East Van Kickstand is “kicking off” with an official opening celebration Friday, September 14, 2012. Kickstand is a volunteer-run community bike space being established with the support of the Britannia Community Services Centre in the Grandview Woodland neighbourhood. Their vision is to promote bike culture in East Vancouver while fostering an inclusive community of environmentally and health conscious consumers, empower cyclists and potential cyclists with mechanical skills and provide an accessible, inclusive workspace for cycle enthusiasts of all ages.
GRAND OPENING!
When: Friday, September 14th 2:00 – 7:00 pm (official opening from 2:00 – 2:30 pm)
Where: 1739 Venables Street at Commercial Drive, Vancouver (’round back in the basement of Astorino’s)
What: Festivities include a public BBQ, children’s activities, cake, bike blender smoothies, bicycle workshops and an official chain breaking.
(For more information see the press release.)
The Kickstand program supports skill sharing and knowledge “building” by offering a drop-in work space as well as programming including an afterschool bike club, an earn-a-bike program for youth and stand-alone workshops on bicycle maintenance. Kickstand provides the tools needed for bike maintenance and repair, skilled volunteers and a large space with three working bike stands (with plans to expand to eight).
Current programming:
Drop-In
Come check out our new space and sweet tools! We will be open depending on volunteer availability. Please check our calendar for hours. We do not currently have consumables (brake pads, new tubes etc) but feel free to pick some up and use our tools to install them!
Earn-a-Bike Program
Kickstand has partnered with PEDAL by providing a space for their fantastic Summer Earn-a-Bike program!
Five lucky local teenagers rode away with a bike and the knowledge to maintain it last week! We will be organizing another Earn-a-bike for youth in the fall and have an ongoing program for adults coming soon!
For more information visit the Kickstand website, Facebook page or follow them on Twitter!
