Free Bikes promotion more popular than expected

The South Osborne Bike Hub is busy getting adult bikes road-ready for the Free Bikes promotion. Together with SOBH, the Riverview and Lord Roberts CLER Program is giving away eight adult bicycles in total to area residents. We’ve already had overwhelming interest in the bikes, and we wish we had more to give away!

But wait! There is still a way to get a very reasonably-priced bicycle from the South Osborne Bike Hub! Just head down to the bike hub on Monday or Thursday evenings (except holidays) from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and ask about how you can pay $25 for a partially-built bicycle that the uber-talented volunteer mechanics will show you how to fix up yourself.

South Osborne Bike Hub a community labour of love

We recently interviewed South Osborne Bike Hub volunteers Jaret Olford and Marcia Geary for an article for The Sou’Wester, and we were very impressed with the dedication it takes to start and keep this community-led initiative going.

According to Olford, there are now 12 core volunteers, each taking turns staffing the SOBH Mondays and Thursdays, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (except holidays.)

SOBH is located in the Lord Roberts Community Centre field outbuilding, and anyone is welcome to stop by.

SOBH is grant and donation funded. In order to ensure the continuation of the bike hub, donations from owners of repaired bikes are welcome, as are donations of parts, bikes and tools.

SOBH is also seeking volunteers with or without mechanical experience. You can learn about bike maintenance from a more experienced bike mechanic while you volunteer for a great cause. Just e-mail sobikehub@gmail.com.

Why is the bike hub important? According to Olford, though it started to encourage active transportation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the hub also brings the community closer together. Geary adds that the bike hub goes a long way to teaching people about how to maintain a safe bicycle.

SOBH is open “until the snow hits,” according to Olford, adding that repair assistance is available by appointment in the winter.

Bike To Work Day Park Theatre Pit Stop hosted 72 cyclists!

Our volunteer bike mechanic Jaret Olford poses with cyclists at the Bike To Work Day Park Theatre Pit Stop

The Bike To Work Day Park Theatre Pit Stop on Friday, June 24, was a huge success! 72 cyclists visited our pit stop for free coffee and muffins courtesy of the Park Theatre Cafe and to enter the Riverview and Lord Roberts CLER prize draw.

We gave away a handful of Bike to Work Day t-shirts, a box full of Assiniboine Credit Union swag and free Winnipeg Cycling 2011 maps. Jaret Olford, a South Osborne Bike Hub mechanic was also on hand for quick adjustments.

Bike To Work Day 2011 had a record number of cyclists register across Winnipeg. 2,700 Winnipeggers took to the streets with pride, and the organizers are hoping for an even larger number of registrants on the 5th annual Bike To Work Day Winnipeg next year!

We’d again like to thank the contributors to the prize draw. We gave away:

• a Bike To Work Day t-shirt from Bike To Work Day Winnipeg
• 1 rain barrel from the Riverview and Lord Roberts CLER Program
• a $25 gift certificate from Banana Boat
• a 2-class pass from Yoga Shala at 440 Don Ave.
• a Parks Canada Forks National Historic Site gift pack including 1 pass to the 6,000 Years in 60 Minutes tour and 1 geocache pass, as well as a children’s backpack and 2 water bottles
• a blanket and laptop bag from Assiniboine Credit Union
• a $10 Park Theatre Cafe gift certificate and refillable coffee mug
• Dynamo Front 3-LED Bike Light from Green Action Centre

Riverview and Lord Roberts CLER Program Coordinator Kerri Twigg poses at the Park Theatre Pit Stop

Bike Hub opens May 1st!

Community Ride and Open House Poster

Free Bike School @ South Osborne Bike Hub

It was great to see so many people out at tonight’s Bike School, hosted by South Osborne Bike Hub & CLER

The event was so successful that we may have to move to a larger space for the next event on April 6.