A hidden gem on campus, the Handlebar is a student-run bike service shop available to the entire Dickinson community for repairs and services. From sustainability practices to learning more about bikes, it is a hub of knowledge and experience.
In addition to repair services, the Handlebar aims to increase bicycle use on campus, as well as provide students with the experience of fixing what is theirs. The operation is student-run, making it a great place to connect the community and give the volunteers a chance to teach others about their expertise.
Starting up in 2012, the Handlebar was the dream of Dickinson students who brought the vision to the Center for Sustainability Education. This collaboration has allowed for many of the student volunteers to become interns at the Center for Sustainability.
In addition to opening the shop, the Center for Sustainability also assisted with the Handlebar Bike Co-op and Green Bikes Program which align with Dickinson’s Sustainability initiative. The co-op allows students and other members of the community to drop off used bikes and bike parts to be re-used by others.
Additionally, the donated parts can be used by the Handlebar staff to create an entirely new bike. The new bike is then put to good use by the Green Bikes Program, an initiative on campus that allows students and staff to rent a bike for free for the entire semester via the Handlebar.
Thanks to support from the CSE and donations made directly to the Handlebar, bike parts and time spent using materials in the shop is free. As the bike owner, you also do all of your own repairs.
The student volunteers can not directly fix your bike, but they can explain exactly how to do the repairs and guide you through every step. This makes for a more prepared biking community on campus and helps students learn new skills.
Unfortunately, the Handlebar has seen less action on campus since Covid-19. Josh Musica ’25, Biking at Dickinson intern, says that he would like to see more student volunteers getting involved in the shop. Musica hopes that the shop can have a more collaborative feel again where students come in with their friends and collaborate by building bikes and learning more about how to repair them.
As of now, the shop is open on Tuesdays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. As more volunteers become involved in the operation, the shop can hopefully expand its hours to be more available to the community.
The Handlebar is a great little corner of campus that emulates community and Dickinson’s sustainability initiatives.
