This application has two parts; first, you will complete this online portion and create an online portal. After you’ve created an account and given us some basic info, selected your route preferences, paid your application fee, etc., you will need to download a series of PDFs to print, sign, and upload to the account you created. Your application will not be considered complete/ready for enrollment until all of these PDFs are uploaded and your application fee is paid.
If you apply during our early application period of July 1st - October 1st, you will pay a discounted application fee of $150. After that, the application fee will be $200.
Our first round of enrollment will be in early October. By completing the application and paying your application fee before then, you are ensuring yourself a place on one of our 2020 trips. If you are applying as a leader, we will begin leader interviews in early October as well.
Cycling across the country is a genuinely dangerous thing to do. Our website, brochures, Facebook page, Instagram account, and other promotional materials are written in a light-hearted fashion but do not underestimate the risks involved in taking part in this adventure. Individuals who have taken part in the past have been seriously injured and four riders have lost their life. Cycling is an inherently dangerous activity that can result in serious injury or death. Riding a bicycle from coast to coast over varying terrain, cityscapes, driver awareness levels, and types of road is by its very nature, audacious and venturesome. You should know, understand, and own responsibility for the risks inherent in what you are about to do.
You may also apply as a rider, in the case that you're not selected as a leader. Remember, you can only be a rider if you're 26 or younger at the beginning of your assigned route. If you are not hired we won't tell your trip leaders or riders that you applied.
If you choose this option please make sure you pay the application fee once you are enrolled in order to complete your rider application (this can only be done after 11/20/2017 12:24:24). Once you pay this fee you will be added to the rider lottery or the waitlist, depending on when you completed your application.
Bike & Build does not discriminate on the basis of gender identity or expression and wants to consider the needs of all our participants. Please consider this question optional and reach out to us if you'd like.
I understand that Bike & Build relies primarily on donated meals and does its best to accommodate vegetarian diets. Any other special dietary needs (gluten-free, vegan, severe allergies) are totally on your own - we can keep your food separate, but you will need to purchase it yourself. It is certainly doable to have strict dietary needs on Bike & Build, but years of experience indicates it is far from an ideal situation.
Bike & Build is a team expedition and every rider plays an important role in helping the group successfully complete the trip. Over the course of your trip, every rider will be required to spend 5+ days in the van serving as the “Safety Navigator” or as a Van Driver. The Navigator and Van Driver will tag team supporting their leaders and fellow teammates in the following ways:
We recognize you want to be on your bike as much as you can (and so do we), but B&B trips function based on the support and contribution of each group member. Similar to other B&B rules and practices (like chore group participation, etc) the Safety Navigator and Van Driver roles facilitate the execution of your trip and they are essential components of your journey.
Bike & Build offers scholarship opportunities to engage young adults from low-income backgrounds and diverse communities. We provide a handful of full and partial scholarships to riders and leaders each summer to open doors for more young adults to participate in a Bike & Build trip. Find out more about our 4 types of scholarships.
Your $200 application fee is refundable in certain situations. If you are at any time enrolled in the program, we are unable to refund your fee. If you complete this online portion of the application but do not upload the PDFs to complete the full application, your fee is refundable. Or, if you are placed on a wait list for a trip that is not your first choice and later removed from the wait list, we will refund your application fee. Application fees are refundable up until July 1st, 2020.
Gotta wait till pay day? That's fine! You can come back later anytime, by clicking the Save & Continue link below.
1901 S 9th St #410 Philadelphia, PA 19148
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