After more than 10 years of helping people repair bikes on Macquarie Street, Hobart Bike Kitchen is setting up next to the South Hobart Tip Shop in keeping with its mission to re-use first, then recycle.
Bike Kitchen volunteers aim to help other people repair and maintain their bikes while ensuring old bikes and parts get re-used to help more people ride and reduce waste.
It celebrated its 15th birthday last year, after starting in a Taroona backyard in 2009. The idea was hatched between three keen riders who met at a Critical Mass ride and was based on the original San Franciscan bike kitchen, which has been running for more than 20 years.
One of the Bike Kitchen’s founders, Mark Parssey, said the name reflects the activity of the group.
“The kitchen atmosphere of shared activity around the table, of all ages being included and valued, of knowledge being freely transferred seemed like a space we'd want to be involved in.
“The idea of getting more people cycling by sharing skills and recycling in a friendly, welcoming way seemed too good to ignore,” he said.
Bike Kitchen moved to the site behind the Wilderness Society building in 2013 when it outgrew its backyard setup. However, when extensive renovations were recently slated for the site, the group started looking around for a new home and eventually found the Tip Shop.
Marks says the Resource Work Cooperative, which runs the Tip Shop, was a logical partner.
“It soon became apparent that the Resource Work Cooperative and Hobart Bike Kitchen share several core values – waste minimisation, team driven and community focussed.
“Our aims are to get more people riding bikes as a form of transport and do this through offering an inclusive space for all people to make this possible, with a good stock of bike parts, volunteers and now also access to Tip Shop supplies, we will be even better placed to do this,” he said.
The Resource Work Cooperative will provide the Bike Kitchen with storage and workshop space in an old building next to its educational space.
The final details for the move are still being finalised, but once set up, the kitchen will operate Sunday workshop sessions 12–3pm.
If you would like to donate or volunteer please email hobartbikekitchen@gmail.com and upcoming session details can be found at https://hobartbikekitchen.org/upcoming-sessions/
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