Repairing Bikes and Building Confidence at Lucas Park

Author: Rico Guerra – School Programs Manager

On Thursday, May 1st, RICH CITY Rides hosted its second Free Bike Repair Clinic at Lucas Park. The event brought together community members, youth riders, and visiting partners for an afternoon of hands-on bike repairs and resource-sharing.

Last month’s clinic welcomed members of the Climate Justice Alliance (CJA) as part of their Richmond tour, led by Najari Smith, Carlos Torres, and the RichPEP Team. While our team put air in tires and handled light maintenance, we also took the opportunity to share information about our programs. CJA members showed particular interest in our High School Bike, Walk & Hike Clubs, highlighting future opportunities for collaboration.

As the afternoon unfolded, neighbors began stopping by—some curious, others with bikes needing attention. One rider was hesitant to get help at first, but after a bit of encouragement from Noe, our on-duty mechanic, they agreed to a quick tune-up. With just a few adjustments, they were soon riding through the park with ease and a noticeable boost in confidence.

“With a quick tune-up and a bit of reassurance, he was popping wheelies around the park.”

— Noe, Mechanic

Later in the day, a group of students from the Richmond High Bike, Walk & Hike Club arrived with bikes in need of some care. As Noe looked over their gear, our team made note of a few additional tools that could help us better serve both youth riders and other community members at future clinics.

Our next Free Bike Repair Clinic at Lucas Park will take place on Thursday, June 5th, from 3:30 to 5:30 PM—we hope to see you there!