SILICON
VALLEY
VALLEY
Bicycle Exchange
Bicycle Exchange location: 3961 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, CA MAP.
Interested in volunteering? Explore our event calendar and visit our Eventbrite page to RSVP for upcoming opportunities. New volunteers can find details about our volunteer roles and general information.
Stopping by our shop? Make an appointment to shop for a bicycle or parts, ask us questions about volunteering, drop off a donation, receive service for your bike, or anything else! Shop Hours are Monday / Wednesday / Friday, 11:00 am - 5:30 pm.
Have a bicycle to donate? Donate bicycles and parts by emailing us photos and details of what you have, to
The Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange is a Section 501c(3) non-profit organization.
Have questions? Contact us.
About the Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange
The Silicon Valley Bike Exchange recognizes transportation as an essential human need.
You may have food, shelter and job security, "but how are you supposed to get from all those places?" said Kelly Boyett, Program Manager for the nonprofit known as BikeX. Since 1993, BikeX has served this need by giving away more than 10,000 bicycles. Most of the donated bikes are repaired by volunteers and distributed to unhoused people, the very poor, or day-laborers through a variety of recipient organizations. Others are sold to support the repair shop.
Read more: A Second Chance for a Bike, a Second Chance at Life
Do you love bikes? Do you have strong mechanical skills and want to put them to use for a good cause?
Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange (SVBE) is hiring for a Shop Mechanic to join our staff team!
Read more: We’re Hiring: Shop Mechanic at Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange
Learn about Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange governance. Choose a topic to learn more:
This privacy policy for Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange describes how and why we might collect, store, use, and/or share your information when you use our Services, such as when you:
Reading this privacy notice will help you understand your privacy rights and choices. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Services. If you still have any questions or concerns, please contact us by writing to the appropriate email address found on our contact page.
You may also write to us at:
Privacy Matters
Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange
3961 East Bayshore Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
When you visit our website, some pages generate small files called cookies. You can supress non-essential cookies by specifying your cookie preferences at the website's GDPR Cookie Settings. We do not save or use any of the information saved in these cookies.
When you send us email or letters we may retain those messages. When you call us we may retain notes on the conversation.
Except as required to comply with the law, Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange never shares or sells your information.
We take reasonable precautions and follow procedures we have developed to protect your personal information. However, no electronic transmission over the internet or information storage technology can be guaranteed to be 100% secure, so we cannot promise or guarantee that hackers, cybercriminals, or other unauthorized third parties will not be able to defeat our security and improperly collect, access, steal, or modify your information.
Our website includes links to third party, external websites. We do not make any claims or guarantees about those sites, and are not responsible for their privacy policies. When visiting those sites you will be subject to the terms and policies of those sites.
We keep your information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this privacy policy unless otherwise required by law.
All volunteers are asked to read and sign the complete Standards and Code of Conduct for Volunteers and Visitors form. Please reach out to
Below is the quick version of what’s expected when you volunteer or visit SVBE. Our goal is to keep our shop and community safe, respectful and fun for everyone.
TAP enhances the Taiwanese American community by networking individuals interested in professional and career development, while emphasizing the preservation of Taiwanese American identity. TAP provides resources and programs that inspire and empower professionals to become community-oriented leaders. At the Bicycle Exchange, TAP volunteers join us to fix bikes at several of our events each year.
The Yahoo Employee Foundation (YEF) is a charitable organization run by Yahoo emploees. YEF is funded by an annual employee fundraising drive, with matching through Yahoo's Matching Gifts program.
Yahoo employees volunteered at a special weekday work day that was organized as part of Yahoo's annual Summer of Service program. The Yahoo Employee Foundation also made a Yahoo Choice Grant (voted by Yahoo employees) to the Bicycle Exchange.
Wheel Kids teaches cycling and mechanic skills to youth and families through camps and weekend events throughout the Bay Area. Wheel Kids hosted a showing of the Motherload cargo bike film to benefit the Bicycle Exchange.
Since 1974, Samaritan House has been serving low-income families and individuals in San Mateo County. Our services are designed to meet the immediate and basic needs of our clients for food, clothing, shelter, health care, worker resources, and counseling services.
The Bicycle Exchange gratefully acknowledges businesses and non-profit organizations that support our programs.
One Brick provides support to local non-profit and community organizations by creating a unique, social and flexible volunteer environment for those interested in making a concrete difference in the community. They often provide volunteers to help at our Bicycle Workdays.
Silicon Valley Volunteers helps young people in their 20's and 30's find opportunities to volunteer in their local community while meeting others with similar interests. They focus on providing opportunities the evenings or weekends. Silicon Valley Volunteers often volunteer at our Bicycle Workdays.
YMSL focuses on providing teenage boys with the opportunities to volunteer in the community alongside their mothers, improve leadership skills, and develop new life skills. Their wide array if philanthropic activities includes volunteering often at Bicycle Exchange workdays.
HandsOn Bay Area is a nonprofit that connects you to “done in a day” volunteer projects for all of the wonderful causes in our community. All you have to do is sign-up and show up. They often provide volunteers to help at our Bicycle Workdays.
National Charity League, Inc. (NCL) is a non-profit national organization of mothers and daughters in grades 7 through 12 who join together in community involvement. Its Mid-Peninsula Chapter started volunteering at Bicycle Exchange workdays in 2015.
Boys Team Charity is a volunteer service organization dedicated to developing an altruistic spirit in young men through active participation of parents and sons in philanthropic projects in their communities.
REI teaches the Park Tool Class to volunteers who enroll in our bike instruction scholarship program.
The Sports Basement hosts the Bicycle Exchange at its annual fall cycle swap meet.
The Bicycle Exchange has pleased to acknowledge financial support from the Enterprise Holdings Foundation.
Until 2019, We shared space with BTN Automotive at our former 2566 Leghorn Street address. BTN graciously cleared parking lot space for us during our events and they provided our utilities and compressed air.
Sunday Friends empowers families in need to break the cycle of poverty. Children and parents earn basic necessities while they contribute to their community, learn life skills and develop self-sufficiency.
Google supports our events through sponsorships and local charitable giving. Employees volunteer actively at our workdays through initiatives like GoogleServe, Google's annual week of service. We also help Google's employees get ready for Bike-to-Work-Day by assisting with their on-campus bike fixit events.
Palo Alto Research Center Inc. has supported the Bicycle Exchange since its very beginning in 1993 through its Community Involvement Program and remains an active supporter to this day including regular empoyee-volunteeing.
PG&E supports the Bicycle Exchange Programs through its Power Your Community Grant Program. PG&E employees have generously volunteered many of their Saturdays repairing bikes at our events.
Mountain View Community Services Agency is the community's safety net, providing critical support services that preserve and promote stability, self-reliance, and dignity. Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills. Early in its history, the Bicycle Exchange began as a program of the MVCSA. More information about Bicycle Exchange's history here.
Puente serves as a vital community partner to the Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange by connecting local farmworkers and residents in San Mateo County's South Coast with bicycles that support their daily mobility and economic independence. For many farmworkers, their bicycle is their main form of transportation. We are proud to collaborate with Puente to help bridge the gap to wellness and opportunity for this resilient community.
For the past few years, the local non-profit Palo Alto Transportation Management Association (PATMA) has been referring to SVBE, low-wage service sector workers in Palo Alto who would prefer an active commute to work. With funding from PATMA, Bike Exchange matches workers with a refurbished bike as well as a helmet, lock and lights. This partnership has reduced traffic congestion, demand for parking and greenhouse gas emissions in Palo Alto, as well as supported the workers and small businesses that are the lifeblood of our local economy. For more information about PATMA visit paloaltotma.org.
Helping Hands Silicon Valley (HHSV) is dedicated to fostering economic self-sufficiency for individuals in our community who are in need. We offer personalized support for accessing public benefits, job searches, housing assistance, and more. By adopting a 'whole person' approach, we address the comprehensive needs of each individual and connect them with other organizations that provide resources such as bicycles, eye exams and rent assistance. Additionally, HHSV is committed to advocacy and increasing awareness about the challenges of homelessness in the broader community.
Alta Housing creates, preserves and maintains high-quality, affordable housing for diverse individuals and families, where our residents can experience a stable community that values equity, dignity, integrity, respect, creativity and compassion.
Catholic Worker House provides: Sanctuary to troubled teens; language school for immigrants to learn English; food and furniture program; housing for twelve day laborers. Hospitality to homeless families. Weekly produce distribution. Weekly nutritious breakfast program.
LifeMoves is dedicated to providing interim housing and supportive services that create opportunities for homeless families, individuals and veterans to rapidly return to stable housing and long-term self-sufficiency.
Hope's Corner provides a free breakfast and bag lunch to people in need every Saturday. More than just food, Hope’s Corner provides a warm, welcoming atmosphere where people are able to relax, chat and build community. The location of the service is at Trinity United Methodist Church, 748 Mercy Street, at the corner of Hope and Mercy Streets.
Established by leaders from local businesses, churches, and the community, the Day Worker Center of Mountain View provides job-matching services between day laborers and hundreds of local homeowners and businesses in the communities surrounding Mountain View, Los Altos, and Sunnyvale.
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County works to strengthen families and build economic self-sufficiency for the poor and vulnerable in the county. Each year, employees and volunteers serve individuals of all cultures and beliefs through a broad base of programs including housing services, job skills training and placement, older adult services, mental health, financial education, immigration legal services, refugee foster care, youth and family services and education.
Catholic Charities also works to address the root causes of poverty in Santa Clara County through social policy education and advocacy efforts.
Cupertino Bike Shop hosts the Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange each year at its annual April swap meet. Cupertino Bike Shop also donates used bikes and parts to our organization.
Our partnership with the Ecumenical Hunger Program (EHP) is rooted in a shared belief that meeting basic needs is only the beginning: what truly creates change is restoring hope, mobility and possibility. As EHP serves as a pillar of strength for families navigating uncertainty, access gaps and rising costs, providing a bicycle—paired with a helmet, lock, and lights—becomes more than transportation. It becomes a pathway to healthcare appointments, school, work and connection.
Together, we are proud to support EHP’s village of families, volunteers and donors, serving as catalysts for positive change, one safe and reliable ride at a time.
Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange is proud to partner with Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) to expand access to safe, reliable transportation for students across the district. Through this partnership, we donate refurbished bicycles and safety gear directly to students at PAUSD schools, helping remove transportation barriers and support students’ independence, health and well-being.
In 2025, SVBE partnered with the City of Palo Alto to donate 24 refurbished bikes (in addition to the regular year-round requests from PAUSD schools) to Socioeconomically Disadvantaged (SED) third-grade students, along with helmets, locks, lights and a bike fitting. We also supported five offsite repair events, offering free basic bike repair to over 250 bikes in support of a safe back-to-school effort.
Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange is proud to partner with the V.A. Palo Alto Health Care System to support Veterans’ mobility, well-being and community connection. Through this partnership, SVBE donates refurbished bicycles, helmets, locks and lights to Veterans who need reliable transportation for commuting, accessing care or simply enjoying the physical and mental health benefits of riding.
Our impact extends beyond donations through Veteran Repair Days, where Veterans participate directly in hands-on bicycle repair alongside SVBE mentor mechanics. These sessions not only build practical skills and confidence, but also create a welcoming, peer-supported environment that reflects the V.A.’s commitment to whole-person care.
Answers to most questions can be found on our FAQ page.
Volunteers
Are you a new volunteer looking to get involved? Do you have questions about upcoming events? Or are you a seasoned volunteer interested in mentoring others? For all volunteer-related inquiries, please email
Bicycle Donations
Interested in donating a bicycle? Please email us photos of your bicycle(s) at
Media
Media inquires? Please contact us at
General Inquiries
For any other questions that don’t fit the categories here, contact us at
Shop Appointments (preferred for all shop visits)
Please book an appointment for donation drop-offs, bicycle and accessory browsing, purchase pick-ups and other shop visits. For any other issues, please contact us at
Retail Store Information
For questions related to our retail store, including product availability, hours, and pricing, please visit shop.bikex.org and use the contact form there.
Events
Interested in attending one of our events? Visit our calendar and our Eventbrite page for more information and to register. Please download, print, sign, and bring the Liability Waiver form with you when you volunteer.
Event Photography
Have photos or videos from a Bicycle Exchange event? Help us build our official SVBE Photo Library by uploading them! Your content may be featured on our website, publications, print materials or social media.
Our shop hours are below. Please book an appointment for donation drop-offs, bicycle and accessory browsing, purchase pick-ups, and other shop visits.
Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange shop will be closed on some holidays, please Google for our hours if you are unsure.
Our workshop is located at 3961 East Bayshore Road in Palo Alto, CA. East Bayshore runs east of and parallels Highway 101 between San Antonio and Oregon Expressway. Please enter via the first parking lot on Corporation Way. Go all the way around to the rear of the building and look for the roll-up door. DO NOT drop off any donations when the facility is closed.
SVBE volunteers have many roles to choose from, including Marketing & Social Media volunteer or Front Desk and Shop Assistant volunteers; however, our most popular role is that of a Bike Mechanic volunteer. While many industrial arts classes are no longer available in our schools, youth can join us to learn mechanical skills in a supportive environment at over 100 weekend, weekday and evening events every year. Tech workers throughout Silicon Valley can take a break from their desk jobs and enjoy a fun team-building environment centered around a bicycle repair stand. As of 2025, we have more than 111,000 reported volunteer hours, that's equivalent to more than twelve calendar years of hours!
Numbers are one way to measure impact. The Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange has been donating bikes since 1993, and as of 2025, we have surpassed donating 13,000 bicycles to our community members. We also donate new helmets, locks and light sets, upon request, to our partner organizations. A bike without a helmet, lock, or light can be dangerous and unreliable, but with those safety accessories, it becomes a reliable and safe mode of transportation for its donor recipient. To date, we have donated more than 4,500 helmets, locks, or light sets!
The chart below provides an up-to-date total of our bike donations to various organizations.
The Bicycle Exchange donates bicycles to a wide range of non-profit service organizations that support a diversity of impacted populations across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Our 20+ recipient organizations serve disadvantaged children, homeless children and adults, immigrants from various countries, veterans, day workers, and families in economic, legal and substance abuse recovery.
All of SVBE's bikes, sold or donated, start as donations to us. We depend on and work with our community to offer a sustainable option to recycle old and worn out bikes without contributing to the landfill. Thanks to our many volunteers, these donations are refurbished through our many repair events and are given a new life and a new home. Cycling remains one of, if not the most, sustainable modes of transportation. We are committed to taking that impact a step further by utilizing bicycles and parts that have already been manufactured rather than relying on new bikes and parts.
The Bicycle Exchange is a supporting member of the following organizations.
The Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition is our sister organization that advocates for a more bike-friendly region by promoting safer streets, sustainable transportation, and stronger communities. Through education, outreach, and policy advocacy, SVBC works to create a thriving environment where biking is accessible and enjoyable for all.
The California Bicycle Coalition enables more people to bicycle for the health, safety, and prosperity of all Californians.
The League of American Bicyclists represents bicyclists in the movement to create safer roads, stronger communities and a bicycle-friendly America. Through information, advocacy and promotion, LAB works to celebrate and preserve the freedom cycling brings to its members.
People for Bikes is making biking better for everyone by uniting millions of Americans, thousands of businesses, and hundreds of communities to make every bike ride safer, more accessible, and more fun. The PeopleForBikes Coalition has more than 325 supplier members and 1.4 million supporters in its grassroots network. When people ride bikes, great things happen.
The Bicycle Exchange supports these organizations through financial donations.
Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange (SVBE) began in 1993 repairing bicycles for clients of the Mountain View Community Services Agency (MVCSA). With donations from Xerox Corp., SVBE began renting a small workshop at 2566 Leghorn Street in Mountain View and set up a workshop and regular volunteer workday events to receive and repair used bicycles. Over the next 14 years, the program repaired and donated bicycles and helmets to low-income individuals through its partnership with MVCSA. In 2007, SVBE became a program of the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition and in 2014 the SVBE was granted IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit status and began operating as a separate entity.
Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange has developed partnerships with more than 20 organizations throughout the Bay Area to donate bicycles, helmets, locks and lights to those in need. Check out our Recipient Partners page to learn more about these amazing organizations and what they do. SVBE's mission benefits from our partnerships with organizations that support our programs and groups that volunteer with us.
Throughout its operation, SVBE has maintained a strong educational component, teaching bicycle repair skills to thousands of volunteers while refurbishing bikes to donate to charity organizations. We accept volunteers of all mechanical abilities and those with different interests. See our event calendar for new/returning volunteer opportunities and our volunteer roles.
In 2012, SVBE began organizing bicycle safety classes for bicycle recipients, a program currently on hiatus, and in 2014 SVBE launched a Bicycle Exchange program in Santa Cruz, which closed during COVID. As of 2026, we have donated over 13,000 bicycles with the help of over 111,000 volunteer hours.
In 2019, Bicycle Exchange moved to a new workspace at 3961 E. Bayshore Road in Palo Alto.
The Bicycle Exchange is a year-round outdoor activity. On our workdays, volunteers can work indoors at our workbenches as well as at canopies and repair stands that we set up outside. We roll out our tool and parts carts for easy access. Volunteers work in teams on selected bikes for donation that week. Many of our volunteers have never used tools, but experienced volunteer mentors provide guidance through demonstration and explanation of principles. Bikes receive a two-stage safety/quality check before they are cleared for donation or sales. We often hear our volunteers say, “Hey, I learned something new today!” Interested in joining our community? Check out our upcoming events.
The SVBE has been fixing and donating bicycles since 1993! It is a fun, educational and social activity for a growing community of bike fixers. Nearly everyone has experienced the joy and satisfaction of successful project completion of one form or another; at the Bicycle Exchange, we offer that experience in a social group setting with dozens of other volunteers.
The projects vary in difficulty from easy and not very technical, to quite challenging. Nearly everyone leaves having learned something new about bicycles. The SVBE is a supporting member of bicycle advocacy organizations including the California Bicycle Coalition and the League of American Bicyclists. Learn more about us below.
New! We have found a temporary location on Bayshore Road (see photo below) but we still need to find a permanent home. If you have any resources that you can share with us about long-term leases or permanent buildings that may fit our needs, please reach out to
History
Impact
Frequently Asked Questions
Partners
SVBE Bylaws
Encouraging communities to choose bicycles for a sustainable future by:
Our new workspace at 3961 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto,
furnished by our volunteers and in operation January 2019
The Bicycle Exchange engages our community and donates its repaired bicycles through qualified social service partners. Our program would not be possible without the organizations that distribute our bicycles to those who need them. If you or someone you know is in need of a donated bicycle please reach out to any of these organizations. Contact us with any questions. We are proud to work with the partners listed below:
Articles about positions at Bicycle Exchange
