Building community, one bike rack at a time: Q & A with Two Wheel Valet’s Matalina Jordan

This Saturday, Atlanta United will kick off (and, of course, win) its home opener against the New England Revolution at Mercedes Benz Stadium, and Two Wheel Valet will be there to keep fans’ bikes safe for absolutely free. Since 2017, when the organization expanded to Atlanta from Washington, D.C., Two Wheel Valet has hosted bike parking at events ranging from street festivals to ball games, and even, we’re told, two weddings last year. (At one, revelers took a celebratory spin down the BeltLine).

We caught up with Matalina Jordan, the owner of Two Wheel Valet’s Atlanta operation, to talk about why she loves her job and the hope her organization inspires for the future of sustainable transportation in Atlanta and around the country.

Matalina Jordan

"You can't build community without connecting." Matalina Jordan is the Atlanta owner of bike valet service Two Wheel Valet.

How did you get started with Two Wheel Valet?

I started in 2018, and at that time, Manny [Mancia] was the operations manager. I worked with his wife in a physician's office and she asked if I could help her out over the weekend with the bike valet. And I said, “With what-what?” But I went out and that weekend was actually Music Midtown. And it was just a biiiig old parking lot of bike racks. Really hot. No shade. And I loved it. I just remember thinking, “Ohh, okay. So the bicycling community is huge down here in Atlanta.” And that’s how I started. And things just kind of accelerated from there and now I’m the owner in Atlanta.

Congratulations.

Thanks. I really love what I do. I really know the footprint of Atlanta events, and I still work as a bike attendant; still get out there at events to be with my team.

Tell me about the demand you see for this service and people’s reactions to the fact of a bike valet.

Going to other cities, now, I find myself saying, “They could use a bike valet.” Especially when you see bikes posted against trees or railings. And it feels good to say, “Atlanta has it.” That’s a great thing about this city. When we’re out at Mercedes Benz [Stadium], a fan of the opposing team will walk by and say, “What’s this?” And that’s great, because it spreads the word. There’s this community feel and support. People who say, “I brought my friend out because I wanted to show them what you do.” And people wonder, “Do I have this in my city?”

Biking is a way that people have of getting around town, getting to and from work, running errands. It truly allows people to connect with their lives without a [motor] vehicle. And Two Wheel Valet grants [people who rely on their bikes] access to these events when they wouldn’t normally have access. They can feel comfortable, knowing: We’re watching your bike. It’s safe. So this form of transportation doesn’t feel like a stepchild.

Matalina and daughter, Tanaya Pinkston, doing bike valet at Move for Grady event

Right. That’s really fascinating how this has shifted your perspective to thinking, “Hey. This should be standard everywhere.”

Yeah, and it’s funny because even just here in Atlanta, I see bike lanes in certain neighborhoods and not in others. And the ones that do not have designated bike lanes, I see the people trying to maneuver their way through and it’s like: Okay, well, everyone needs to be safe. Everyone needs to have access to the same things. So, when working on these roads, why not just go ahead and put a bike lane in? Make that standard. Just allow that option there.

Speaking of parity, a key part of Two Wheel Valet’s mission is its dedication to diversity, representation, and authenticity. How and why?

Well, that’s our community. That’s what Atlanta is. Atlanta includes everybody. You know, Atlanta is very inclusive. And I’m saying that, coming from California. My staff of bike attendants – I have students and I have professionals. We all come from different walks of life. We have different views on things. And we’re building something together here.

Which is how things like the BeltLine or safer streets or better transit have historically happened, too, right? – when we all pull together. Where do you run into challenges in trying to build that vision, and what makes you optimistic?

My challenges are typically with the higher-ups. They’re in cars. They have parking spots. A lot of the red tape that’s hitting us comes from those who maybe have never ridden a bike to go to an event and so they don’t get it. And I say, try it out. Bring your family! Bring the kids. On a bike, you can really get to know your city from the ground up and feel connected. You get to see your city. It’s like at Streets Alive. Last year, when that came back and I got to experience it? I was like, “Oh! Okaaaaay!” Seeing all the vendors and the community together in Downtown Atlanta was incredibly inspiring. Because you can’t build a community without connecting.