ABOUT US Spoke Folks is a community bicycle program based in Lewiston, Maine. We recycle discarded and donated bicycle frames and parts into refurbished bikes for use by low-income community members. Our staff is all-volunteer. We are motivated by a passion for giving new life to old bikes and the pleasure of teaching maintenance and repair skills to others who depend on bicycles as an affordable means of transportation and recreation.

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HISTORY Our program began in 2004 as part of the Lewiston Time Dollar Network. Our bike shop held drop-in hours every week in the basement of the Time Dollar on Howe Street. During its time on Howe Street, the shop offered a fun and safe space for young people after school. We would offer free bike repair, bike parts, and give out refurbished frames when available.
	Our days on Howe Street...
Once that program ended at Howe Street, we began to share an equipment/storage space with another community group, Lots To Gardens. Lots to Gardens is a program of St. Mary's and operates out of the basement of the Nutrition Center of Maine, at the corner of Bates and Walnut Street in downtown Lewiston. In this new space, we refurbish donated bicycles for our own programs as well as maintain a bicycle fleet for Lots To Gardens youth interns and gardeners.
	CEI Youth Build helped us construct a new storage system for the Lots To Gardens bicycles
We have continued to operate from this location since 2005. Because the space is small and shared with Lots To Gardens, we do not offer public drop-in hours. We require volunteers and low-income individuals in need of bike repair to schedule a visit in advance. We also work closely with other local nonprofits and housing centers to arrange for bike donations, repairs, and workshops.
	Summer Workshops Hillview Housing Center