BICAS is more than a bike shop, it’s an education center; it’s also a great partner of El Tour’s

BICAS is so much to so many different people. Most importantly it’s about bikes.

And we love bikes. It’s also an education center and not a traditional bike shop. We at El Tour love that because it’s about education through bicycles.

First, BICAS (Bicycle Inter-Community Art & Salvage) is a worker self-directed nonprofit 501(c)(3) bicycle center, which relies on generous donations from the Tucson community, and responsible stewardship of those donations, BICAS is able to provide a variety of programs to learn how to fix a bicycle, earn a bicycle, create unique art from recycled materials, and provide programs specifically targeted towards youth. BICAS believes in bicycles and other human-powered machines as essential vehicles for transportation justice, and we are always striving to make them more accessible to our community.

Mission:

Through advocacy and bicycle salvage, our mission is to participate in affordable bicycle transportation, education, and creative recycling with our greater Tucson community.

Vision:

Empowered Communities with Sustainable Transportation

Values:

BICAS is committed to…

Community

• Creating a space where support/acomedido can flourish
• Creating an environment that is inclusive and accessible, where we can engage in mutual learning and growth
• Welcoming all sorts of voices and stories that help shape a sense of belonging and connection

Empowerment

• Supporting one another through a Do-It-Yourself/Do-It-Together model of knowledge sharing
• Cultivating confidence and competence by providing new experiences and opportunities through which we can be vulnerable, take risks, make mistakes and learn from them
• Using bicycle maintenance as a vehicle for self-determination and personal growth

Sustainability

• Reusing/recycling old bike parts to build affordable bikes, reimagine everyday objects, and create art
• Investing in un futuro with clean, healthy, reliable transportation which does not harm the environment
• Viewing every member of our community as a teacher who can share their skills and create more teachers

Justice

• Working towards a more equitable future by listening to the needs of our community
• Recognizing and responding to structures which oppress, disrespect, or invisibilize members of our community
• Holding ourselves accountable by striving for anti-oppressive spaces and transformative practices in our collective, in our shop, and in our community

Inclusivity

• Welcoming all people to bicycle riding, mechanics, and art-making, while acknowledging obstacles individuals may be facing
• Generating opportunities for community members of all identities to develop skills that meet their needs
• Ensuring that all individuals can access their right to a sustainable form of transportation

Collectivism

• Collaborating as a group of equals, building a space of open dialogue
• Practicing a consensus model of decision making where all voices are recognized by proposing and not imposing
• Prioritizing the needs of the group over the needs of the individual to draw us closer to the needs of the community.
• To learn more about BICAS visit https://bicas.org/.