Abandoned Motorcycles Get Second Life With Youth Program

A local nonprofit that trains youth to repair and safely ride motorcycles started receiving impounded motorcycles from the city of Milwaukee’s tow lot Wednesday.

The new partnership brings together the city’s Department of Public Works (DPW) and Bikerfest MKE, which uses motorcycle maintenance and riding to provide children between the ages of 7 and 16 access to “personal development, skill building and mentorship,” said Venisha Simpson, executive director of Bikerfest MKE, during a press conference marking the launch of the program Wednesday.

Peter Knox, DPW parking services manager, said the city towed 125 motorcycles in 2025. Most of the bikes were damaged and headed for recycling. Under the new partnership, Bikerfest MKE will take impounded motorcycles that were otherwise headed for the scrapyard and instead teach children to repair them. Up to 11 motorcycles will be provided through the pilot program, and the city has allocated $2,500 to pay for title fees.

“Sometimes an opportunity is just that clear: A trusted organization has an established record of serving young people, and the city has resources that can be repurposed to advance the mission,” Common Council President Jose G. Perez said at a press conference celebrating the start of the program Wednesday. Perez, who sponsored the resolution creating the program, said DPW parking services manager Peter Knox “cut through all the bureaucracy and red tape” to make it happen.

The potential partnership was first surfaced by an Emerging Youth Achievement Advisory Council, created to find opportunities for the city to support local youth organizations providing educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering, art and math. The program ultimately found strong support on the Common Council, and Alds. DiAndre Jackson and Russell W. Stamper, II joined the press conference to celebrate the launch of the new initiative. Stamper said he was “happy to support something different, something non-traditional.”

Bikerfest MKE also runs the Sliders Flat Track Racing Program, participating in local events like Flat Out Friday. Perez said the program teaches children responsible riding habits and to respect the danger attendant to reckless driving.

“This message is straightforward: speed carries serious risk, public streets are not a place for racing and there are lawful sanctioned settings for motorsports,” Perez said.