We’re hiring Bike Valets!

What is a bike Valet you might ask? Well., in our world it means you move bikes around. From schools to our storage, from storage to schools. We take bikes to schools to give to kids, and we move bikes from schools when we’re teaching at a new school. We rent cube trucks to do this work.

We have two positions to fill, thanks to support from Canada Summer Jobs. 

Deadline is June 25th.  Candidates must meet the CSJ requirements which means you are between age 15 and 30 and are entitled to work in Canada (have a social insurance number.)

Youth en Route Student Bike Valet

The role

Help establish workflows and processes for Youth en Route’s expansion into bike upcycling, bike valet services and Kids Bike Trade Up programs.

• Work in a team to Pick up Bike donations across Calgary and area using a U-haul or rented truck.
• Determine schedule and timing to reduce travel distances and costs.
• Work with community partners and associations to facilitate pick up and delivery.
• Organize and sort bikes according to size and condition.
• Operate Bike Valet service at events in Calgary, providing secure storage to cyclists. This includes tagging bikes, moving them to storage rack, supervising racks during event and finding and returning bikes to clients.
• Provide excellent, friendly and efficient customer service to cyclists and organizations using our Valet services.
• Use judgement and ability to streamline and improve systems and operations.
• Maintain a positive, collaborative work environment.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends.
• The position reports to Operations manager.

Skills and requirements

• Candidates must meet the requirements of the Canada Summer Jobs Program. Ideally is a student or prospective student in a Canadian Post-secondary institution.
• Excellent organizational skills, with attention to detail and eye for innovation and optimization.
• Bike repair skills are an asset. Interest in bikes, cycling and active transportation is required.
• Willing to learn, get your hands dirty and try new things.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of our small but mighty team.
• Calgary police vulnerable sector check is required.
• Alberta Driver’s licence is an asset
• Experience driving retail rental trucks is an asset.

 

About Youth en Route

Youth en Route’s programs provide youth with the skills, equipment and inspiration to navigate their world. Cycling education builds skills, confidence and community and opens doors for youth to be independent and resilient as they pedal their path in life.

Learning to ride a bike is an accomplishment to be celebrated. But at some schools in Calgary, over 10% of youth have never been on a bike. Many more lack skills to cycle safely around their city. Youth en Route supports teachers with curriculum enhancement to teach youth to use bikes to get around, empowering independence, resilience and connecting youth to their communities in a tangible way. Bikes deliver more than a healthy activity or a sustainable mode of travel, they are freedom. We are a safe hand, guiding new riders building skills and confidence.

We work with typical kids and bikes in PE, Outdoor education and leadership classes. In special education classes, we teach kids with multiple and complex learning challenges to cycle using adaptive trikes in controlled spaces.

Over the past two summers, we’ve engaged multiple students because of Canada Summer Jobs Funding. Two students continue to work for us in a part-time roles. We’ve found these young people make us better cycling instructors, helping us better meet the needs of youth.

Our Bike Valet program has been operating on an ad hoc basis because of lack of funds. When old or tired bikes can’t be recycled easily, they end up abandoned or put in the garbage. Our data tells us that 11% of students would ride a bike if they have one. Given this need, we must do more to keep bikes out of the landfills, where they rust and become unusable. We will use these staff to collect bikes, sort and triage them for repair. Where we can, we want to refurbish them to give to kids at our schools.

Our hope is that with Canada Summer Jobs support we can scale up the circular economy for bikes in Calgary and be able to provide more bikes to youth in need. At the same time, we’ll reduce landfill waste, create a city-wide parts depot and encourage adaptive reuse of bike materials and parts.