Driving is expensive, traffic is intense, and the environment is hurting...but what can you do about it? The Good Life Community Bike Shop can help, with their Gears and Queers workshop, “an introductory bike mechanics workshop in an all queer environment.”
Britt Aberle, a member of The Good Life family and an instructor for Gears and Queers wants the queer community to know about this workshop. “At our last queer workshop, I asked people if they had known prior to Good Life’s participation in 2009’s Pride Calgary events that we were a queer positive organization. People said no. They suggested that we start getting our name out there with other queer positive/queer organizations.” Being a part of Pride Calgary 2009 was obviously a good start, and Aberle hopes this positive publicity continues.
The Good Life Community Bike Shop is a non-profit, community run bicycle repair and education centre located in Eau Claire Market. It is a free space where anyone can learn to maintain their bikes by means of building, repairing through workshops and volunteer participation. There are programs to suit all individuals including earn-a-bike programs for homeless or low income individuals, women-only workshops, and educational programs for young people. If you are looking for a bike, and not wanting to spend an excessive amount of money, they also have a bicycle reusing program and bike recycling depot. Serving over 2100 members, the business it is also celebrating its one year anniversary.
Starting with only a small community grant, The Good Life Community Bike Shop, run solely by volunteers, has become a major destination for many biking enthusiasts. Proudly claiming to have diverted more than 600 bikes from the waste stream to be reused and recycled, it has continued to be a leading organization in the green movement. These volunteers are also donating their time to what they believe in, and community support and participation is the only way to continue the progress they have made.
The Gears and Queers workshop is one of Good Life’s answers to creating a safe space for everyone – an all queer environment facilitated by all queer staff. These workshops will run bi-monthly, on a “mutual-aid basis”. According to Aberle this means that they support “community members through helping people build their skills with bikes, and offering the use of our bike workshop space – people in the community support the Good Life through donations and volunteer work. Often people volunteer one hour to attend a workshop or give $5-$20 depending on what people can afford.”
“People can expect to learn some basic bike mechanics skills. At the beginning of each workshop, we do an introduction that includes asking people what they want to learn. Workshop content is dependent on what people want to learn. Some of the common basics people learn are: how to fix a flat tire, how to adjust brakes and gears, and how to check a bike over to see if it is safe to ride. Having fun and meeting new people is a big focus of these workshops.”
It is not necessary to bring your bike to these workshops however you are welcome to do so if you wish. Anyone who identifies as queer is able to attend these workshops, and of course, visit the Good Life Community Bike Shop at any time. Free snacks are also provided!
The Good Life Community Bike Shop has accumulated their membership of 2100 individuals in only one year - it is obviously catching on, and may be worth your time to check out. Through participation and support in organizations like this, you are taking steps toward a better city and world.
