How “Bikes for Refugees SA Inc” started
The scheme had its origins in 2002, in people who were members of the Bicycle Institute of South Australia (now Bike Adelaide) – a long established community group that advocates for use of bicycles for every day transport, promotes cycling, and aims to improve facilities for cyclists in S Australia. Many BISA members also had interests in social justice, environment and sustainable development.
In 2002, the sister of a Bicycle Institute member met some African people speaking French, which she also spoke. They were from Congo, and expressed interest in cycling here, as they didn’t have cars.
Bicycle Institute members responded with 18 bikes: 4 for the Congolese people; 14 to the Australian Refugee Association (ARA) to help others. The scheme continued for a number of years, supplying bikes to other welfare organisations to give out.
2003-2010: The scheme ran from the back yard of a suburban home, informally, small scale, but expanding over time.
2011-2014 In 2011, Ianto Ware, Jeremy Miller and others of the Bicycle Institute of South Australia, set up the Adelaide Community Bicycle Workshop, with a grant from State Government Dept. of Premier & Cabinet. West Torrens Council offered use of a room at Hayhurst Community Centre, Long Street, Plympton. The Workshop was a shared community resource, where many Adelaide cyclists and bike clubs could use to work on bikes. Bikes for Refugees used it to work on its own bikes, and also manage day to day running of the workshop. The workshop was mainly open Saturday mornings.
2013-4 – incorporation and formalisation of arrangements – The scheme had grown to the size where it was no longer appropriate to run informally, and where its scale justified the effort and time involved in formalising arrangements. The scheme adopted a constitution and registered as an incorporated association, not for profit, and with strictly charitable aims in line with legislation. It registered business names and acquired an ABN. It formally took on responsibility for running of the Adelaide Community Bicycle Workshop. It also registered with State and Federal governments as a charity and obtained a licence to obtain funds for charitable purposes.
2015 to present. In Feb 2015 the workshop moved to become part of the Conservation Council of SA’s “Joinery” precinct, in the old bus depot at 111 Franklin Street, Adelaide. The joinery is shared space used by several community organisations and small businesses, with a common focus on sustainability. The Workshop consists of three shipping containers plus work space, sited in an attractive community garden run by Common Ground. Opening hours are Tuesday through to Saturday. The scheme currently handles around 24 bikes a week, or 1,200 bikes a year, most of which are put back into use.
Adelaide Community Bike Workshop 