In partnership with the Sopo Bicycle Cooperative of East Atlanta, the Task Force is currently developing a community bike shop and education program, which will be open to any and all people served by the Task Force. SOPO was created with the belief that every person deserves free and equal access to transportation, and its founder, Rachael Spiewak, is a major player in reaching out, with that belief, to the community.
Operating this bike shop, called "Shift," in the basement of our building, clients and volunteers will teach each other about bicycle maintenance and safety while earning shop hours. After completing volunteer shop hours, a client will be eligible to earn his own bicycle equipped with lights, locks, a helmet and water bottle. Once the bike is his, it can be used however he sees fit – to get to work, family, doctor appointments, etc. Clients will also be eligible to earn bikes by meeting other criteria, such as sustaining full-time employment.
The primary goal of the Task Force’s Earn-a-Bike Program is to give residents and clients a free, sustainable, and convenient way to get around the city, bridging the gap that exists right now between access and income. The Program is built on each person’s ability to maintain his bike on his own, and after learning from our program, his ability to pass that knowledge on to others. The Task Force is grateful to the SOPO Bicycle Cooperative, who will provide support for the program through volunteers, assistance with donations, and developing a bicycle safety and maintenance curriculum.
We celebrated our dedication last week and are working out the program details in anticipation of opening in two weeks. To get the program up and running, we still need donations of bikes, bike parts, locks, helmets, water bottles, messenger bags, time, skills, knowledge and financial contributions.
To find out how you can help, please contact Justin McNally at
jmcnally404@gmail.com or 404-230-5000
ext#136.
