New Esperanza Bicycle Safety Center Opens in Albuquerque: A Community Hub for Education and Repair
The Esperanza Bicycle Safety Education Center in Northwest Albuquerque has served the community for over a decade. It offers bicycle education and repair services. There has been a strong demand for a second location since its opening.
Dave Simon, the city’s director of parks and recreation, noted the community’s desire for more accessible bicycle services. The city sought a new location that is easy to reach by bike and public transport, and that is in a family-oriented neighborhood.
After years of searching, the city found a suitable site at 3333 Truman NE, the former headquarters of the Boys & Girls Club. In 2020, the club agreed to relinquish control of the building as they planned to relocate.
The new center, named “the McKinley Center,” is now ready to open. It will occupy the northern section of the building, while the rest will house a teen center program.
How can community members get involved with the programs at the McKinley Center?
Interview with D.J. Casarez, Manager of the McKinley Center
NewsDirectory3: Thank you for joining us today, D.J. Can you start by telling us about the new McKinley Center and its purpose within the Albuquerque community?
D.J. Casarez: Thank you for having me. The McKinley Center is a new initiative to provide additional bicycle education and repair services to our community, following the success of the Esperanza Bicycle Safety Education Center. Located at 3333 Truman NE, the center aims to be easily accessible for families and individuals who rely on biking as a mode of transport. Our goal is to empower cyclists by providing hands-on maintenance training while fostering a love for biking.
NewsDirectory3: What prompted the decision to open a second location after the Esperanza Center’s long-standing success?
D.J. Casarez: There has been a significant demand for more accessible bicycle services since the Esperanza Center opened. Dave Simon, the city’s director of parks and recreation, noted the need for increased facilities that focus on convenience and community engagement. We wanted to ensure that our new location was easily reachable by bike and public transit, making it a great fit for a family-oriented neighborhood.
NewsDirectory3: The McKinley Center was established in a building that once served as the headquarters for the Boys & Girls Club. How did the transition to this new location come about?
D.J. Casarez: In 2020, the Boys & Girls Club decided to relocate, and they graciously agreed to relinquish control of the building. After considering various options, we believed this location would be perfect to serve our community’s needs. We’re occupying the northern section of the building, while the remainder will host a teen center program, thereby creating a hub of activities for families and young people.
NewsDirectory3: Can you elaborate on the unique approach of having community members participate in bicycle maintenance at the center?
D.J. Casarez: Absolutely. One of the key features of the McKinley Center is that all repairs and maintenance are done by the bike owners themselves, with guidance from our trained staff. This hands-on approach not only teaches valuable skills—like fixing a flat tire—but also empowers individuals to take ownership of their bikes. We provide all the necessary parts for free, sourced from donated bikes, which allows us to remove financial barriers and foster a culture of care and maintenance in our community.
NewsDirectory3: What are your hopes for community engagement moving forward, and what do you think this means for the future of biking in Albuquerque?
D.J. Casarez: I’m incredibly excited about the potential for community engagement at the McKinley Center. By teaching bike maintenance and offering services at no cost, we aim to promote sustainable transportation options and healthy living. I believe this will not only increase the number of people who enjoy riding bikes but also enhance the safety and accessibility of biking in Albuquerque. Ultimately, our goal is to cultivate a community that values cycling as a vital part of our transportation network.
NewsDirectory3: Thank you, D.J., for sharing your insights and the exciting developments at the McKinley Center. We look forward to seeing how it positively impacts the Albuquerque community.
D.J. Casarez: Thank you for having me! We’re eager to get started and engage with everyone in the community.
At the McKinley Center, community members can make appointments for bicycle tune-ups and maintenance. A distinctive feature is that all work is done by the bike owners, with guidance from staff. All necessary parts are provided for free, sourced from donated bikes.
D.J. Casarez, the center’s manager, is excited to engage with the community. He believes that teaching bike maintenance—such as fixing a flat tire—without charging anything is important. His goal is to help people care for their bikes and enjoy riding.