Wheels Up Initiative

Wheels Up Project Initiative: A STEM-Integrated Youth Empowerment Model

Wheels Up is an innovative youth engagement and STEM-enriched workforce development program based in New York’s Capital District. Launched as a pilot in winter 2021, Wheels Up combines mechanical engineering education, environmental science exposure, and data-informed mentoring strategies to provide free bike repair and mobility access to underserved community members—particularly youth—while cultivating essential STEM competencies.

At the heart of the program is a hands-on mechanical engineering curriculum embedded in community bike repair clinics. Trained technicians and volunteers not only repair bikes but teach youth the physics of bicycle mechanics, torque and leverage principles, tool usage, and preventative maintenance. These experiential learning opportunities promote critical thinking, systems thinking, and applied mathematics through real-world problem solving. Participants progress toward independently maintaining and rebuilding bikes, reinforcing concepts of engineering design and peer-to-peer knowledge transfer.

Wheels Up also includes the Urban Mountain Biking Initiative, a nature-based STEM extension program serving youth in Albany’s West Hill Neighborhood. This initiative blends environmental science education with physical health and community resilience strategies. Youth are introduced to principles of ecological systems, biomechanics, terrain analysis, and GIS mapping as they engage in urban trail riding and guided outdoor exploration. These activities serve as a powerful intervention in communities impacted by systemic inequity and youth violence.

Through structured play, engineering exploration, and mentorship, Wheels Up cultivates 21st-century skills—including spatial reasoning, data literacy, collaboration, and resilience. Our long-term vision includes the development of STEM-aligned vocational pipelines in fields such as mechanical engineering, sustainable transportation, environmental science, and outdoor recreation technology.