Border Partners meets Bike Works and a strong partnership of service is forged. (l-r: Dave Baker, John, Jeremiah, Polly and Peter Edmunds.
This Spring, Dave Baker – owner of Silver City Cycles and founder of non-profit “The Bike Works” – generously donated a truckload of bikes to Border Partners. Now they are bound for repair by Palomas residents. With this donation, Palomas youth will learn invaluable basic bike repair skills. Programming at our youth center will teach them. Additionally, they wil benefit from the increased mobility and freedom that bike ownership brings for young people.
The Bike Works, founded 19 years ago by Baker, operates under a mission “to get working bikes into the hands of people in the community.” Under a model of volunteer-to-own, people can volunteer their time with The Bike Works. They learn about basic repairs and the responsibilities of bike ownership. After volunteering, they not only own their bike – they know how to take care of and maintain it.
Health Benefits and More
This collaboration with The Bike Works targets several of our priority areas across education, health, and sustainability. Cycling leads to health improvements and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which are prevalent in Palomas. It is also a simple, enduringly sustainable technology that comes with environmental benefits.
This May, we will host a one-day workshop in Palomas where people in the community can bring in their bikes for repair. Classes at our Youth Center, working with the donated bikes, will begin this summer.
