Santa Maria may not seem like a bicycle friendly city compared to others, but native Ken Dahmen is trying to change that perception.
Dahmen, 28, is the Santa Maria program director for the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition, which opened up the Santa Maria BC Central at 310 E. Oak St. on April 28.
It’s not exactly a bicycle shop, although they sell bikes, gear, and other cycling-related stuff. Instead, it’s a shop where cyclists can repair their own bikes and get help doing it. For as little as $5 per hour, Dahmen offers a full range of bicycle tools and volunteer help to anyone with a do-it-yourself spirit.
The concept is simple: You show up, sign in on a tablet device, and get a box of tools, as well as access to a wall with specialty parts. Volunteers are on hand to assist with repairs. Dahmen adds that he’s not out to compete with the bicycle shops in town, but that his shop is for those who already have bicycles. Dahmen said a place like his is needed in Santa Maria.
Even though Santa Maria may not have the kind of bicycle infrastructure he and other cyclists prefer, Dahmen opened the shop because he said there are many people in town who rely on bicycles as their main form of transportation, especially those in the low-income category.
And even though you may not see them as much on the main road arteries of Santa Maria, Dahmen says bikes are out there, particularly kids who ride theirs to and from school.
“We’re a working city, everybody’s going to work,” Dahmen told the Sun. “The majority of the time, you’re going to see a bike rider during working hours.”
As California increases its gasoline taxes and vehicle registration, Dahmen said he expects to see more cyclists on the road.
He is actively working with government officials to improve bicycle conditions. In particular, he’s looking to open up more bike paths in the city and beyond, such as a path along the Santa Maria River that connects the city to Guadalupe.
He’s also working with the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department to develop a program to help kids refurbish used mountain bikes to use at the Los Flores Ranch Park, the 1,700-plus acre park roughly 8 miles southeast of the city. The park provides several miles of off-road bike trails.
The city has held at least one mountain biking event at Los Flores, a twilight ride where at least 75 people showed up, Dahmen said.
Dahmen hopes to hold more get-togethers like that, including some “ride and dine” events where cyclists meet and ride to various restaurants throughout the city where they’ll receive discounts on certain items.
BC Central also holds educational events at schools in Lompoc and at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church and St. Luis de Monfort Parish, both in Santa Maria, where he educates kids on bicycle safety and physical education.
“We’re trying to promote safety and individual health,” Dahmen said.
Santa Maria BC Central is located at 310 E. Oak St., between Miller and McClelland streets across from Foster’s Body and Paints, and is open on Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, visit sbbike.org.
Highlights
The Summer Jobs, Careers, and Leadership Summit is a free community event for youth and young adults ages 16 to 24 that provides participants with information on area programs and activities, as well as the tools and training needed to get a summer job or long-term career. The event is a part of the Career Pathways for Youth Initiative in Santa Maria and will be held on June 14 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Room G-106 at Allan Hancock College, 800 S. College Drive, Santa Maria. For more information, call Luis Servin at 896-6835.
Staff Writer David Minsky wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, mail, or email at [email protected].
