Cycling into September

By Rhianna Busler

Local not-for-profit organisation Good Cycles is set to start building its new bike hub this month with hopes of having the doors open at the end of September.

Housed in a semi-permanent shipping container, the new bike hub will be situated on Harbour Esplanade.

With the arrival of the shipping container, Good Cycles marketing manager Matthew McCullough said: “There shouldn’t be much disturbance to the pedestrians or bike riders. The construction will be contained and should only take about a week.”

Mr McCullough confirmed that local designer and street artist George Rose would be painting the container.

“There will be a soft launch once construction is complete and we plan to have an official launch a month after doors open,” McCullough said.

With an enormous amount of support from the public and Places Victoria, Good Cycles successfully raised $44, 718, making the new hub possible.

The public can expect to have access to Good Cycle’s facilities all through the week from 8.30am until 5.30pm with weekend times to still be arranged.

Good Cycles is a social enterprise charity that uses bikes to engage, educate, empower and to help disadvantaged people find employment.

Moving forward, McCullough said: “The future vision of Good Cycles is to really expand our impact as big as we can and to get other social organisations involved.”

With the second biggest bike trail in Melbourne, Capital City Trail, running through Harbour Esplanade, it was no surprise that Docklands is the home of choice for the new hub.

“It’s got high visibility, easy access for riders and a good view. What more could you want?” he asked.

Places Victoria is also working with City of Melbourne to finalise the design of landscaping works along Harbour Esplanade, near the NAB forecourt, which are due to commence this month.

Places Victoria general manager precincts Simon Wilson said the landscaped area would complement the Good Cycles bike hub and provide a glimpse of the future of Harbour Esplanade.

“Landscaping planned for the area includes new grassed spaces, flower beds and seating,” Mr Wilson said.

“The project will provide residents, workers and visitors with a great place to relax and enjoy the Docklands waterfront, particularly as we head into the warmer months.”

“The enhanced space will also cater for the many popular community events hosted along Harbour Esplanade during spring and summer including the International Festival and proposed lunar markets,” Mr Wilson said.