Dear Mayor Keller,…read more
Please, for our city's sake, for the sake of our children, our underserved communities and our environment, expand the bicycle safety education center initiative throughout your tenure. We need one of these Centers in every neighborhood of Albuquerque.
I just finished the brief but informative two course trainings and, just an hour ago, picked up my bike (and free, new helmet). Esperanza is absolutely exceptional. Here's how the process worked, as of this writing:
1. The first Monday of every month, at precisely 10am, Esperanza opens class registrations, and the phone lines are flooded. "If you get a busy signal, don't give up, just keep calling," advised the staff. That's what I did, and after about ten minutes, I got through. They signed me up for two evening classes which I attended a few weeks later.
2. Each class lasted about 90 minutes, students were a mixed bunch of ethnicities, ages and abilities, about 15 people total. The first course, about safety, was truly informative. I've been a cyclist for the better part of my life, I signal turns and ride in bike lanes, I still learned a ton about staying safe on the road. The second class, bike maintenance, also went beyond fixing a flat -- I learned that, for example, I'm lucky I've never smashed my face in the pavement, I've incorrectly fastened my tires to my bike for years.
3. A few days after classes, I was back at the shop, picking out my ride built from donated (and high-quality) parts. My bike: a 2007 GT Legato 3.0, built in Southern California, original retail: $700. A hybrid road/mountain ride, the bike is extremely light weight, rides like butter, and will absolutely rock when I take my kiddo on the Bosque trail. So. Friggin'. Fly.
What did all this cost? Suggested donation: $40, but that's suggested and they never asked me for a dime (I'm donating the full $40, I can afford it). Esperanza also serves as a bike shop where empowered everyday people learn how to fix their own rides.
To recap, Mr. Keller. The fact that this Center is inundated with calls for these classes every month, that they receive premium donated parts, and promote healthy, environmentally responsible transportation means one simple thing: tax dollars spent wisely. We need to shift the way this town thinks about transit, and it begins at places like Esperanza. This is a Duke City gem, let's keep these gears turning.
Sincerely,
Howie K.
