Thumbs up for new bike hub

Local not-for-profit Good Cycles has successfully raised the $40,000 needed to build a bicycle hub on Harbour Esplanade.

A two-month crowd-funding campaign, along with matched funding from Places Victoria, got the organisation over the line and made the new community facility a possibility.

By the end of the campaign the organisation had raised a total of $44,718.

“The matched funding has made a huge difference,” Good Cycles communications manager Matt McCullough said. “Effectively we’ve raised $20,000 from our supporters and that’s been matched by Places Victoria.”

Places Victoria general manager Simon Wilson said the community bike hub would be great for Docklands and the many cyclists who travel along Harbour Esplanade.

“Places Victoria was pleased to be able to assist Good Cycles with their fundraising and we look forward to seeing their vision come to life,” Mr Wilson said.

Mr McCullough issued a “huge thank you” to everyone who had contributed to the crowd-funding campaign.

“It’s great to be able to have this project go ahead and it’s great to have that validation from the community about what we’re doing,” he said.

He said he believed the campaign has been successful because Good Cycles’ network appreciated and valued the work it was doing.

“The people who do know about us and know what we do, for them Good Cycles is a really practical way to make a difference. We’re using bikes to engage people and give new opportunities to people who are experiencing disadvantage,” Mr McCullough said.

Mr McCullough said the new bike hub would allow Good Cycles to expand its existing services.

The organisation operates as a retail bike store and bike-servicing centre. As a not-for-profit organisation, its revenue goes towards supporting social programs, which offer disadvantaged people employment pathways within and outside the bike industry.

“The bike hub will allow us to do a whole lot of things, we’ll be able to provide more services to people who use the bike path every day,” Mr McCullough said.

“In commercial terms, that means we’ll be able to increase profit and because we’re a not-for-profit that means we’ll be able to have more of a social impact,” Mr McCullough explained.

Mr McCullough said Good Cycles also aimed to hold events at the new hub, including talks and screenings and hoped it would become a real “hub” for Melbourne cyclists where they could meet and hold rides from.

“We know how beneficial and life-changing bikes can be,” Mr McCullough said.

“That’s true across the board, not just the people we’re helping through our social programs, but more generally – it makes you healthier, happier and saves you money.”

It’s hoped the new hub will be up and running in August and Mr McCullough said Good Cycles had received assurances from Places Victoria that it’s Harbour Esplanade site would be available for the next three to five years.

A semi-permanent, shipping container design, the bike hub will be relocatable when the site is required for other purposes in the future.