Green Bikes

Fall 2023 Update:  The Green Bikes Shop will be distributing rental bicycles in the next few weeks once recipients have been selected from the list of applicants. To apply to receive a green bike please fill out the Rental Application Form.

The Green Bike Program is a student-run bicycle shop that seeks to increase bicycle usage among students at The Claremont Colleges as part of Pomona's drive to become a sustainable campus.

The program has two main functions:

  • A Bike Giveaway at the beginning of each fall semester that provides over 300 students with bikes for the entirety of the academic year, free of charge (parts and service included).
  • A student-run, sustainable maintenance and repair shop, servicing Green Bikes for those who are currently renting them. All service is free, and both new and used parts are offered at a discounted rate.

Finally, the program hosts a variety of bike-related workshops and outreach events designed to develop an on-campus bike community that supports a sustainable and healthy lifestyle through the use of eco-friendly transportation.

Bike Rentals

The Green Bikes program provides bike rentals for Pomona College students. To apply for a bike rental for the 2022-2023 year, complete the Rental Application Form. Follow @pomonagreenbikes on Instagram for more updates.

Location

Welcome to our shop! The entrance to the Green Bike Shop is located in the basement of Norton-Clark III, with a ramped entrance on Sixth Street (across the street from Merritt Football Field). 

Hours

The Green Bike Shop is open Monday through Thursday from 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Contact

Email greenbikes@pomona.edu or check out our Facebook page.

Services

The Green Bike Shop provides free bicycle servicing and maintenance to users of the Green Bikes rental fleet. This includes simple repairs like replacing tubes and tires, adjusting brakes, chain maintenance, wheel truing, and derailleur adjustments. More advanced repairs are handled on an individual basis. At this time, we are not able to offer major overhauls or comprehensive tune-ups. While we are happy to address individual problems, extensive maintenance of this sort is too time-consuming for our limited schedule. When possible, the program makes use of used parts from recycled bikes to make these repairs; when this is not possible, new parts are offered at a discounted rate. Green Bikes has begun offering u-lock rentals. The cost is five dollars per academic year.

Green Bikes is also currently in the process of developing a short-term bicycle checkout program that will allow students to borrow bikes for single day use or keep them for up to a week. This service is also free; all that is needed is your name, student ID, and phone number. Unfortunately, this program will initially be open to only Pomona students.

FAQ

What is the mission of Green Bikes?

Green Bikes is a student-run bicycle shop that seeks to increase bicycle usage among students at The Claremont Colleges as part of Pomona's drive to become a sustainable campus. Our main purpose is the annual giveaway, where we rent out hundreds of used bikes to Pomona students. We also support the wider Claremont community with free maintenance, educational workshops, and other activities.

Where is the shop located?

We’re in the basement of Norton-Clark III (on the north side of 6th St across from the Pomona football field and down the ramp.

When is the shop open?

The shop is open Monday - Thursday 4:30 - 7:00 pm.

Who can use the shop?

Anyone from the 7C community! Students, Faculty, and Staff are all welcome, and we strive to maintain an inclusive space for people of all identities, and also for people who may not have much experience with bikes or tools.

What does it cost?

All labor is free! If your bike is a rental from Green Bikes, parts are free. If the bike is yours, we offer replacement parts at discounted rates. Bike rentals, long and short term, are always free. 

How can I get a bike from Green Bikes?

Attend our info session at the start of the year (watch your email and Facebook for details) If you miss that, stop by the shop to see if we still have bikes available. Unfortunately, rentals are limited to Pomona students at this time.

Can I get a lock from Green Bikes?

We offer lock rentals for $5/year, payable by cash or Claremont Cash. Supplies are limited, but the Coop store also sells locks.

I’m bringing/shipping my own bike to campus, can you assemble it?

Absolutely! However, we cannot receive shipments directly to our shop. Please ship them to your regular student address.

What if I can’t ride a bike?

No problem! We offer learn-to-ride workshops throughout the semester, or just swing through the shop and we’d be happy to help you learn.

Can I bring in something besides a bike?

Yes! We also work on longboards, scooters, unicycles, really anything with wheels and bearings. You can also come in if you need to use a screwdriver or wrench, etc.

Can I come in to just hang out or learn more about bike maintenance?

Yes, we highly encourage people to come and hang out at the shop if they want to learn more about how to maintain and repair bikes. We also have couches, snacks, and music.

How can I contact Green Bikes?

The best way is to just stop by our shop, but you can also contact us at GreenBikes@pomona.edu or the Sustainability Office if you have any further questions about any of the services we offer.