- Trips for Kids: National nonprofit network providing cycling experiences and Earn-a-Bike programs for underserved youth. Directly comparable Youth Fellows and Everybody Rides-style youth programming model.
Regional players
- Bike East Bay: Oakland-based bicycle advocacy nonprofit and direct partner of Rich City Rides on the 'Keep the Bridge' campaign and shared events. Operates in the same East Bay territory with overlapping infrastructure-advocacy mission.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
RICH CITY Rides social profiles
Digital presenceRICH CITY Rides financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RICH CITY Rides leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
RICH CITY Rides funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RICH CITY Rides M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RICH CITY Rides
What does RICH CITY Rides do?
Rich City Rides is a Richmond, California-based nonprofit community bicycling organization that provides free bike repair, bike education, group rides, an e-bike lending library, youth fellowship programming, school-based bike programs, and a park equity initiative to predominantly BIPOC community members. It operates a physical Bike Hub, runs wellness and film events, and partners with schools to deliver bicycle-related programming to residents of all ages.
Is RICH CITY Rides a public or private company?
RICH CITY Rides is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was RICH CITY Rides founded?
RICH CITY Rides was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is RICH CITY Rides based?
RICH CITY Rides is headquartered in Richmond, United States, in the North America region.
How does RICH CITY Rides make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Grant Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations.
Who are RICH CITY Rides's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are PeopleForBikes, Bike New York, League of American Bicyclists and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Direct peers are Working Bikes, Community Cycling Center, Bikes Not Bombs and Trips for Kids. Bike East Bay is listed as a regional player.
Does RICH CITY Rides have an API?
No public API is recorded for RICH CITY Rides.
What industry is RICH CITY Rides in?
RICH CITY Rides's product category is Community Mobility and Bicycling Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDALAKAE, Bicycle Programs & Bike Share (Parking, Repair, Rentals), with a secondary code of CRAMAHAK, Used & Refurbished Bike Retail. Its NAICS code is 713 and its SIC code is 7997.