What began as a grassroots effort to match unused bicycles with community members in need has evolved into one of Steamboat Springs’ most impactful programs. Since its launch in 2021, the Routt County Riders’ Bike Match initiative has grown from a garage-based operation to a fully functioning community bike shop – serving youth, low-income families, DIY mechanics, and carbon-conscious commuters alike.
Looking back: in its first year, Bike Match paired 58 bikes with local residents, relying on 15 volunteer mechanics and just over 100 hours of labor. At the program’s inception, repairs were taking place under gazebos, in driveways, and wherever tools and a willing wrench could be found. Early partnerships with organizations like the Boys and Girls Club of Steamboat Springs, The Cycle Effect, and Integrated Community helped the program gain traction with underserved youth and Spanish-speaking families.
By 2022, Bike Match had already doubled its output, matching 154 bicycles and repairing more than 350. Volunteer hours increased, and the program expanded to reach Oak Creek and Hayden through farmers market pop-ups and collaborative builds, including 10 custom bikes created with the Steamboat Creates “Young at Art” summer camp program.
Now, in its fifth season, the program’s reach is more substantial than ever. In 2024 alone, Bike Match matched 218 bikes and completed 550 repairs – bringing the total to more than 1,400 bikes serviced since the program’s inception. The opening of a permanent community bike shop has introduced walk-in service hours and generated thousands of dollars in program-sustaining revenue. The shop continues to support a growing internship program with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Steamboat and Craig, where youth help maintain fleets of over 100 bikes while learning advanced repair skills under the guidance of a staff mechanic.
While the mission remains rooted in equity and access, Bike Match is also making a measurable environmental impacts. The program saves roughly 12.5 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually by encouraging human-powered transportation (equivalent to 1,100 typical commutes on local roads).
With more than 625 bicycles matched to date, approximately one in every 20 Steamboat Springs residents has received a bike through the program. An estimated 30% of participants identify as Latino, and demand continues to grow across Routt County, particularly among local youth and workers in the construction and service industries. Programs like “Women’s Tech Tuesdays,” summer internships, and bike park feature builds in Steamboat and Craig further the group’s reach. Much of this work has been made possible by ongoing support from the Craig-Scheckman Family Foundation, private donors, and local partners. Looking ahead, Routt County Riders plan to expand public maintenance classes and lean more heavily on sustainable revenue streams to keep the program rolling. What started as a modest idea is now a thriving hub of mobility, empowerment, and community on two wheels.
To get involved, join RCR as a member, attend a clinic, volunteer, or donate a bicycle. Our goal is simple: get every unused bike out of a garage and into service (and keep it there). We are open for Community Shop Hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays 5-7 p.m. at 2730 Downhill Plaza, Unit 106a.
Matthew Rochon
Bike Match Program Manager