A Letter to Our Community: Reflecting on 2025

As we come to the end of 2025 and look ahead to what’s next, I’ve found myself feeling deeply grateful. Grateful for the people, the partnerships, the trust, and the countless small moments that, together, made this year one of real movement and meaning for 2nd Cycle.

This year reminded me again why this work matters. Bikes are at the center of what we do, but what we’re really building is access, confidence, and connection. Everything we took on in 2025 was grounded in our belief that everyone deserves the freedom a bike can provide and guided by our commitment to be a true community hub, to empower young people, to advocate for safer streets, to serve those most impacted by barriers, and to reflect the diversity of Tacoma.

Over the course of the year, we were able to reach nearly 3,000 students through our youth and education programs. Through Just Riding Along, Earn-A-Bike, Let’s Go!, Safe Routes to School, summer camps, traffic gardens, bike rodeos, open shop, diversion, and internships, young people across Tacoma learned how to ride, repair, and navigate their city with confidence. More importantly, every single one of these programs was offered at no cost. Removing price as a barrier remains one of the clearest ways we can ensure that participation is based on interest and need not ability to pay.

One of the moments that sticks with me most this year is seeing young people getting to experience the joy of riding their bike around our city. In 2025, 234 youth earned bikes through our programs. Some received brand-new bikes, locks, and helmets. Others rebuilt donated bikes piece by piece, learning patience, problem-solving, and pride along the way. Those bikes didn’t just get them from point A to point B, they gave them independence.

Our bike shop continued to be the heart of our organization. This year, we provided over $17,500 worth of free repairs and services to people who couldn’t afford them, along with more than a thousand free repair items to keep folks rolling. We gave away bikes to community members who needed reliable transportation and sold hundreds of refurbished bikes and thousands of used parts, keeping cycling affordable while keeping bikes in use. We also took an important step forward by beginning to carry Marin and Tern bikes, positioning us to support Tacoma’s eBike rebate program and laying the groundwork for our eBike Lending Library launching in 2026.

Sustainability remains central to our mission, and in 2025 we kept a remarkable number of bikes and parts out of the landfill. More than 1,500 bikes were donated, nearly 10,000 pounds of parts were reused or recycled, and thousands of pounds of metal and tires were responsibly processed. Each one of those bikes represents both environmental care and the potential to change someone’s daily life.

None of this would be possible without our volunteers. Sixty-three people gave over 2,000 hours of their time this year teaching, wrenching, mentoring, organizing, and showing up. Their generosity is felt in every corner of our work, and I’m continually humbled by how much heart they bring to this community.

Beyond programs and repairs, 2025 was also a year of gathering. Through rides, events, workshops, and celebrations from Kidical Mass and Cranksgiving to Bike Stories and Tour de Donut, we created spaces for joy, conversation, and collective momentum. These moments matter. They remind us that building a bike-friendly city is as much about relationships as it is about infrastructure.

As we roll into 2026, we do so with intention and optimism. We aim to expand access to electric mobility through an eBike Lending Library, grow adult education offerings, continue advocating for safer streets, and keep centering equity in everything we do. Most of all, we remain committed to listening, because this work is strongest when it’s shaped by the people it serves.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you volunteered, donated, attended a class, showed up for a ride, or simply cheered us on, you helped make 2025 what it was. I’m honored to be doing this work alongside you, and I can’t wait to see where we go next.

With gratitude,

Leon Nettels

Executive Director, 2nd Cycle