bike repair station Bike repair station in use at the Brooklyn Public Library, Mill Basin Branch

The Brooklyn Public Library in New York went a step further for their patrons when they added a brand-new Bike Repair Station to their facility.

What a great amenity! And an amenity that serves several purposes.

"The library staff is super excited about our new bike repair stand," said Margaret Day, adult librarian, at the Mill Basin Branch. "It's a lovely bright yellow color that has attracted attention to the library and seems very sturdy thus far."

She added, "We've received lots of compliments! The community thinks it is a great idea to make basic bike maintenance and repairs easier, and encourage bicycle riding."

The first purpose of the bike repair stand is to obviously repair bicycles.

Fixing a bicycle, making necessary adjustments to parts like brake pads or even cleaning out the derailleurs can make for a safe and enjoyable ride.

Bike repair stations provide an array of handy tools

With all their equipment, these handy bike repair stands are like a portable garage.

Let's start with the tools. This model features:

  • Philips screwdrivers
  • Flathead screwdrivers
  • Allen wrenches - 2.5, 3. 4. 5, 6, 8 mm
  • Headset wrench
  • Pedal wrench
  • 8, 9, 10, 11 mm wrenches
  • Tire levers (2)

Those tools are securely fastened to the bike repair station with high-grade, stainless steel aircraft cables.

To make repairs and adjustments easy to do, there is also a pair of hangar arms for a convenient place to hang a bike and work on it standing up.

The bike repair stand at the library also provides a handy air pump. This is certainly a welcome sight for cyclists who find their tires are low or even leaking. That injection of air can be just the thing to help cyclists make it home or get to a bike repair shop.

As for aesthetics, a bike repair station can be ordered with a powder coat finish or a greyish-silver galvanized finish.

With the powder coat, there are an array of vibrant colors available. Those colors include yellow (which the library chose) black, bronze, dark purple, deep red, flat black, green, hunter green, light gray orange, silver, white and wine red, to name a few.

That durable coating also prevents rust and corrosion.

bike repair station Bike repair station with air pump

Repair stands encourage use of bikes over automobiles

Here's another purpose of this handy cycling amenity.

By providing a bike repair station, an entity can send a signal that it is working to facilitate the use of cycling as a way to get around town.

There are too many cars out there. And certainly, there are plenty of cars in Brooklyn.

The continual dependence on automobiles means there will continue to be more congestion…and more air pollution.

"The library wants to promote repair and reuse in our community," Margaret pointed out. "As well as encourage alternative transportation in a neighborhood in Brooklyn that is far from subway lines."

"Local residents are forced to rely on an unreliable bus system or on cars, when cars are expensive and parking can be challenging," she explained.

The trend is there. From 2011 to 2016, the number of commuters by bicycle in Brooklyn grew 65%.

The library calls their community-centered effort - "Fixing to Ride."

The program is described as a "Community-based approach to bike maintenance for free and open access to bike repair tools and programming to support the growth of bicycle transportation in Brooklyn."

In addition to the tools, the library is offering classes on basic repair skills, bike community and using bike parts for arts and crafts.

"By making repair resources more accessible to cyclists, these services would promote interest in fix-culture and contribute to an overall increase in the quality of life across a borough with diverse needs," read a statement on the website.

These types of amenities, including protected bike lanes and the availability of plenty of outdoor bike racks, create an infrastructure that supports bicycling.

When you make it easier for cyclists to ride, they will ride. Most people know hopping on a bicycle beats sitting in a traffic jam or trying to stuff themselves into a subway car.

Plus, pedaling instead of sitting is certainly much healthier. The average person can burn from between 450 to 750 calories per hour cycling.

The Brooklyn Public Library certainly expanded its services when they provided this bike repair station.

And like all good librarians, Margaret was sure to provide The Park and Facilities Catalog with a list of popular cycling-related books for all of those interested in cycling.

They include:

  • The Rider by Tim Krabbe
  • The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien
  • The Black Jersey by Jorge Zepeda Patterson
  • The Ultimate Bicycle Owner's Manual by Eben Weiss
  • Bicycle Repair Manual by Chris Sidwells
  • The World's Fastest Man: The Extraordinary Life of Cyclist Major Taylor, America's First Black Sports Hero by Michael Kranish
  • Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne (also one of the founding members of Talking Heads)
  • On Bicycles - A 200-Year History of Cycling in New York City by Evan Friss
  • Lands of Lost Borders - a Journey on the Silk Road by Kate Harris
  • Road to Valor: A True Story of WWII Italy, The Nazis and the Cyclist Who Inspired A Nation by Aili and Andres McConnon