Bike Walk Tompkins

What Bike Walk Tompkins does

Bike Walk Tompkins (BWT) is an Ithaca, New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, operating as a program of The Center for Community Transportation (CCT, EIN 20-8064498), focused on making walking, biking, and rolling safe, convenient, and accessible for all residents of Ithaca and Tompkins County. Founded in 2014 out of the first Streets Alive! Ithaca open-streets event held in September 2012, BWT runs three interconnected program verticals: a community bike shop (Swamp City Community Cycles) at 803 Cascadilla St, an education and outreach portfolio (Bike Skills Classes, Mechanic Classes, Ride Safe Drive Safe, and the Shift Program for FTWN-B community members), and recurring community events including the annual Streets Alive! festival, Lighted Bike Rides, and Bike Show. It also publishes walking and biking maps, the Tompkins County Bike Parking Index, and integrates with Bike Index and Ithaca Bikeshare.

The organization's revenue is sourced from four streams: tax-deductible donations and foundation grants (Park Foundation is explicitly named as a major funder), refurbished bike and parts sales at Swamp City, education classes priced at $10-$25 with WHEELIE (50% off) and FREERIDE (full waiver) financial assistance codes, and a $10/month subscription membership offering discounts, seat library access, and bench time. There is no proprietary technology stack; the technology footprint is limited to standard nonprofit website (Squarespace-based), email newsletter, social channels (Facebook, Instagram), and lightweight third-party integrations with bike registry and bikeshare partners. Distribution is exclusively single-channel and physical: walk-in retail and open-shop hours at the Cascadilla Street storefront, supplemented by outdoor community events and partner-referred outreach through local schools, youth programs, and nonprofits.

BWT employs a small, named staff team of approximately six (Director Niki Ray-Israelsohn, Bike Shop Manager Mark Thornton, Advocacy Coordinator Kelda McGurk, Mechanic Claire Dehm, Seasonal Facilitator Eric Crouthamel, and E-Bike Expert Laurence Clarkberg), supported by an active volunteer base and a steering committee. The customer base is a horizontal persona of individual residents across all ages, abilities, income levels, and backgrounds, with no enterprise customers or contracted B2B relationships. Geographic reach is intentionally local — Ithaca and Tompkins County within New York State — with no expansion signals beyond the region.

Name

Bike Walk Tompkins

Legal name

The Center for Community Transportation d/b/a Bike Walk Tompkins

Website

https://bikewalktompkins.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Bike Walk Tompkins is an Ithaca, New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit (program of the Center for Community Transportation) that runs the Swamp City Community Cycles bike shop, education classes, advocacy, and community events to make walking, biking, and rolling accessible for residents of Ithaca and Tompkins County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Active Transportation Advocacy & Education

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRAMAHAK

Used & Refurbished Bike Retail

Consumer Products & Retail/Sporting Goods & Outdoor Retail/Cycling & Bike Retail

SECONDARYCRAMAHAH

Bike Service, Repair & Maintenance Shops

Consumer Products & Retail/Sporting Goods & Outdoor Retail/Cycling & Bike Retail

SECONDARYBPAIALAI

Active Transportation & Micromobility Infrastructure (Bike/Ped Networks, Shared Mobility Programs)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Transportation & Infrastructure Agencies (Roads, Transit, Public Works)

Keywords

• Active transportation advocacy
• Community bike shop
• Bike education classes
• Nonprofit cycling services
• Cycling safety programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ithaca

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Primary funding from individual donors, grants from foundations (Park Foundation), and sponsors. EIN 20-8064498.
2. Bike and Parts Sales: Sale of refurbished bicycles, used parts, accessories, and donated helmets, lights, and locks from the community bike shop.
3. Education Classes: Revenue from bike skills classes, mechanic classes, and Shift Program classes. Classes priced at $20-$25 with financial assistance available.
4. Membership Fees: Monthly membership at $10/month providing discounts, bench time access, and other benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bike Walk Tompkins runs Swamp City Community Cycles, a non-profit community bike shop in Ithaca, NY offering refurbished bike sales, DIY repair tools and guidance, mechanic and bike skills classes, and an inclusive Shift Program. The organization also produces community events such as Streets Alive! Ithaca, publishes active transportation maps, and advocates for safer walking and biking infrastructure in Tompkins County.

Product overview

Bike Walk Tompkins is a non-profit organization (program of the Center for Community Transportation) offering a portfolio of active transportation products and services centered around making Ithaca and Tompkins County accessible for walking, biking, and rolling. The core offerings include Swamp City Community Cycles (a non-profit community bike shop providing repair help, tools, and refurbished bikes), comprehensive education programs (Bike Skills Classes, Mechanic Classes, and the Shift Program for FTWN-B individuals), and community events (Streets Alive! Ithaca, Lighted Bike Rides, and the annual Bike Show). Supporting products include Maps and Guides for navigation, Ride Safe Drive Safe safety education, Bikeshare & E-Bike Resources, the Bike Parking Index, and a membership program. The organization integrates with Bike Index for bike registration and Ithaca Bikeshare for e-bike sharing services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Swamp City: Non-profit community bike shop operated by Bike Walk Tompkins at 803 Cascadilla Street, offering open shop hours, bike repairs, refurbished bikes, and mechanic classes.
• Streets Alive! Ithaca
• Bicycling for Everyone
• Shift Program (FTWN-B)

Products and services

• Swamp City Community Cycles A non-profit community bike shop at 803 Cascadilla Street, Ithaca, offering open shop hours, DIY bike repair tools and guidance, refurbished bikes for sale, mechanic classes, and volunteer opportunities for local residents interested in biking.
• Bike Skills Classes Learn-to-ride and bike skills instruction for adults and youth in small group settings, covering basic bicycle handling, road riding, and traffic safety skills. Registration is $10/rider, with youth 16 and younger attending free with a guardian.
• Mechanic Classes Pre-registered bike maintenance and mechanic instruction classes held at Swamp City Community Cycles, covering topics such as fixing flats, brake maintenance, and drivetrain repair. Classes are $20 for members and $25 for non-members.
• Shift Program (FTWN-B) Inclusive program created for and by femme, women, trans, non-binary, and two-spirit community members to learn bike mechanics and wrenching through monthly open shop sessions and classes.
• Streets Alive! Ithaca Annual open streets festival where streets are closed to cars and opened to people for walking, biking, rolling, dancing, and playing; signature community engagement event promoting active transportation.
• Lighted Bike Rides Family-friendly community bike rides including Full Moon Lighted Bike Parades, Halloween Lighted Bicycle Sculpture Ride, and Winter Solstice Ride, promoting bike visibility and safety.
• Bike Show Annual bike show event hosted by Swamp City Community Cycles featuring unique, custom, vintage, and well-loved bicycles from regional builders, with food, music, and art vendors.
• Swamp City Membership $10/month subscription membership program offering 15% off bike purchases, discounted mechanic classes ($20 vs $25), free bike seat library access, one free bike wash per month, 10% off merch and parts, and discounted reserved bench time ($10/hr vs $15/hr).
• Ride Safe Drive Safe Educational program providing information on bicycle laws in New York State and best practices for both drivers and cyclists to share roads safely.
• Maps and Guides Walking and biking maps and guides for Ithaca and Tompkins County, including the Ithaca Walking Map, Biking Map, Neighborhood Biking Map, and links to IthacaTrails.org, Finger Lakes Cycling Club routes, and other trail resources.
• Bikeshare & E-Bike Resources Resources for electric bikes including e-bike classes, information on e-bike laws, and connections to Ithaca Bikeshare's electric bike sharing network for Ithaca, NY area residents.
• Ithaca - Tompkins County Bike Parking Index Comprehensive audit and index of bicycle parking options throughout Tompkins County, conducted by Bike Walk Tompkins interns.
• Retail Shop Affordable refurbished bikes, used parts, accessories for sale, and free helmets offered during open shop hours and dedicated retail times at Swamp City Community Cycles.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Center for Community Transportation (CCT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBike Walk Tompkins is a program of the Center for Community Transportation (CCT), a 501c3 nonprofit. CCT's mission is enhancing community access to transportation while reducing negative environmental and economic impacts. CCT also includes Ithaca Carshare and Backup Ride Home.
• Finger Lakes Regional Land TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner through gofingerlakes.org website that serves as guide to outdoor recreation including biking across their 6,000-square-mile area including Tompkins County.
• Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublished the Biking Map for Ithaca & Tompkins County based on traffic volumes and existing bicycle facilities.
• Human Services Coalition of Tompkins CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced the Ithaca Neighborhood Biking Map and Walking Map with Bike Walk Tompkins.
• Bike IndexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree nationwide nonprofit online bike registry. Bike Walk Tompkins partnered with Bike Index for bike registration services.
• Vie CycleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with Bike Walk Tompkins on Full Moon Lighted Bike Parades, family-friendly community bike rides.
• Ithaca BikeshareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Center for Community Transportation. Electric bike sharing network serving Ithaca, NY area with Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes.
• Ithaca MuralsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork transforming walls into murals. Bike Walk Tompkins supports this justice-oriented project and promotes their mural map for self-guided tours.
• Rails-to-Trails ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational advocacy organization. Bike Walk Tompkins references their TrailLink.com for trail information throughout the country.
• League of American BicyclistsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmart Cycling videos and guides provider. Bike Walk Tompkins references their resources for bike safety education.
• New York Bicycling CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated Ride Safe Drive Safe educational videos in collaboration with City of Albany Police Department and Governor's Traffic Safety Committee.
• Way2Go Tompkins CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization that participated in Streets Alive! Ithaca event as activity host.
• GIAC (Greater Ithaca Activities Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization. Streets Alive! Ithaca has partnered with GIAC for events, including the 2013 event that extended to GIAC.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Working Bikes: Chicago-based nonprofit operating a community bike shop focused on refurbished bike sales and repair education. Shares the model of using retail revenue to fund programs and a similar nonprofit structure.
• Community Cycles: Boulder, CO nonprofit community bike shop with education programs and advocacy. Closely mirrors Bike Walk Tompkins' combination of refurbished bike sales, repair services, and advocacy for active transportation infrastructure.
• Bike Cleveland: Cleveland-based bicycle advocacy organization with community events and education programs. Similar mid-sized city focus and mix of advocacy, education, and event programming.
• Bikes Not Bombs: Boston-based nonprofit combining a community bike shop, youth education, and advocacy for active transportation. Operates a similar model of refurbished bike sales, repair services, and bike skills education to Bike Walk Tompkins.
• Bike Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh-based bicycle advocacy organization with community outreach and education. Comparable scale and mission focus on active transportation infrastructure.
• Bike New York: NYC-based nonprofit running large-scale bike education programs and advocacy. Similar focus on bike skills classes, safety education, and active transportation advocacy.
• Cascade Bicycle Club: Seattle/Puget Sound-based advocacy and education nonprofit. Shares the active transportation advocacy, community education, and event-driven programming model with Bike Walk Tompkins.
• SF Bike: San Francisco-based bicycle advocacy organization with education and community engagement programs. Mirrors Bike Walk Tompkins' advocacy focus and direct-to-community engagement model.

Broad incumbents

• League of American Bicyclists: National bicycle advocacy organization that Bike Walk Tompkins references for Smart Cycling curricula. Operates at a much larger scale and broader geographic scope but shares the same active transportation advocacy mission.
• PeopleForBikes: National coalition and trade association for the bicycle industry and active transportation. Provides grant funding and policy resources to local organizations like Bike Walk Tompkins.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bikewalktompkins
• Instagraminstagram.com/bikewalktompkins

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Bike Walk Tompkins