I’m writing this post in advance of this date, but if everything is going as planned then today is Jack VanDyke’s last day as a staff member here at Back Alley Bikes. It was planned this way because Jack has decided to step down from his staff position to spend more efforts on his family farm, Rising Pheasant Farms. Jack is going to remain a collective member and help guide the organization like he always has, so this is no reason to mourn. However it is a notable day, let me tell you why…
When I first started volunteering here at Back Alley Bikes I would ride my bike through the Cass Corridor and often hear folks hollering at me, “Hey Jack!” Turns out they were confusing me with Jack VanDyke. You see, even though it was five short years ago, biking in Detroit was much different. At the time it made sense that any white-skinned, bearded person riding through the Corridor was probably Jack because there weren’t so many folks riding bikes around. I considered it a compliment to be confused for such a kind hearted and handsome person.
But people didn’t say hello to me just because the population of white beardy folks was smaller, they said hello because of the reputation Jack has. I don’t really care who you are, if you have been involved with The Hub/Back Alley Bikes over the past six years you know who Jack is and your opinion of him is overwhelmingly positive. Am I wrong?
How did I read your mind like that? Easy, Jack has worked almost every position here at the shop and helped people at all turns. Jack has coordinated volunteers, managed The Hub retail shop, taught Youth Earn-a-Bike, worked with Mechanics-in-Training…what hasn’t he done? In fact, the only negative thing I can say about Jack is that he will work too hard to help everyone (and I guess that isn’t all that negative).
If I really think about it Jack is one of the reasons I’m writing this post right now. He invited me to get involved with volunteering, brought me onto the collective and supported me as I became staff. Working with him in programming has shown me how supportive of a person he can be.
My style is different and we have disagreed with each other in the small office we have in Back Alley Bikes many times. But Jack is never beyond communication. Jack never ceases to see other folks as human beings with worth.
This past year I was riding my bike downtown to where I lived at the time and I saw a group of our youth riding around on bikes they built at our shop. They yelled, “Hey Jason!” I waved and rode with them for a moment before turning off to run some errands.
I no longer look like Jack so it is harder to confuse the two of us and there are plenty more people that look similar to me riding around the neighborhood. But I hope that our kids will continue to yell “Hey Jason!” when they see me. Sure, I can say that I do this job selflessly, but it is nice to be recognized and felt needed in your own community.
So right here in this digital space I think I can speak for MANY people saying that Jack VanDyke is a person that is and has been needed in our community. We are fortunate to have him.
