Grand Opening: The H.U.B.

The first bicycle co-operative in Long Beach opened Saturday, April 3, spreading a positive atmosphere within the community.

Members of the community may use the H.U.B (Habitat Unto Humanity). to meet other bike riders as well as learn how to fix their own bikes, according to the motto.

Cal State University students, graduates and other community members helped make food, spin music, and move activities forward.

Bike riders enjoyed games such as farthest bike jump, best bike trick and fastest 500meter bike sprint.

















Vans and other popular brands helped sponsor the event by giving away tee shirts, backpacks and other apparel to raffle ticket winners and bike champions.

Donations were being taken to help pay for the food and other gifts. Bicycle co-op core member and former art education major Graham Baden expressed his desire to make $1,000. As the evening progressed, people continued to show their support with $1 and $5 bills.

The music band Chase Long Beach and the Long Beach Roller Derby used the H.U.B.'s grand opening to promote their upcoming events.

The main goal of the H.U.B. is to teach others how to maintain their own bikes through cheap, but solid equipment while promoting community bonding.

The H.U.B. created different programs to help people who can't afford a bike or maintanence by offering a trade.

In the Earn A Bike program, the person can trade 72 hours of labor for a new, but used bicycle.

Former journalism major Khristian Berrio recently took advantage of the program after joining the Catalyst.

The Catalyst is the primary organization, consisting of four groups: Pedal Movement, Green Long Beach, Long Beach Girls and Long Beach Creative.

Through the Catalyst, each organization shares information to help goals progress.

The H.U.B. moved forward quickly because of this collaboration. It took two months for the core members to make the H.U.B. presentable and ready to be used.

"I wish you could have seen this place before the remodel. There was a dead cat in one of the rooms," Baden said.

New flooring was put in, the walls were painted and lighting was put in to name a few of the remodel features.

Senior civil engineer major Cypress Kuhn began working on his bicycle at the co-op after getting back from his study abroad trip to Korea.

"They have all the specialized tools I need," he said.

Kuhn like Baden shows others how to fix their bikes themselves.

















For instance, junior civil engineer major and Treasurer of Pedal Movement Sabrina Rivera expressed her joy at learning about her bicycle.

"Graham taught me what a derailleur is," she said with a smile.

A derailleur is the device that moves the chain from one gear to another.

Baden did express the physical and emotional efforts it takes to put together a volunteer, community based operation: "It's a hell of a lot more work than I thought it would be, but I am meeting a lot of people," he said.

Substance abusers are one group of people in the community who have already showed their appreciation for the bike co-op's efforts to get them on a bike in hopes of bettering their lives.

"One guy, Jeffrey, really got involved; it was very cool," Ronnie Sandlin another core member of the H.U.B. said.

"The H.U.B. fosters a sense of community and infrastructure instead of people being isolated in their car," Rivera said. "It [also] eliminates parking problems, traffic, pollution and obesity rates."

Matthew Spencer, junior graphic design major said he and his freinds usually hang out at a bike shop called City Grounds, but noted that he would enjoy the close proximity and convenience of the H.U.B.

The H.U.B. is located at 1736 Long Beach Blvd near the Metro Station on P.C.H. It is open everyday from noon to 5 p.m.