Five years ago, as a psychology major at Cal State Northridge, Ken Dahmen told his friends, “After graduation, I’d like to teach people to ride bikes, but I don’t think that’s a job.” Now it’s not just a job but also a crucial support system for the growing cycling culture in Santa Maria. As the manager of Santa Maria’s Bici Centro, Dahmen spends his days promoting safer cycling. He organizes educational classes, teaches bike maintenance, and helps improve biking access for North County residents.
The shop, which opened its doors in May 2017, operates under the same do-it-yourself model as the main Bici Centro in downtown Santa Barbara. Both locations are run by the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition. When Dahmen approached the coalition about the idea of creating a shop in North County, he said they immediately loved the idea. “We don’t have a ton of infrastructure here,” he said, “but we have so many people in this area who would benefit from biking.”
For a low fee, cyclists can bring their bike in during shop open hours and utilize all of the tools, as well as the expertise of the bilingual staff and volunteers. A key component of the mission is to promote access to all. “We want everyone to have an opportunity to learn to work on their bike. If you don’t have any money, you can volunteer your time instead.”