The Common Wheel

The Common Wheel is Lancaster County’s Community Bike Org! 

Since 2014 it's been our mission to educate, inspire and empower Lancaster's bike-riding community. 

Why Give to The Common Wheel?

Your donation supports cyclists from all walks of life by funding community programs run by staff and dedicated volunteers.

• Earn-a-Bike (EAB): The backbone of our programming: For this class, trained mentors and staff teach youth ages 11-18 valuable mechanical skills. Students learn how to overhaul, maintain, and ride a bike safely. Our curriculum provides opportunities for students to build STEM skills and learn financial literacy as they calculate the time and effort they put into rejuvenating their bicycle. After completing the course, students keep their bicycle and are provided with a helmet, lock, light set, and t-shirt. 95% of our students participated at reduced tuition or full scholarship for this class in 2023-2024. Funding for EAB helps us ensure we can provide this opportunity for all.
  

• Bikes for All: This adult program is for individuals over the age of 18 in need of a bicycle for transportation. Working with partner agencies to identify clients, our volunteers and staff refurbish donated bicycles for low-income individuals, refugees, and formerly incarcerated persons. We provide participants with a helmet, lock, and light set, and ensure their bikes are ready for anything.

• Youth Bike Workshop: From February through November, every Wednesday, our co-op space is open to school-age members of the community. During this time, our staff and volunteers provide free guided repairs for young adults. In addition to this, all used parts are only $1. This is our most popular program and ensures our kids ride around safely.

• Apprenticeships: Graduates of our Earn-a-Bike program may be chosen to participate in our paid apprenticeship to hone their STEM and soft skills, while building their resume and preparing for the job market. 

• Spring Bike Fling:  Throughout the year we collect donated children's bicycles. Volunteers refurbish these bikes for elementary-aged children who attend the School District of Lancaster. This single-day event takes place every May, and has become a staple celebration for us as an organization. The Common Wheel has had the honor of giving over 1,000 bikes and helmets to excited children over the past 8 years.

• Queers & Gears:  This adult program is an affinity group for the LGBTQ+ community in Lancaster. Providing safe spaces for riding, repairing, and adventuring on bicycles is a goal of our organization. In 2025 we continued to add to our popular gear library and led overnight camping trips so more people can enjoy the world of bikepacking.

• Adult Mechanics Class:  AMC teaches basic bicycle maintenance to adults on a sliding scale fee. This class runs monthly at The Common Wheel and digs into roadside repairs and more complicated tasks to help our community become more self-sufficient when it comes to riding.

A huge THANK YOU to our dedicated volunteers and to our donors. We would be nothing without your support over the years. This year saw us hit our 11-year anniversary, and we're looking forward to rolling into 2026 with the support of our wonderful community.

Who We Are

The Common Wheel has two locations in downtown Lancaster, a community bicycle center and a co-op & donation center. With programming for children and adults, we strive to transform our community through the power of bikes.