Two Wheels Good, Four Wheels Baaad: Atlanta’s Sopo Bicycle Co-op
[image via Sopo Bikes]
Located right in the heart of East Atlanta, Sopo Bicycle Co-op is an amazing resource for local cyclists. The shop provides tools, education and free bicycle maintenance to anyone who pops in with a ride. You can even build your own bike there! Frames and various parts are available on a suggested donation basis, and their knowledgeable volunteers are always around to help out during shop hours.
The co-op got started in 2004 when a group of local cyclists were lamenting the high price of maintaining their bikes. For most of them their bikes were their primary mode of transit, so they couldn’t afford to leave them at a bike shop for a long period of time. Their solution? A collectively owned bike shop, where folks can share their tools and their knowledge! They started out as a mobile shop, doing repairs where their resources and expertise were needed. Now, they have a permanent space in East Atlanta and keep regular hours.
With more and more folks ditching their cars for pedal power, SoPo just keeps growing! They do all sorts of great community outreach, like offering affordable bike parking racks to local businesses.
