Socorro rolls forward with SPOKES

SPOKES, a new community bike repair shop in Socorro has opened and is ready to get the community rolling.

More than just bike repair, SPOKES organizers are working to design the space to be a welcoming hangout where people of all ages, especially youth, can learn hands-on bike maintenance, trade sweat equity for wheels and casually connect with experienced volunteers without the formality of a mentorship label.

“The idea is to have a place where youth can come and kind of hang out and be mentored without us calling it a mentor program,” said Nicholas Dubree director of Puerto Seguro/Safe Harbor and SPOKES.

It’s mentorship without the name tag, fluid, community-driven, and refreshingly organic.

Inspired by successful programs in other states, SPOKES plans to grow into more than a service station. The blank canvas of a space, previously a frame shop, has room for a hangout spot with couches, a music room where the youth can jam out or learn an instrument, as well as desks where they can work on homework or use a computer. SPOKES is making all of these improvements with the help of volunteers and donors.

Dubree said he envisions hosting group rides, workshops on riding and repairs and eventually populating Socorro with distinctive yellow bikes for public use, a bold idea aimed at both accessibility and community visibility, “We’re basing the model on several out-of-state programs that existed for over 20 years.”

Access to free bicycles will encourage the people of Socorro to become more active and spend more time outdoors. The yellow color will help the bikes to stand out, as well as representing the New Mexico State flag, said Dubree.

The shop is fully volunteer-run and fueled by donations, ingenuity, and local support from programs. In fact, many of the tools and materials on site were donated by partner organizations such as SCOPE and individuals who believe that bicycles and safe places for the youth could change lives.

Whether you’re a teenager looking to fix up your first ride, an adult rediscovering the joy of two wheels, or someone who wants to give back to the community, SPOKES offers a space to connect, learn, and roll forward together.

Swing by on a Monday evening and see what’s happening up the ramp, said Dubree.

SPOKES is located at 107.5 California Street. Tucked behind the Safe Harbor Secondhand Store, just up the ramp from the south parking lot, set to be open every Monday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.