Through Boulder County Sheriff's transitional Work Release program, inmates serve an alternative sentence which requires they find and keep steady employment within two weeks. As part of the program, inmates must have or acquire dependable transportation to maintain job interviews, appointments and eventually, gainful employment as part of their strict schedule. However, lack of resources for dependable transportation provides a hurdle for Work Release program participants.

In early 2007, Community Cycles offered Work Release program participants a way to earn affordable and reliable transportation. Within the first 6 months of our partnership with the Boulder County Sherrif's Department, 50 participants successfully earned a bike.

Once participants equip themselves with a reliable form of transportation, they can make it to interviews on time, obtain and keep their jobs.

“I know it's keeping more people on their jobs because they have a means of transportation,” says Bill Kolbe, Work Release coordinator, of our cooperative efforts (Boulder County Business Report, January 2008). Read the article.

Each Earn-A-Biker, spends about 10 hours working on shop projects which familiarize the participant with basic bike parts and which tools to use on them. More advanced mechanics help build and tune bikes CC re-cycles back into the community. For the final 5 hours of the program, participants choose a bike and cusomize it with all the necessary accessories for safe and successful commuting.

Our annual goal is 300 adult EABers including Work Release participants and putting each EABer through the program costs CC about $100. You can sponsor an EABer today! Use our secure donation page to make your tax-deductible $100 contribution. Thank-You!