Albuquerque honored the memory of a beloved cycling safety educator Monday by renaming two city facilities that embody his life’s work, a tribute that resonates deeply in a city where bicyclists face significant safety challenges.
The community bike hub that Chuck Malagodi helped create is now officially the “Chuck Malagodi Esperanza Bicycle Safety Education Center,” while a section of the North Diversion Channel Trail south of Balloon Fiesta Park, one of his regular commute routes, also bears his name. The ceremony took place on what would have been Malagodi’s 65th birthday.
Malagodi was killed on Jan. 19 in a hit-and-run crash while riding his bicycle home near Kathryn Avenue and Carlisle Boulevard. The 64-year-old had just finished fixing bicycles for Free Bikes 4 Kidz when a friend offered him a ride home. “I’ll ride my bike,” Malagodi told his friend, according to news reports. He was struck about a mile from his house around 4:30 p.m. by a white Ram 1500 whose driver fled the scene.
During his 25 years with the city’s Parks & Recreation Department, Malagodi developed and managed bicycle safety and outdoor education programs that taught over 10,000 youth annually how to ride safely, a significant impact in a city that averages about 188 bike crashes per year, with drivers causing over 97% of vehicle-bicycle collisions.
“My dad truly had hope,” said Angelina Malagodi during Monday’s ceremony, according to a city press release. “That one individual can leave such a legacy is beautiful to me. I hope that each of us carry on the hope that this center brings, the belief that one individual can really change things.”
Malagodi played a central role in launching what was then known as the Esperanza Community Bike Shop and helped bring the Safe Routes to School program to Albuquerque and throughout New Mexico. After retiring in November 2020, he remained active as a board member and project coordinator for Free Bikes 4 Kidz New Mexico and volunteered as a youth minister at Holy Ghost Catholic Church.
The dedication is part of the ABQ Stories of Us initiative, a city program that recognizes “extraordinary people, past and present, who have left an indelible mark on Albuquerque’s historical landscape.” The program honors “visionaries, central figures and inspirational leaders who have made significant contributions to the cultural, social and economic fabric of the city.”
“Chuck lived and breathed community service,” said Mayor Tim Keller, according to the press release. “May his legacy serve as a reminder of what one person can do to help so many others.”
Malagodi’s death highlighted ongoing cycling safety concerns in Albuquerque, which accounts for 53% of New Mexico’s bicycle crashes despite being just one city in the state.
“Esperanza means ‘hope,’ and Chuck embodied that,” said Parks & Recreation Director Dave Simon, according to the press release. “Chuck gave this city his time, heart, and vision of a more connected, bike-friendly community.”
The city has made progress on cycling infrastructure, earning a Silver award for bicycle friendliness from the American League of Bicyclists in 2020 and investing almost $5 million in 2024 for physically protected bike lanes. Community members are encouraged to share stories and nominate future honorees at cabq.gov/stories-of-us.