Volunteer
Bike Indianapolis succeeds and grows cycling in central Indiana because people like you get involved. We have numerous opportunities for you to contribute to our goal of making Indianapolis a more bicycle friendly city for both transportation and recreation. Please consider volunteering for one (or many) of the below programs.
Volunteer Areas
We can use nearly any talent you may have, from parking bicycles to educating drivers and cyclists. We also need people with accounting skills, data entry, event planning, public speaking, social media, and more. Basically if you can think of it, we need it. Here are descriptions of our common needs.
Bike Guide
Description: Work one-on-one with a new rider to instill a sense of confidence and safety while enhancing their riding experience.
Location: The neighborhood of your paired rider.
Responsibilities:
- Prepare short rides in the neighborhood of your partner using low stress roads and trails.
- Ride weekly with your partner at speeds and distances that fit their comfort.
- Provide tips on laws and best practices for riding.
- Encourage increased distance from home
Length of Appointment: Minimum four weekly rides, preferably more, in one riding season.
Time Commitment: 1- 2 hours per week, plus route planning time.
Qualifications: Competent cycling skills. Desire to help others improve. Pleasant manner, patience, dependability, knowledge of bike safety, laws and rules of the road.
Age Requirement: 18+
Bike Parking Attendant
Description: Promote bicycling as a form of transportation to events. Encourage new riders by providing a reason to ride.
Location: At events all around the community
Responsibilities:
- Assisting with corral setup
- Checking in riders
- Wrist tagging riders and tagging bikes
- Watching bikes
- Matching bike owners with bikes at checkout
- Talking about Bike Indianapolis to passersby
- Distributing informational/educational materials
- Assisting with coral tear down
Length of Appointment: At least one shift (about three hours) at an event
Time Commitment: 3 hours minimum
Qualifications: Pleasant manner, patience, problem-solving ability, dependability.
Age Requirement: None; depending on event 21+
Ride Guide
Description: Help to maintain order in group rides and direct riders through the course.
Location: Riding event route
Responsibilities:
- Maintain order of riding group
- Provide safety reminders
- Keep track of everyone
- Make sure everyone is having a good time
Length of Appointment: Ongoing; minimum of one event per year, or four consecutive Community Rides.
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours per event
Qualifications: Competent cycling skills. Pleasant manner, patience, problem-solving ability, dependability, knowledge of bike safety, laws and rules of the road.
Age Requirement: None
Ride Guide
Description: Help to maintain order in group rides and direct riders through the course.
Location: Riding event route
Responsibilities:
- Maintain order of riding group
- Provide safety reminders
- Keep track of everyone
- Make sure everyone is having a good time
Length of Appointment: Ongoing; minimum of one event per year, or four consecutive Community Rides.
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours per event
Qualifications: Competent cycling skills. Pleasant manner, patience, problem-solving ability, dependability, knowledge of bike safety, laws and rules of the road.
Age Requirement: None
Ride Leader
Description: Create and lead rides in the community. These are generally rides that will repeat, but some are one time events.
Location: Ride site and remote
Responsibilities:
- Create fun and adventurous rides for all skill levels using low stress roads and trails.
- Develop route maps or cue sheets for ride guides
- Brief riders before event begins
- Make sure everyone is having a good time
Length of Appointment: Ongoing; minimum of one event per year.
Time Commitment: Several hours over several weeks for planning
Qualifications: Pleasant manner, patience, problem-solving ability, dependability, knowledge of developing safe bicycling routes, bike safety, laws and rules of the road.
Age Requirement: 18+ preferred but not required if sufficient skill can be demonstrated
Bicycle Ambassador
Description: Provide bicycle safety and education information to the community through speaking engagements and other appearances.
Location: Onsite at events
Responsibilities:
- Attend events on behalf of Bike Indianapolis
- Openness and willingness to talk to others
- Understand the mission, goals, programs and activities of Bike Indianapolis
- Give presentations to small groups about Bike Indianapolis
Length of Appointment: One year from completion of Bicycle Ambassador training. You may serve at as many events as you want during the year.
Time Commitment: At least one event during the year, in addition to completion of Bicycle Ambassador training.
Qualifications: Basic knowledge of computer and data entry. Comfort with public speaking. MUST attend Bicycle Ambassador training.
Age Requirement: None
Fundraiser
Description: Assist in raising money to support the operation and activities of Bike Indianapolis.
Location: Onsite at events and remote on own time
Responsibilities:
- Organize activities to raise money in support of Bike Indianapolis
- Develop membership recruitment campaigns
- Develop corporate fundraising programs
- Monitor progress of fundraising drives
- Develop strategies to encourage new or increased contributions
- Secure commitments of participation or donation from individuals or corporate donors
- Thank donors for their support
Length of Assignment: Ongoing for the duration of at least one campaign
Time Commitment: Dependent on campaign, 1 – 2 hours per week.
Qualifications: Basic knowledge of computer and data entry. Pleasant manner, patience, problem-solving ability, dependability.
Age Requirement: None
Website Manager
Description: Keep the Bike Indianapolis website updated and running and looking clean and professional
Location: Remote
Responsibilities:
- Update the website as needed
- Follow Bike Indianapolis style guide
- Keep calendar updated
Length of Appointment: Ongoing. Six month minimum
Time Commitment: 1 hour a week
Qualifications: Knowledge of WordPress
Age Requirement: None
Public Relations Manager
Description: Keep Bike Indianapolis stakeholders and the rest of the community updated on bicycle related topics and activities.
Location: Remote
Responsibilities:
- Assist with newsletter creation
- Work with media outlets. Generate press releases.
- Assist with the development of campaign communications.
- Generate promotional information for events and other activities.
- Coordinate web content and ensure that all information is accurate and up to date.
Length of Appointment: Ongoing; six month minimum
Time Commitment: 1+ hours a week
Qualifications: Marketing, communications and/or public relations experience; knowledge of local radio, television, and print media outlets; excellent writing and editing skills, with strong attention to detail.
Age Requirement: None
Event Planner
Description: Produce events that are fun for attendees and that generate funds for Bike Indianapolis operations. Most events will involve a bike ride and will include a Ride Leader.
Location: Various sites around the city
Responsibilities:
- Recruit planning committee for event
- Establish budget and timeline
- Select venue
- Develop event agenda
- Work with Communication to promote event
Length of Appointment: Several weeks leading up to event
Time Commitment: 1+ hours per week for at least one entire event
Qualifications: Pleasant manner, patience, problem-solving ability, dependability, organizational and project management skills
Age Requirement: None
Social Media Manager — Filled
Description: Drive more traffic to better engage and grow our community support base through consistent and effective public outreach. Keep our followers engaged and informed about bicycle related topics and activities.
Location: Remote
Responsibilities:
- Update Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
- Interact with followers
- Use social media as a promotional tool for advocacy, education and riding.
- Track the effectiveness of our social media work and recommend improvements.
- Encourage others to comment on our posts and share them.
- Coordinate with staff and other volunteers to respond to inquiries.
Length of Appointment: Ongoing; six month minimum
Time Commitment: Less than 5 hours per week
Qualifications: Knowledge of social media platforms, understanding of best social media practices. The ability to work equally well in a team and unsupervised
Age Requirement: None
Bookkeeper — Filled
Description: Track the flow of money in and out of Bike Indianapolis
Location: Remote with some onsite
Responsibilities:
- Work with board treasurer to prepare financial reports
- Work with outside accountants to prepare tax documents
- Reconcile checking and credit card accounts monthly
- Work with treasurer and accountants to prepare annual budget
Length of Appointment: Ongoing; one year minimum
Time Commitment: 1+ hours per week
Qualifications: Basic bookkeeping experience. Familiarity with QuickBooks.
Age Requirement: 18+
Current List of Volunteer Events
How to Volunteer
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