STUDENTS to the bike club asking for help with basic repairs. The bike club was the closest thing to a bike shop in an area with more than 40,000 residents. With Surma’s help, the group now plans to grow beyond their garage base and open a bike shop to fill a clear need for bike service and sales in Southwest Detroit. The shop will give neighborhood youth opportunities to earn money, and give them the resources and skills to become productive, self-determined adults.
“The goal is for Southwest Rides to be an independent, youth-run cooperative within five years.” —Aaron Surma
The garage currently has some tools, a workbench, a meager parts inventory and used bikes in various stages of reconstruction. The Southwest Rides planning committee, which comprises five adults and young people from the bike club, have identified the necessary inventory and located a prospective site to use as their bike shop space. “We know what we need and how to procure it,” Surma said. “Now we just need to raise the money to make it a reality, and I believe we’ll make it happen.” Southwest Rides is hosting a bike drive on August 14, where bikes (working and non-working) can be donated to the bike club at All Saints Neighborhood Center, 8300 Longworth, Detroit, Michigan. The goal is for Southwest Rides to be an independent, youth-run cooperative within five years. Southwest Rides is always looking for volunteers, donations and new or used bikes. For more information, please visit their Facebook page Southwest Rides: Bikes and Boards or call 248-345-6535.
“I grew up in the area and my family is here, so why not share my social work knowledge with people who are so committed to their neighborhood?”
Ongoing · Summer 2013 · 7