Every Child Deserves the Chance to Ride
At Rockford Youth Sports and Mentoring, we believe something as simple as owning and learning to ride a bicycle can open a whole new world for a young person.
Our Free Bike Program is designed to help children and teens in the Rockford community who may not otherwise have access to a bicycle. Through community donations, sponsors, volunteers, and local partnerships, our goal is to provide eligible youth with bicycles and help make sure they have the knowledge and confidence to ride safely.
There is no cost to participating families.
🚲 Free Bikes for Rockford Youth
We want bicycles sitting unused in garages to become opportunities for children in our community.
Our program accepts donated bicycles and works to place safe, usable bikes into the hands of young people who need them. As the program grows, we also hope to partner with businesses and community sponsors to provide additional bicycles, helmets, locks, safety equipment, replacement parts, and repair services.
Receiving a bicycle isn’t where our commitment ends. We want every child to know how to use it safely and confidently.
❤️ Free Bike Riding Lessons
Not every child gets the opportunity to learn how to ride a bike—and there is absolutely no embarrassment in learning at an older age.
Our Free Bike Riding Lessons will provide a welcoming and encouraging environment where beginners can learn at their own pace.
Youth can receive help with:
Balance and basic bicycle control
Starting and stopping safely
Steering and turning
Proper braking
Helmet fitting and bicycle safety
Basic rules of the road and trail awareness
Building confidence through supervised practice
Whether a child has never been on a bicycle before or simply needs more practice, our goal is to meet them where they are.
No pressure. No judgment. Just encouragement.
🛠️ More Than Just Riding
As the program develops, we also want young people to learn basic bicycle responsibility and maintenance—skills they can carry with them long after receiving their bike.
Youth may have opportunities to learn how to check tire pressure, recognize basic safety problems, care for their bicycle, understand when repairs are needed, and eventually participate in community bike activities and group rides.
🤝 Help Us Put More Kids on Bikes
There are several ways the Rockford community can help make this program successful.
We welcome new or gently used bicycles, helmets, locks, bike pumps, repair supplies, safety equipment, financial sponsorships, and volunteers willing to support our youth.
Local bicycle shops, businesses, organizations, and community members interested in becoming program partners are encouraged to contact us.
Have a bike collecting dust?
That bicycle could become a child’s first bike.
🚴 Learn It. Ride It. Own It.
Our goal isn’t simply to give away bicycles.
It’s to give young people mobility, confidence, independence, healthy recreation, new skills, and another reason to get outside and experience their community.
FREE BIKES • FREE RIDING LESSONS • FREE YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES
Ready to Participate or Help?
Rockford Youth Sports and Mentoring
Mr. Marko — Founder & Program Manager
📞 779-513-2404
✉️ 815Youth@RYSMRockford.org