Mi’kma’ki/Nova Scotia – The Ecology Action Centre’s Pop-up Bike Hub has launched its 2023 season, bringing cost-free repairs and safe cycling education to 17 communities across Mi’kma’ki/Nova Scotia this summer. This mobile, do-it-yourself community bike repair space is a resource that reduces barriers to bike maintenance; in 2022 it saw 351 bikes repaired.
“Cycling is a sustainable, fun and cost-effective way to cruise around your town and city, but not everyone has the knowledge or tools to do so,” says Simone Mutabazi, Community Cycling Activation Coordinator with the Ecology Action Centre (EAC).
“The primary goal of the Pop-Up Bike Hub trailer is to make biking more accessible for people looking for sustainable transportation alternatives.”
The trailer started its fourth year by travelling to eight mainland Mi’kmaw communities, providing 25-minute tune ups, bike assessments, safe cycling education and safe cycling accessories and resources. The Pop-up Bike Hub’s team works with communities to get people familiar with simple bike repairs, and the trailer has tools available to provide basic repair and maintenance services to all kinds of bikes. So far this year the Pop-up Bike Hub has serviced 194 bikes.
For the rest of the summer, the trailer will be travelling to four communities in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), as well as Mi’kmaw communities in Unama’ki/Cape Breton.
In addition to the trailer, EAC’s Pop-up Bike Hub mini is partnering with five HRM communities to provide weekly drop-in sessions. The ‘mini’ is a bike repair hub on wheels: an electric cargo bike that provides access to tools and bike repair knowledge.
“This year we’re excited to travel in tandem with the Art Bikers and provide the space, tools, materials and inspiration to not only fix your bike, but also create art,” says Jessie Crawley, Community Outreach Officer with the EAC.
From now until Aug. 25, the Pop-up Bike Hub mini and the Art Bikers will be at St. Andrew’s Community Centre, North Grove, Mulgrave Park, Hope Blooms and Family SOS at the Greystone Centre.
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