Lansing Bike Co-op will stay in place

Last week, the Lansing Bike Co-op signed a deal to purchase its headquarters on the northwest corner of Leslie and Kalamazoo streets from the owner, the Ingham County Land Bank.

The all-volunteer co-op faced a hard choice when the building went up for sale in June — come up with $40,000, move somewhere else or dissolve.

Earlier this month, an anonymous friend who supports the co-op’s mission came forward with a low-interest loan, according to the co-op’s president, Aaron Fields.

“I was shocked,” Fields said. “This kind of thing just doesn’t happen.”

The first payment is due in six months.

“We’re developing a fundraising campaign now and we’re going to push hard,” Fields said.

The all-volunteer co-op holds five-week classes that range from basic bicycle maintenance and repair to special topics such as bike commuting, bike touring and wheel building, with discounts for low-income cyclists. Classes emphasize hands-on experience, with the goal of “bicycle independence.” Donations to pay off the loan are being accepted at the co-op’s website, lansingbikecoop.org.