A bike shop that comes to you: Pedal to the People

Founder and CEO Adam Clark with his mobile bike shop.

I met recently with Adam Clark, Founder and CEO of Pedal to the People. A strong advocate for biking, Adam founded Pedal to the People in 2009. His innovative approach to a bike shop is the Uber for bike repairs - instead of customers coming to the shop, he comes to you!  Here are some excerpts from the interview...

Tell us about Pedal to the People
Many people in the city don't ride a bicycle because they are afraid. We try to overcome that by going directly to the people, like a doctor coming to your house. By showing up for people, we are trying to help them feel more comfortable and lead by example. We also help them become more comfortable with their bike. We show them how to make it work.

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What services do you provide?
People ask where is the shop? The mobile shop has everything we need to service a bike. If we need something special we can order it. We do fleet repair, especially for people working in buildings in the loop. We come out to people to provide road side assistance such as fixing a flat. We also teach classes. 

Why did you start Pedal to the People?
We are dedicated to the freedom and mobility made accessible by the bicycle. I've had a passion for the bicycle since I was a kid, I wanted to have a deeper connection with the people riding the bikes and why they were 

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Who are your customers?
We help all ages and types of people. In fact, our customers are everyone but the stereotypical bike racer. 

What is the best way to connect with you?
Visit our Facebook page  

What is your favorite bike?
You really can't be happy unless you have seven bikes! I have four ride-able ones and I like them all!

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riding the bikes. our mission is to make cycling more accessible. In order to do that I wanted to go to the person and have a one to one connection with the person and their bike, thus Pedal to the People.

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Bike Commuting in Chicago
I asked Adam what changes he has seen in bike commuting in Chicago. He replies, "for starters, there are significantly more riders today." Adam says this as we look out at the street and watch bike commuters pass by regularly. He continues, "nowadays, people look at bikes  as more than just a device to get you from point A to point B." And this is where Adam's passion shines through."I consider myself a bicycle advocate. I want to make it more accessible for everyone." He's involved in several initiatives to improve accessibility and is keen on raising awareness on how cycling can be a more legitimate form of transportation. He concludes, "anything you do to promote cycling is good." Amen to that!

Check out Adam's advice to bike commuters