BOSTON, MA (BRAIN) — The Community Spoke, a bicycle co-op that provides free access to tools, parts and maintenance assistance, has closed indefinitely following a burglary in which thousands of dollars in bikes, tools and other shop supplies were lost.
“The biggest thing that we lost was two cargo bikes. We use those to transport our tools and equipment to other neighborhoods to fix bikes and put on repair clinics,” said Alex Drexler, one of three core volunteers who run the nonprofit along with an extended group of 15 to 20 other volunteers.
The two-year-old co-op, which had been open one day a week, is now seeking donations to help reopen the shop in the spring, and has a PayPal button set up on its website for financial contributions. It’s also accepting donations of tools and other shop materials and is looking to restart the earn-a-bike program that had be dropped because demand outstripped resources.
“We are all volunteer, and 100 percent of donations goes toward providing materials and tools and maintaining our space,” Drexler noted.
To donate, email thecommunityspoke@gmail.com or visit thecommunityspoke.org.
