Posted on Sept. 19: Cycling co-op opens its doors today

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/cycle_3.jpg” caption=”MACycle Co-op”]Cycling is a way of life for Sean Park. The third-year bachelor of health sciences student doesn't drive a car. In fact, he doesn't even have a driver's licence. For him it's have bicycle, will travel.

He knows how important it is to have a bicycle in working order and how expensive it can be to fix common bicycle problems such as a broken chain or a flat tire.

That's one of the reasons he and fellow student Dan Freeman have formed the MACycle Co-op. Along with a handful of other keen cyclists, the pair have opened a bicycle repair shop in the basement of Wentworth House to provide cycling students, staff and faculty with an affordable way to fix their bicycles.

“Most people don't know how to fix a flat tire or a broken chain and it can be costly to go somewhere to have it fixed. This is a service cyclists need to keep biking,” says Park.

The co-op officially opens its doors today(Thursday), with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6 p.m. The office is located below the Phoenix.

The not-for-profit shop is being run by members, with Freeman currently serving as president and Park vice-president. Students can join the co-op for $10 a year; the fee for others is $15 annually. About 35 people currently are members.

Says Freeman, a third-year Arts & Science Program and geography student, “The idea behind the shop is that it will be run by students/volunteers during the week so that people can come and work on their bikes. To make the shop more effective, students having bike repair experience will be able to assist those doing repairs in the shop.”

The co-op offers cyclists a wide assortment of tools they can use to fix their bicycles, something most students can't afford or can't quickly or easily access. The shop also carries a small supply of bicycle parts such as replacement tubes.

Technical support, bicycle repair classes, engraving, discounts at local cycle shops and resource material, such as maps of local cycling trails, are among the other services the co-op is providing. The shop is being staffed by members, who volunteer some of their time to the shop as part of their membership.

In addition to providing what they believe is a much-needed service on campus, Freeman and Park say one of the goals of the co-op is to build a community of cyclists. “We want to promote cycling as a way of life, a form of recreation and an alternative mode of transportation not only for students, but others as well. We hope we can give people more of an incentive to ride than drive,” says Freeman. He says membership is open to the entire Hamilton community.

The students hopes to raise awareness of the needs of cyclists. Both say there is a need to build a more cycle-friendly campus. Pushing for an indoor bike storage for those who desire a more secure lockup for their bicycles and lobbying for the development
of a master campus cycling plan are just some of the ways to develop a more bicycle-friendly campus and community, they say.

The co-op has found support on campus, with startup funding being provided by the McMaster Students Union, the Office of the Vice-President Administration, and the Arts & Science Program. The group has worked closely with Linda Axford, University planner, in finding a suitable location on campus.

Park and Freeman are ambitious in their goals for the co-op. They'd like to see it become self-sustainable, staffed full-time and supported in a manner similar to the bicycle-co-op at the University of British Columbia, where there is a large cycling community.

But it's not all business for Park and Freeman. The co-op is also about good times. “The patio outside the shop will be a great place for students to meet and listen to music while reflecting on how great life is because of biking. Events like races around campus, bicycles as art, and Bike To Mac Day are all positive ways of showing our community why cycling is a fun, inexpensive and an environmentally friendly activity,” says Park.

Co-op hours are 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12-3 p.m. on Saturdays.

Photo caption: Dan Freeman, a third-year Arts & Science Program and geography student, left, and Sean Park, third-year bachelor of health sciences, fix a bicycle at the new Macycle Co-op located below the Phoenix. Photo credit: Chantall Van Raay

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[img_inline align="right" src="http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/cycle_3.jpg" caption="MACycle Co-op"]Cycling is a way of life for Sean Park. The third-year bachelor of health sciences student doesn&#039;t drive a car. In fact, he doesn&#039;t even have a driver&#039;s licence. For him it&#039;s have bicycle, will travel.<p><br />
<br />
He knows how important it is to have a bicycle in working order and how expensive it can be to fix common bicycle problems such as a broken chain or a flat tire. <p><br />
<br />
That&#039;s one of the reasons he and fellow student Dan Freeman have formed the MACycle Co-op. Along with a handful of other keen cyclists, the pair have opened a bicycle repair shop in the basement of Wentworth House to provide cycling students, staff and faculty with an affordable way to fix their bicycles. <p><br />
<br />
"Most people don&#039;t know how to fix a flat tire or a broken chain and it can be costly to go somewhere to have it fixed. This is a service cyclists need to keep biking," says Park. <p><br />
<br />
The co-op officially opens its doors today(Thursday), with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6 p.m. The office is located below the Phoenix.  <p><br />
<br />
The not-for-profit shop is being run by members, with Freeman currently serving as president and Park vice-president. Students can join the co-op for $10 a year; the fee for others is $15 annually. About 35 people currently are members.<p><br />
<br />
Says Freeman, a third-year Arts & Science Program and geography student,  "The idea behind the shop is that it will be run by students/volunteers during the week so that people can come and work on their bikes.  To make the shop more effective, students having bike repair experience will be able to assist those doing repairs in the shop."<p><br />
<br />
The co-op offers cyclists a wide assortment of tools they can use to fix their bicycles, something most students can&#039;t afford or can&#039;t quickly or easily access. The shop also carries a small supply of bicycle parts such as replacement tubes. <p><br />
<br />
Technical support, bicycle repair classes, engraving, discounts at local cycle shops and resource material, such as maps of local cycling trails, are among the other services the co-op is providing. The shop is being staffed by members, who volunteer some of their time to the shop as part of their membership. <p><br />
<br />
In addition to providing what they believe is a much-needed service on campus, Freeman and Park say one of the goals of the co-op is to build a community of cyclists. "We want to promote cycling as a way of life, a form of recreation and an alternative mode of transportation not only for students, but others as well. We hope we can give people more of an incentive to ride than drive," says Freeman. He says membership is open to the entire Hamilton community. <p><br />
<br />
The students hopes to raise awareness of the needs of cyclists. Both say there is a need to build a more cycle-friendly campus. Pushing for an indoor bike storage for those who desire a more secure lockup for their bicycles and lobbying for the development<br />
of a master campus cycling plan are just some of the ways to develop a more bicycle-friendly campus and community, they say.<p><br />
<br />
The co-op has found support on campus, with startup funding being provided by the McMaster Students Union, the Office of the Vice-President Administration, and the Arts & Science Program. The group has worked closely with Linda Axford, University planner, in finding a suitable location on campus.<p><br />
<br />
Park and Freeman are ambitious in their goals for the co-op. They&#039;d like to see it become self-sustainable, staffed full-time and supported in a manner similar to the bicycle-co-op at the University of British Columbia, where there is a large cycling community. <p><br />
<br />
But it&#039;s not all business for Park and Freeman. The co-op is also about good times. "The patio outside the shop will be a great place for students to meet and listen to music while reflecting on how great life is because of biking.  Events like races around campus, bicycles as art, and Bike To Mac Day are all positive ways of showing our community why cycling is a fun, inexpensive and an environmentally friendly activity," says Park.<p><br />
<br />
Co-op hours are 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12-3 p.m. on Saturdays.<p><br />
<br />
<i>Photo caption: Dan Freeman, a third-year Arts & Science Program and geography student, left, and Sean Park, third-year bachelor of health sciences, fix a bicycle at the new Macycle Co-op located below the Phoenix. Photo credit: Chantall Van Raay</i>

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