- Meaghan Habuda
- The St. Petersburg Bike Co-op greets visitors to its June 1 premiere with the lowdown on the mission.
The symphony of rain on Saturday night did not disrupt the St. Petersburg Bike Co-op’s grand opening at the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club. Despite the weather, the co-op elicited a crowd to its converted storage shed headquarters, serving up root beer floats and awareness about the community that can be cultivated through cycling.
Nonprofit and sustained through volunteers, the co-op is focused on “welcoming people into cycling culture, as well as being a place for them to work on bikes,” said vice president Matt Kannenberg. “For the most part, we can do anything here.”
It took nearly two years for a bike co-op in St. Petersburg to emerge, and stick. After the original idea was conceived, organization waned and plans were put on hold. The threat of losing the vacant and unused shop space, donated by the shuffleboard club, prompted co-op president Carrie Waite to contact Kannenberg and fellow organizers to re-establish what was started.
A one-day shop fee or yearlong membership is required to use the co-op’s workspace and tools. But access may also be permitted in exchange for volunteer hours. Although Waite said the co-op wants to start out slow, educational classes on bicycle repair and maintenance are in the works.
Chris Sheppard, a volunteer, said the classes, led by head bike mechanic Matt Allan, will begin introducing basics like changing a flat tire or break adjustments. According to Sheppard, knowing how to change a tire, and carrying a road kit to change it with, is essential.
“We’re teaching people how to do things and saving them money. We’re not here to take away business from the bike shops,” Sheppard said. “I think a lot of people, their bike sits because, ‘Oh, I got a flat tire.’ It’s just a tire. Fix it.”
Others expressed similar opinions.
Volunteer Wendy Osusky, who designed the poster for the opening, said education about bikes will help interest more people in cycling rather than discourage them. The co-op is attempting to promote riding to demographics beyond hardcore bike enthusiasts. And in time, Osusky said it would be cool to see the co-op create a youth program, allowing children to connect and become knowledgeable with bikes.
“We want to try to get people on bikes who didn’t think that they could, or didn’t think it was accessible. I think getting people at a young age would definitely encourage lifelong cycling,” she said.
Striving to be inclusive, Kannenberg said he hopes the co-op will be a cultural aid for those who perceive cycling as intimidating or dangerous. The co-op plans to schedule group rides among members to combat similar apprehensions.
Cycle Brewing sponsored the shopwarming party, and brewer Doug Dozark said the co-op is in a good position to provide people what they need. He feels building that community is important. As a result, Dozark said Cycle Brewing will ensure the co-op is functional.
The co-op’s first open shop night will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 5. Old and new faces are invited to ask questions, borrow workspace or tools and bond over bikes.
