The Bristol Bike Project

About us

The Bristol Bike Project came into being in December of 2008 after founders James Lucas and Colin Fan envisaged the idea of a community bike project while on a cycling trip around Scandinavia. We are a comprehensive Community Bike Project, repairing and relocating unwanted bicycles. We aim to help people from all walks of life get out on two wheels and for it to be an inclusive and empowering experience.

Objectives:
• To provide a valuable and empowering service for underprivileged and marginalised groups of people within our community whose lives would greatly improve through the benefit of having accessible, affordable and sustainable transportation.
• To provide an inclusive, non-judgemental, vibrant and supportive workshop environment for volunteers and project users alike.
• To encourage and promote skill sharing and independence, where new skills are learned in a way that is empowering for all.
• To divert and redirect functional bicycles and their working parts from recycling and landfill. Through doing this, we help to lower the demand for raw materials, promote the ideas of reuse within our community and offer an alternative to simply buying new.

Our services:
• Buy-a-Bike: We sell some great used bikes at affordable prices. Come down between 9am-6pm to check out our selection.
• Servicing & Repairs: We offer a full repair and maintenance service for the general public. The revenue generated from this supports the ongoing core work of the project – helping those less fortunate get out on two wheels.
• Maintenance Courses: Get to grips with your bike and save money! Courses run on Saturdays throughout the year.
• Dr. Bike - Mechanic for hire! Our team of expert mechanics are now available to hire. A great way to show your commitment to sustainable transport and healthy lifestyles

Our Workshops
• The Social Cycle: For adults at risk of social isolation. An opportunity to meet others in a supportive workshop environment.
• Earn-A-Bike: Three hour long, one-to-one workshop sessions working with marginalised people from within our community who need affordable and sustainable transport. Individuals work with one of the project´s mechanics to refurbish a donated bike, learning basic mechanical skills in the process. This scheme emphasises empowerment and self-reliance rather than simply being a handout. It involves practical, hands-on engagement that functions as a bonding process between owner and bicycle.
• Bike Kitchen: The Bike Kitchen is a drop-in workshop, open to the public. Come and take advantage of our fully equipped workshop with professional work stands and a full compliment of Park Tools to help you tackle any problem. We also have wide range of new and used parts available to buy as well as access to the internet, if you want to follow a You Tube tutorial. The workshop is managed by an experienced mechanic.
• Young People´s Programme: Our workshops engage young people from all backgrounds, with many coming from disadvantaged communities. As well as teaching new skills, we also offer young people the opportunity to spend time in a supportive, stimulating and non-judgemental environment and to have contact with positive adult role models.
• Women´s Night: A workshop session run by women, to share knowledge of bicycles in a friendly, informal atmosphere.
• Freedom of Movement: The Freedom of Movement Scheme hopes to enable and encourage women from marginalised and underprivileged backgrounds to use a bike. We have created a space in which women can work on a bike and learn simple bike maintenance skills in a friendly, women only environment.

James Lucas is the Community Coordinator at the Bristol Bike Project.

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.