Seattle Press on Line - New Bicycle Repair Shop at Nathan Hale High School

Teacher Ted

New Bicycle Repair Shop at Nathan Hale High School

By Ted Lockery

Nov 21, 2001 -- It wasn't until the Nathan Hale High School PTSA encouraged teachers to apply for mini-grants to fund school projects that everything fell into place: "Why not create a bicycle mechanics shop for students and faculty to work on their bikes?"

I knew it was a good idea, and I had a sense that it would probably get funded (it did, partially). What I didn't expect, however, was the degree of interest it would generate in the students. The day after I applied for the grant and word got out about starting a bicycle repair shop, Fern Alexander Zimmerman, a senior at Hale, took it upon himself to write a petition urging the PTSA to fund the project. Within hours, forty-some students and faculty signed!

I asked Zimmerman why he liked the idea. He replied, "I think the shop would be a great place to learn how to maintain your bike, fix it cheaply, and learn about road repair and bike safety. It'd be a cool place to hang out in an environment which is conducive to biking." He added that several Nathan Hale students ride their bicycles to school and that having a bike shop might lead to organized road trips and that it "might change people's views out biking and create a biking culture at school."

To some extent, a biking culture already exists at Nathan Hale. Four faculty members consistently ride their bicycles to work each day from locations as far away as Wallingford and Beacon Hill, inspiring the rest us (while putting us to shame!). I now have joined the likes of teacher Kim Jones, one of Hale's diehard cyclists, who says, "It's infectious. When people see me with my bike they say, 'I'm so inspired.' Then those same people will ride their bike to work."

Like Zimmerman, Jones is an ardent supporter of starting a school-based bike shop: "If we can succeed in building a shop or service-oriented bike club it will do wonders for kids' self-esteem and confidence...I myself would use the shop to develop my own bike maintenance skills and use it as an opportunity to contribute to the school in a different way. The bottom line is building relationships with kids and this shop would do just that."

Another source of inspiration for a school-based bike shop is the Bike Works educational bicycle mechanics program located in Columbia City. Youth at Bike Works participate in after-school training in bicycle maintenance and repair as they "recycle" donated bicycles for sale to the community. The culmination of their training includes building or fixing up a bicycle that becomes their own.

While the initial concept of having a bicycle mechanics shop at Nathan Hale High School doesn't include recycling bicycles, it does require a significant investment in tools. The students and staff heading up this endeavor are seeking donations of new or used tools: work stands, tire levers, spoke wrenches, Allen key sets, socket sets, screwdrivers, aprons, etc. If you or someone you know would like to donate tools, or would like to join us in providing bicycle mechanics training to high school students and staff, please contact us at (206) 252-3680.

Thank you!

Teacher Ted Lockery can also be contacted by e-mail at teacherted@seattlepress.com.

Reader Comments

Discuss this article in the forums!


Lester	May 11, 2003	Bakersfield,Ca,Kern county	Realestate buying and selling
Give me more information and price on your school bycycle repair class. Sincerely Yours Lester Dykeman


Raul R. Rodriguez	Dec 15, 2004	Sanger CA. 93657	Special Education Teacher
I would love to start a bicycle shop repair class at our high school.