The Good Karma Bikes Story
Good Karma Bikes is a non-profit bike shop open to the public.
Our mobile bike clinics service people in-need with both free and fee-for-service.
Each year, thousands of bicycles come to us through donation and impound. Some are sold in our bike thrift shop, even more are refurbished by our volunteers and redeployed through partnerships and programs. Our clients are primarily homeless in recovery, veterans, low-wage workers, and low- income families. However, we have never turned anyone away for financial reasons.
Free Programs:
Women’s Night, led for women by women and LGBTQ+ Night, led by mechanics who also fit that description, are two of our free community programs. A safe space to improve confidence in bike mechanics, we strongly emphasize inclusion, education, and community. Held twice a month, these programs allow individuals to fix their own bikes through tutorials and demonstrations. Please visit our programs section for more information and to register.
Our History
Good Karma Bikes CEO James T. Gardner, PhD, began fixing bikes for homeless people living in a downtown San Jose park. I took less than ten minutes for him to clearly see what was going on– and it was not about bikes. It was about self-esteem.
Attempting to service the enormous need, Jim began to teach them bike repair. They soon began to teach others. That’s how Good Karma Bikes was born on a rainy Saturday in 2008. No market research, no study, no plan–just an effort to help with bicycle transportation for those who genuinely felt they had nothing.
Shortly after, Jim began reaching out to people in any form of recovery and providing a bicycle to those who couldn’t even afford the bus. After about 1,000 people had benefited, a used appliance repair van was donated in 2010. Good Karma Bikes was now truly a mobile. The same donor then helped Good Karma locate a warehouse on Sunol Street. In 2016, Good Karma Bikes secured a location on Lincoln Avenue.
In July of 2023, we moved to our current location at 82 South Montgomery in San Jose. A one minute walk from the Diridon Transit Hub.
Our Mission
The mission of Good Karma Bikes (GKB) is to Empower people and build community through bikes. 77% of our expenses are on direct programming that supports our community (7% Admin, 16% fundraising*). Free repairs, parts, and bicycles are funded by your donations. Help us pay it forward!
We are proud to have over 140,000 volunteer hours. Interested in volunteering? Contact us!
*It costs us $0.12 cents to raise a dollar, the national average is $0.20
Contact Us
Testimonials
Pedram Hajjarian
“…This is a great non profit with an awesome friendly staff and volunteers. I’m glad they’re still going strong and donating bicycles they fix….”
Edward Yu
“… This place does good work. The people are nice. And they have some very good deal on both new and used bikes. And it’s a good cause!…”
Chelsea Taber
“…We had such a great experience at GKB! Their mission is fantastic, their employees are knowledgeable and friendly, and they have a great selection of new and used bikes. We left with two bikes, and are very happy customers!…”
