Ending the cycle

A unique social enterprise offering mobile bicycle maintenance and support for people experiencing disadvantage has opened a workshop in Docklands.

Good Cycles has signed a peppercorn lease with Places Victoria and has opened a workshop on the ground floor of Places Victoria’s Goods Shed North office.

The non-profit organisation, founded by Luke Wright and Loretta Curtin, offers a convenient bike maintenance service.

Professional mechanics travel throughout the CBD and surrounding suburbs, servicing bikes and teaching the essentials of bike maintenance, predominantly for groups.

“For Docklands businesses we can even pick bikes up and bring them back to our workshop to be serviced if that’s preferred,” Mr Wright said.

Participants involved in the Good Cycles program are employed as trainees, receive nationally accredited training and are provided with personal and employment support.

The ultimate goal is for trainees to gain employment in the cycling industry.

Good Cycles became operational a few months ago and the new Docklands base is its first permanent workshop.

“Having a home base is crucial to Good Cycles’ success. It’s a place to call our own, to work and train and to grow as an organisation,” Mr Wright said.

“The security that comes with the tenancy in Docklands gives Good Cycles the breathing space to focus solely on its work and its mission,” he said.

“We couldn’t be happier in this space. It’s big, warm and central to our customers. It’s everything we need.”

Currently the lease is a casual arrangement but Mr Wright said he hoped it would continue into the future as Good Cycles grew.

Places Victoria general manager Simon Wilson said providing a home for Good Cycles was one of a number of initiatives underway in Docklands to activate underused spaces, citing the Docklands Spaces program.

“We are really excited to bring these dynamic new businesses into the area, providing a greater mix of businesses in Docklands and bringing more people to the area,” Mr Wilson said.

Good Cycles’ workshop is located at the Goods Shed at the corner of Village St and Fishplate Lane.

For more information see http://www.goodcycles.org