A Commitment to the Community
Global Spokes was formed in 2018 committed to 2 goals:
1. Giving members of the Atlanta, Decatur and Clarkston refugee communities access to bicycles, and
2. Providing cycling safety education, helmets, lights and locks for those receiving donated bikes.
Bicycles provide a sustainable form of transportation for students and those who work, giving them independence and freedom of movement that enhances their lives.
Our bikes are donated from neighbors, friends, family and bicycle co-ops, and refurbished for donation to the refugee community, as well as others who desire and need a bicycle for transportation or recreation.
Mike Flueckiger
Michael Flueckiger is a retired Emergency Medicine and Air Medical Physician, who has lived in Atlanta since 1992. An avid road and mountain bicyclist, he has been active in the Atlanta bicycling and advocacy communities for many years.
For nearly 20 years he collected bikes in his neighborhood, refurbished them, and donated them to local bicycle co-ops.
With the formation of Global Spokes, this work has expanded to the Georgia refugee community. As an ER physician, he was well aware of the importance of bike safety, whether that meant helmets, lights, safer streets, or legislation recognizing the the need for a vital bicycling community.
He is committed to the values of community service and sustainability. Michael serves as the primary mechanic for Global Spokes. He loves the bike and all things "bicycle!"
Rodger Burgess
Rodger is a former small business owner. As a manufacturer's representative for 35 years, he worked with manufacturing engineers selling assembly automation systems to the automotive, medical device, and telecommunication industries in the southeast. Recently retired, Rodger enjoys working with refugees and delivering bikes to young and older adults who are always so grateful for the simple gift of a used bike.
His past volunteer work includes assisting hospice patients, serving as civic association president, and at the local office of the International Refugee Committee (IRC) in their computer lab. Through the IRC, he learned more about the local refugee community and the challenges they face with mobility. Global Spokes seeks to connect with as many folks as possible to offer tangible mobility in the form of bikes, safety gear, and training."
He has lived in Atlanta since 1976. Rodger enjoys running and has run the Peachtree Road Race for 39 years. He is also a regular road and mountain biker as well as scuba diver.
Hunter Ramseur
Hunter Ramseur retired from a career in the field of rehabilitation consulting, serving
individuals primarily with catastrophic disabilities, but he's never stopped helping people.
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Over the years he has directed a halfway house, assisting clients return to work after injury, managed an outreach program for the Center for Assistive Technology at Georgia Tech, and provided independent living services for disabled veterans and technology to enable ALS patients to use the computer for speech and text communication.
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His involvement with Global Spokes springs from a long-lasting interest in recreational
biking and the desire to continue serving the community in a productive cause.
He stays active in retirement as a singer songwriter and performing around the
Atlanta area and providing music for an interfaith service at the Shepherd Center.
WORKING TO GET PEOPLE BACK ON BIKES
Rachel Blanchard
Spin Doctor Bike Clinic
Broke Spoke
And start-up help from
