Southwest Rides

About

More than just a bike shop: teaching entrepreneurship skills via bike/skateboard retail to Southwest Detroit youth and community members.

Story

At Southwest Rides, we aim to meet the needs of the community through providing paid opportunities for skill development in youth. Our youth provide products and services to southwest Detroit through a unique model of operation, which consists of three components:

Democracy
Training and Education
Advocacy

Southwest Rides functions democratically. This means those that operate and are invested in the business have a voice in the decisions made by the business. This provides an opportunity for all community members and workers to come to the table have their opinions heard. This model of operation empowers our workers and members to assume leadership positions, and to develop skills in dialogue, participation, strategy and management, all of which are key elements to building strong professionals.

We provide the training and education to our youth and community members so they can become truly skilled professionals. This includes many of the elements of professional skill development, including but not limited to: Bicycle mechanics, customer service, business management, fundraising, community outreach, marketing strategies, business expansion, and product sales. Through this training, our youth walk away with marketable skills, breaking down common barriers to employment.

Southwest Rides is a business that actively advocates for its community. In addition to providing a local source for bicycle ownership and repairs, our business and its members seek to build networks and coalitions with other businesses and organizations. Through this, we aim to build the support necessary to nurture a bicycle culture and create safer spaces for commuting. As a community bicycle shop, we advocate for bicycling as positive alternative to car ownership, and to aid in the efforts being made across the city to put Detroit on the map as a catalyst for alternative means of transportations.

Mission

Southwest Rides uses bicycle mechanics and shop management as a vehicle to empower youth through leadership and community engagement, providing them with the skills necessary for the road ahead.

Products

Full service bike shop

Skateboard supplies