April 28, 2025 by Kazuki Borchardt (‘26)
With the warmer months starting to roll out, more people are starting to enjoy outdoor activities. One activity that remains popular in Saratoga is cycling around the city and parks with family and friends.
A key organization that has been looking to encourage more people to be active is a group called Bikeatoga. The organization’s main goal is to provide residents with a bike for transportation or for leisure.
The group was founded in 2005 by creator Ian Klepetar. Klepetar reflects on his initial goal, stating “I started Bikeatoga with some of my friends as a way to make cycling more accessible and inclusive”.
Since its inception, the group has grown to have a full workshop and a display room filled with various bikes. Last year alone, the organization gave more than 700 bikes away with about 30 bikes given opening night.
Bikeatoga has also advocated for various things, such as bike lanes being installed all along city roads and advocating for a more sustainable future of transportation. Additionally, the group has set up various community events, such as going out and fixing bikes as well as hosting social rides.
“Bikeatoga is open to anyone and we have people here who are eager to teach others about the world of bikes” says a volunteer working in the bike shop. The volunteers host open workshops on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday every week which often draw many volunteers.
Anyone who wants to stop by or volunteer, should visit their shop in the basement of 241 broadway in Saratoga.