Upfront: St. Louis BWorks

Getting that brand-new bike, learning to ride, and giving your buddy a lift on your handlebars are childhood rites of passage.

The nonprofit St. Louis BWorks (2414 Menard, 314-827-6640) is making sure more kids experience them with its St. Louis Bicycle Works program, which teaches at-risk kids about bike safety and maintenance. At the end of a five-week program, kids get a bike, helmet, light, and lock. In late 2011, Chouteau Building Group rehabbed the nonprofit’s digs on Menard Street.

“The interaction between the volunteers and the kids is pretty amazing,” says BWorks executive director Patrick Van Der Tuin. “Hopefully we’ve made an impact on their life, but I know they’ve made an impact on mine.”