The Newark Bike Project is now open in Newark Shopping Center, once again offering Newarkers a convenient place to purchase a used bike or learn to fix the bike they have.
The nonprofit left its last location at 136 S. Main St. last year, and volunteers spent the past few months renovating and setting up the new space, which is located toward the back of the shopping center, between the movie theater and Goodwill.
The new space is slightly larger than the last one, provides a better layout for hosting events and has plenty of free parking. Even more importantly, it puts Newark Bike Project near the Pomeroy Trail — a popular cycling path — and provides more visibility and walk-in traffic, said Cesar Caro, co-chair of the nonprofit.
The front of the store is dedicated to retail sales, and the back includes repair stations, where volunteers help community members learn to fix their bike.
At night, the repair equipment can be pushed out of the way, and a stage provides space to host open mic nights, comedy shows, band performances and other community events.
“Those help fundraise and build awareness around the bike shop,” said Jaime Magee, co-founder of Newark Bike Project.
The organization got its start in 2011, inspired by the Urban Bike Project in Wilmington. It bounced around between several donated spaces, including one on Main Street, before moving into 136 S. Main St. in 2014.
“The idea is Newark is a bikeable town and it needs a community bike shop,” Magee said.
At the core of Newark Bike Project’s mission is education. People who need their bike repaired can make an appointment, and for a modest hourly fee, volunteers will help teach them how to make the repairs.
“If you don’t know a thing about bikes, we can teach you how,” board member Jon Limm said. “Our staff can teach you how to change a tire. Eventually you’ll be fixing up brakes. Eventually you will be taking apart a whole bike and putting a whole bike together. That just happens one hour at a time.”
The organization also fixes up and sells donated bikes, a way to provide cheaper bikes to the community and keep usable bikes out of the landfill.
“It gives these bikes a second lease on life,” Caro said. “We actually see many bicycles go through the community multiple times.”
He said it’s important to not only provide people with access to bikes but also make sure they are empowered to be able to maintain them on their own.
“This whole operation is a community enterprise,” Caro said. “Its volunteers, the community members and our partners come together to make it happen.”
During an April 19 grand opening celebration, County Executive Matt Meyer praised Newark Bike Project for its work.
“What Newark Bike Project is doing is so absolutely critical,” Meyer said. “You’re opening up biking to people and communities and neighborhoods who otherwise may not have access.”
Mayor Jerry Clifton concurred.
“This is such an important venue to get Newark on bikes, particularly young people,” Clifton said.
Limm said volunteering at Newark Bike Project is one of the highlights of his week.
“I walk out that door knowing I did something to help our planet, something to help not send bikes to a dump or landfill,” he said. “We’re keeping bikes on the road, helping people ride and keeping those riders safe.”
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