Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen

Programs: During 2011, sbk provided bicycle service to over 1400 patrons in sacramento who came to the shop to learn how to fix and maintain their bicycles. During 2011, volunteers held two basic maintenance classes for the community (may23 & august 29) and held one specialized class about bottom brackets (diagnosing & rebuilding) as well as a wheel building series of classes. Sbk volunteers work in cooperation with the international rescue committe (irc) in sacramento, providing shop space and mechanical assistance to refugees who are part of the program. Sbk encourages self-sufficiency through its "earn a bike" program where low-income individuals can earn a bicycle through volunteering at the shop. This provides individuals the opportunity to learn maintenance skills and obtain needed transportation. On may 22nd, sbk participated in a "bike swap" held by the "friends of fremont park", a local community organization. Sbk volunteers probided mobile bike repair and staffed a booth at the event. On june 11, sbk hosted a "hunt the grid" scavenger hunt. Over 120 participants searched sacramento and completed various challenges that took them to famous obscure sacramento landmarks. Sbk, hosted 5 community bike rides through 2011 in which volunteers and patrons toured in a safe group exploring new bicycle routes in sacramento. Sbk, hosted open shop space to kids and family's on friday nights, as well as monthly "bicicletee" events for women, trans-gender, and queer groups. These shifts allowed patrons with the opportunity to have more individualized attention and be free from social pressures that can make a shop environment feel unwelcoming or unsafe.