Help 2nd Cycle Keep Helping Cyclists

Tacoma's 2nd Cycle has been helping Tacomans fix their bikes from various little corners of Hilltop since 2008. They've operated out of several more temporary spaces in the neighborhood, but now the little nonprofit is moving to what they hope will be a more permanent space - and they're asking for a little help.

The Organization

If you're not familiar with 2nd Cycle and you've got a bike, you should be. They're a great community resource with a mission of educating and assisting cyclists.

Second Cycle is a community cycle center which supports, educates, and advocates for cyclists, new and experienced, in the Hilltop and surrounding Tacoma community. We provide community workspace, bicycle maintenance classes, literature, repair service, as well as new and used bicycle components while maintaining accessibility by providing affordable pricing.  We hope that others, like us, feel empowered by learning how to fix and maintain their personal cycle.

2nd Cycle started in someone's garage. As they've grown, they've moved several times, and have taken on a more permanent presence in Hilltop, with extended hours, a shop manager, and official nonprofit status. The community cycle center hosts events like a weekly women and LGBTQ night, and offers kids from the neghborhood the chance to learn how to work on bikes, and they use a pay-what-you-can structure for some items and services. Going forward, they hope to develop and expand programming for both youth and adults. 

The bike workshop isn't moving too far - they'll be staying on the Hilltop, but moving from their current location at 13th and MLK to the corner of Earnest S. Brazil and MLK, just across from the Community Healthcare building.

The Ask

The new space will need a little work to make it a more ideal workshop - walls and benches need to be built, doors and lighting installed, electrical and bathrooms need finishing, and the space needs a fresh paint job and signage. With this move they're hoping to make the new space home for at least the next decade or two.

That's where you come in. As a community resource, offering low-cost assistance, they're asking the community to give them a little boost to help them make the move. 2nd Cycle promises to do the most with your donations, and it sounds like it will be a pretty nice space.

We will be building our Open Shop work benches out of 3" thick slabs of Douglas fir. The retail counter will be expanded with new concrete counters and new cabinets (inlaid with awesome bike gears).  It's going to be beautiful folks!

They're aiming for $5,000 for the move. At last check they were only at $1,445, but they've got three weeks to go. If you believe in what 2nd Cycle does, and would like to support them, you can donate on their Indiegogo page, or drop by their current shop at 1314 MLK.

Learn more about 2nd Cycle on their website, Facebook page, and in a recent post on the Tacoma Bike Rance blog. Or just stop by, see what they do, and maybe do a little work on your own bike...