Good People

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Leadership Transition at Good Cycles.

Jaison Hoernel steps down after nine transformative years and we welcome our new CEO Kirra Johnson.

Good Cycles announces that CEO Jaison Hoernel has stepped down from his role, marking the end of an extraordinary chapter of leadership.

Jaison joined Good Cycles when it was a small Melbourne-based operation with a handful of staff. Over the past nine years, his vision and dedication have driven remarkable growth, expanding the organisation to a team of 160 employees across four divisions and multiple cities throughout Australia. Under his leadership, Good Cycles has positively impacted the lives of over 600 young people, furthering its mission of creating meaningful job opportunities and pathways for young people.

Reflecting on his tenure, Jaison stated: “It’s with a mix of pride and sadness that I announce my departure from Good Cycles. The timing is right as we embark on a new year. I’m incredibly grateful for everything I’ve experienced, learned, and shared with you over the years. 2025 will begin with some much-needed family time – beach walks and a few bike rides are on the agenda! After that, a new adventure?”

“I extend my sincere thanks to founders Luke and Loretta for their faith in me all those years ago, and to all the board members and staff who built and grew this amazing organisation. A special thank you to the current team and board for their work in facilitating this transition.  I leave behind a strong team, and welcome the new CEO. I have every confidence that Good Cycles will continue to thrive in its next chapter.”

The Board of Good Cycles is pleased to announce that Kirra Johnson, the Executive Lead of People & Impact, has been appointed as the incoming CEO. With a deep understanding of the organisation’s values and goals, Kirra will lead Good Cycles into an exciting new phase.

Board Chair Malcolm Garrow remarked: “Jaison’s leadership has been nothing short of transformative. His vision for Good Cycles has always been grand, helping Good Cycles grow into one of Australia’s most recognised Social Enterprises. We are also extremely thrilled to have Kirra Johnson step into this role, bringing her passion and expertise to guide us into the future.”

This leadership transition reflects Good Cycles’ commitment to innovation, growth, and its unwavering mission of putting young people at the core of everything it does.

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Our eBike Hubs innovation wins national Bike Culture Award!

Good Cycles and RideKola are proud to announce our win of the Bike Culture Award at the 2024 Cycling Luminaries Awards, recognising our groundbreaking Equitable Commute Project. 

The award-winning initiative has transformed mobility for residents in three Building Communities developments, part of Victoria’s largest social and affordable housing building programme. Located in Flemington, Prahran, and Brighton, these developments comprise 1,084 homes, with 50% dedicated to social and affordable housing residents.

In less than a year, the Equitable Commute Project has made a meaningful impact by creating an active community of eBike users. The programme goes beyond simply providing bikes, offering practical educational programmes to help residents who may not be familiar with cycling develop the skills and confidence to use eBikes and navigate local roads safely.

Adam Lana, Executive Lead Brand & Bikes at Good Cycles said, “The Equitable Commute Project is all about providing affordable active transport options to people who need it most, and what better way than doing that through upcycled e-bikes.”

“We are so proud of the layered impact this program delivers. In the background, Good Cycles is helping young people who face barriers to employment, and at the coal face is Ride Kola and Equitable Commute Project, allowing people in need the access to free transport, which also has a positive effect on both health and the environment. A huge thanks to the team at Building Communities (Tetris) for allowing us to get this project off the ground ”

The e-bikes are similar to a private fleet of Lime bikes, with a bluetooth lock system operated by the RideKola smartphone app, are fitted with lights and guards, helmets are provided and are serviced by Good Cycles with regular onsite visits. All residents are sent a Welcome Pack to introduce the eBikes Hubs and options for use. The Hubs are supported with ‘How-To’ and ‘Tips’ posters around the charging stations.

The programme arrives at a critical time, with recent ABS and RACV data highlighting the financial strain of transportation. The average Australian household now spends nearly $450 per week on transport expenses, a 9.4% increase from the previous year. For lowest-income earners, transport costs can exceed 20% of their income. During a cost of living crisis, the eBike Hubs are having a direct positive benefit for residents within the Building Communities developments.

Resident response has been enthusiastic. To date, a quarter of residents have signed up for eBike access, with bikes logging over 400 hours of journey time in the first six months. They are being used for a variety of reasons, with sixty per cent of journeys under 30 minutes, and the longest single journey was an impressive 25 km round trip. 

With ongoing education, practical training, increasing occupancy, and improving weather, the potential long-term impact of these eBike Hubs on residents’ lives, local community, and road congestion is substantial.

The Cycling Luminaries Awards, hosted by We Ride! Australia, have recognised outstanding cycling initiatives for 21 years. The Bike Culture Award specifically celebrates programmes that demonstrate exceptional innovation in promoting long-term behavioural change, emphasising the importance of communication, presentation, inclusivity, and safety in driving cultural shifts.

Here’s to more shared, safe and sustainable riding!

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Good Cycles a recipient of the of the TAC Road Safety Grant Program

8 people are smiling at the camera. The sun is bright and shining in their faces. There is a black bike in front of them, that has a large black cube basket on the front. The basket has a white panel on the side, with the 'Good Cycles' and 'RideKola' logos on it.

We are proud to announce Good Cycles is a recipient in the TAC Road Safety Grant Program, receiving $50,000 to deliver training and education programs for new e-bike users accessing shared bike hubs within social and affordable housing developments.

 

Announced by the Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne, this funding will support our hubs at the Building Communities affordable housing developments in Flemington, Prahran and Brighton, managed in partnership with RideKola.

The shared eBikes are supplied with helmets, baskets, and security provided by a Bluetooth lock system operated by the RideKola smartphone app, similar to a private fleet of Lime bikes. All bikes come with battery chargers for use in the eBike Hub and have been fitted with lights, chain guards, skirt guards and mud guards to enable rides in everyday clothing, in all weather conditions and for any work, recreation or shopping purpose. The bikes are serviced by Good Cycles and regular onsite visits are conducted.

The eBike Hubs are offered alongside practical educational programs to ensure residents, who may not be culturally familiar with cycling, develop the skills and confidence to use the eBikes and navigate local roads safely for a range of trips. All residents are sent a Welcome Pack to introduce the eBikes Hubs and options for use. The Hubs are supported with ‘How-To’ and ‘Tips’ posters around the charging stations.

“We are fortunate to have so many organisations and community groups dedicated to improving road safety on behalf of Victorian communities. This grant program is critical to helping these groups identify and address the road safety issues they’re facing within their communities, and deliver initiatives that will make a real difference.”
Melissa Horne
Minister for Roads and Road Safety

There are 1,100 homes across the three sites, with half dedicated to social and affordable housing residents. Recent ABS and RACV data shows that the average Australian household now spends close to $450 per week on transport expenses, an increase of 9.4% last year and the lowest income earners spend more than 20% of their income on transport. During a cost-of-living crisis, the eBike Hubs are having a direct positive benefit for all residents within the Building Communities developments.

By encouraging residents to travel by bike, these hubs are also helping lower emissions and enhance the livability of communities. eBikes produce 40 times less emissions than a car and take up less than one sixth of public space.

This program also has the support of Bicycle Network, who brings their expertise in encouraging the residents to use e-bikes to complete short trips safely and confidently.

The TAC Road Safety Grant Program supports community groups and organisations to develop and implement effective community-based road safety projects that align with the TAC’s priority areas and support the aims of the Victorian Road Safety Strategy.

Embedding a culture of road safety within the community is a key focus of the Victorian Road Safety Strategy, which aims to halve road deaths and significantly reduce serious injuries by 2030.

Our eBike Hubs are making a real difference in Melbourne communities and we are thankful for the TAC grant support that will continue to grow the impact of these e-bike Hubs, to both the residents of these developments and the environment around them.

“We are passionate about providing urban mobility transport options that are greener, cleaner and accessible for all. This grant provides Good Cycles and RideKola the opportunity to introduce e-bikes to a new group of people and provide them with the equipment and training to ensure they are safe and confident on Melbourne roads. With safe bikes and education, we can together reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads.”
Adam Lana
Executive Lead Brand & Retail, Good Cycles
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We celebrate Ride2Work Day 2024!

The Good Cycles team will be out in force on Ride2Work Day this Wednesday, showing off the latest and greatest bikes in our wares. Test ride and check out our range of e-bikes and commuter bikes, get your bike tuned for free and more! 

Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or just bike-curious, whether you are riding to work or thinking about starting, this Wednesday is the day to celebrate all the benefits of riding to work!

Did we mention we’ll also have free coffees?!

Good Cycles Brunswick

Start your Ride2Work Day right! Pop past our Brunswick store for free bike tune ups, coffee and bike engraving. Look out for the ‘Free Coffee’ and ‘Ride2Work’ signs!

⏰  Time: 7am – 9am

☕️  Free IMA coffee thanks to Bicycle Network and Market Lane

⭐️  Free bike engraving thanks to Victoria Police

🚴  Free bike tune ups thanks to Good Cycles 

📍 2A/12 Duckett Street, Brunswick (off the Upfield bike path)

 

Good Cycles CBD (Goldsbrough Lane)

How fast can you fold and unfold a bike? Here’s your chance to find out! We’ll be celebrating off our new partnership with the iconic English brand Brompton! Try the new folding bikes out, test ride a Tern e-bike, and check out the latest titanium beauties that Wondercross has to offer. 

⏰  From midday

🚴  Supported by Brompton, Wondercross & Tern

☕️  Free coffees thanks to Market Lane

⭐️  Spot prizes from the Good Cycles team

📍  Goldsbrough Lane (Little Bourke St end), Melbourne


Good Cycles Geelong

All day our Geelong team will be celebrating Ride2Work Day with free bike tune ups and coffee vouchers, thanks to our good mates down the road at South American Coffee Co. If you have taken a cycling break over winter and need to get your bike back into gear (pun intended!) get a tune up this Wednesday! Simply call the store on 0478 487 547 to secure your spot. 

* free tune ups by appointment only, subject to availability 

⏰  9am – 5pm

🚴  Free bike tune ups thanks to Good Cycles

☕️  Free coffee vouchers thanks to South America Coffee Co

📍  61-63 Little Malop Street, Geelong

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We collaborate with Tradeswomen Australia on our first Gender Lens Assessment.

A strategic priority of ours is to make our organisation more gender inclusive. At Good Cycles, we acknowledge that we work in predominantly male-driven industries.

We strive to remove any gender related barriers so all Young People can be an ongoing part of our valued workforce.

Tradeswomen Australia is a not-for-profit organisation working to increase the representation of women in skilled trade roles and create safe workplaces for everyone. Their Gender Lens Assessment will help us develop strategies to boost gender inclusion and representation.

If we are a good place to work for our whole team,  we can be better at making employment pathways for Young People.
 
Pictured here is Abby (TWA) Hannah and Kirra (Good Cycles) at Good Cycles HQ ahead of our assessment held across October.

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Good Cycles secures People & Planet First verification.

We are thrilled to share that Good Cycles has been recognised as a People and Planet First Verified Social Enterprise.

It means that we have met the global standards and ethics set by Social Enterprise World Forum across five requirements:

Purpose: we exist to solve a social and/or environmental problem

Operations: we prioritise purpose, people and planet over profit in operational decisions

Revenue: we have a self-sustaining revenue model

Use of surplus: we reinvest all our profits into our purpose

Structure: we have chosen legal structures and financing that protects and locks in purpose long term.

We are proud of this recognition of our work to break the employment barriers Young People face by creating green jobs of the future. 

For more information about People & Planet First and the other companies who have gained certification around the world, check out their website here. 

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ABC News covers Good Cycles response to the Melbourne City Council’s share e-scooter ban

It was great to see Hassan and Jaison speaking on the ABC News in support of Lime and our employees after the Melbourne City Council announced the ban on share scooters a few weeks ago.

 It’s been a hard few weeks for Lime, but there is still a lot to play out as other councils in the north, Merri-bek, Darebin and Moonee Valley have signalled their support for a rental e-scooter scheme.  

As a job-focused social enterprise, we exist to break down employment barriers that marginalised young people face. Lime is a significant supporter of our Youth Employment Program, both here in Melbourne and interstate.

Lime is a significant supporter of our Youth Employment Program, both in Victoria and interstate. We have been a proud partner of Lime since 2020, which has provided 149 employment opportunities in Melbourne in this time and 41 current jobs.

The strength of this partnership has also helped staff develop their skills and capabilities to leadership opportunities either at Lime or through the tailored mentorship program Lime and Good Cycles offers. 

This decision obviously has an economic impact, however it is the people and community impact that Good Cycles is concerned about. 

Watch the ABC News clip here:

Our partnership with Lime has allowed these Good Cycles employees to find work as scooter and bike mechanics and operations specialists, work that gives them confidence, stability and a sense of purpose. Work that helps break the cycles of unemployment. Sadly the ban on e-scooters is likely to see a reduction in staff and operations. The full extent is unknown at this stage.

Our CEO Jaison Hoernel said “Good Cycles supports the safe and appropriate use of active transport solutions in our cities and all the jobs that it can create. Our research shows young people want to work in jobs of the future such as these green jobs that help our environment and the community. We want to continue supporting Lime while helping young people thrive.”

We are still assessing the full impact of this decision but we do know that e-bikes will continue to operate in the city. We are working closely with Lime to navigate the remaining weeks of the e-scooters operating and the impact that will have on our staff. 

You can show your support to Good Cycles and our Lime staff by signing up to our newsletters and Instagram, so we can keep you informed of future developments. 

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Our Research Release and Round Table Recap

Thank you to everyone who participated in and supported our Round Table Discussion.

Our Round Table Discussion was opened by Hannah Figueroa, our Impact Evaluation Lead, who released the findings of her research into exploring the  job market experiences of young people who are marginalised and the challenges they experience when trying to secure employment. 

In this research, staff from Good Cycles’ Youth Employment Program (YEP) shared personal experiences that gave valuable insights into how their needs and values influence their job choices, and their views on the challenges and opportunities in future work.

Hannah’s research covers three key areas:

Drivers behind youth unemployment: Understanding underemployment and weak participation in the labour market experienced by marginalised young people.

Engaging our youth: The needs and reasons for engaging in work among young people working at Good Cycles.

The future of work: Creating ‘green’ inclusive and sustainable jobs for young people.

To download a copy of Hannah’s research and access the recording of our Round Table Discussion, please fill out your details below.

"We believe the Good Cycles research is pivotal for corporate development companies aiming to create social impact as it provides strategies for empowering groups and thereby directly contributes to the socio economic uplift of local communities."
Bonny Bayne
Strategic Partnerships & Foundation Manager, Stockland

We also thank Professor Jo Barraket, Hannah’s academic mentor, and the Melbourne Social Equity Institute for the opportunity that allowed this research to take place. The community fellows program enables community organisations like Good Cycles the ability to undertake research of this focus and significance. Congratulations to Hannah on completing her research and thank you for sharing the findings with us all. 

To create employment pathways for young people, we need to listen and learn from young people themselves. We have so much gratitude for Youth Employment Program participants who shared their stories and lived experience with us in the research.

Thank you to Vaughn, a YEP participant and Assistant Manager at Purpose Precinct, who shared their experiences both in the research and at the Round Table Discussion. They gave an invaluable contribution to the discussion with their eloquent and considered perspectives.  

We extend our gratitude to our panellists, who shared their experience, knowledge and support:

Bonny Bayne (Strategic Partnerships & Foundation Manager, Stockland)

Myf Galloway (Asia Pacific Retail Training Manager, Trek Bicycle Corporation)

Quentin Mercier (Industry Capability & Inclusion Manager, John Holland)

Lara Nickless (Operations Manager, Lime Australia)

To download a copy of Hannah’s research and access the recording of our Round Table Discussion, please fill out your details below.

In social enterprise, we know the power in creating a sense of belonging through human connection. We’ve learned a lot about how to do it well and want to be a blueprint for how business can be.

If we’re making good workplaces for people who’ve experienced barriers to employment, it means that we’re making good workplaces for everyone. 

“Businesses need to start approaching practices differently because this is your workforce of the future. There’s only going to be more young people and they’re going to be the older people in the next few years. If you want to have a good business in ten, fifteen or twenty years, this is needs to be important to you now.”

Kirra Johnson, Executive Lead People & Impact, Good Cycles

Our first discussion event may have ended but the discussion certainly hasn’t. If anybody wants to keep talking, talk to us at Good Cycles, talk to each other, and let’s keep the discussion and action going.

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Luz reflects on her work experiences so far at Good Cycles.

Luz went from rarely riding a bike while living in Mexico to cycling up to 8 hours a day within our Good Spaces division. Joining Good Cycles in 2021, her work varied across council asset maintenance and car share cleaning. 

Today, she is working as a retail assistant in our bike shops while developing her bike mechanics skills. Luz reflects on her experiences out on the road and shares what she has learned.

Tell us about the transition between infrastructure services and retail bike shops? What skills have you been able to transfer?

It’s been quite interesting because I had no background in bikes or mechanics. Everyone has been so nice and welcoming to me, but it has been hectic. What’s been important is learning and taking it a day at a time. Overall the experience has been good compared to how other bike shops would treat a newbie. My communication skills I picked up from working in the public are useful in the bike shop as well. For example how to communicate with managers, and with the team in general. They have been so helpful to me, I can’t thank them enough.

Together with her colleagues/mentors Stef and Abby, Luz is taking steps to improve the way women and female identifying people are perceived in bike shops. According to a 2023 Bicycle Association study on diversity in cycling, women only make up 8% of the cycling industry’s workshop based roles, 40% of administrative roles and 19% of customer facing roles.

 

Have you encountered any challenges in the cycling industry?

Cycling is very much a male-dominated industry. Sometimes people believe they won’t receive the best advice from a woman. In some cases, female store members have been flat out ignored! In our bike shops, I believe we are challenging these stereotypes; on some days you can come into our Melbourne CBD store and there will be three female mechanics all working together, all with expert bike knowledge. This is why I think we need to prioritise hiring women in this industry.

Luz, you have spent time living in Mexico. What is the cycling culture like in Mexico compared to here in Australia?

It’s terrible over there. That’s probably one of the main reasons I never got used to riding bikes on public roads. The most I ever rode was as a toddler, dodging chairs and tables on a kid’s bike in the house. Every Wednesday in my town, there would be a community bike ride but the police would escort us to make sure nobody would injure us on the road. It was kind of like a protest if you think about it, they would treat it like that because people don’t respect cyclists at all. Cycling was more like a recreational activity and not a mode of transport like here.

"I enjoy being creative through problem solving, whether I'm in the store or outside doing asset maintenance on a path inspection."
Luz
Retail Assistant

And what does cycling mean to you now, after having worked at Good Cycles?

For me personally, using the e-bikes during the work shift meant freedom to discover new parts of the city and take in the landscape, the open spaces. I realise now how important cycling is in Australia and how empowering it is to own a bicycle, to use it for everyday tasks. It’s so much safer here compared to Mexico. For example, here schools have bike cages and everywhere you go there is a place to lock your bike on the street.

Overcoming negative stereotypes in the cycling industry and providing quality service to our customers is something Luz has become passionate about since joining Good Cycles. Gaining communication skills in Good Spaces and transferring those skills in our retail stores has given Luz confidence and stability in her life.

Curious about joining our crew?

Visit our Good Jobs page and see what opportunities await you.

Good Jobs
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Lucas’ experiences as an Operations Coordinator

At our fast-paced warehouse in North Melbourne you’ll find Lucas. He began working with us in 2020 and developed transferrable workplace skills that saw him move from car share cleaning to become our City Services Operations Coordinator. During our interview, Lucas reflected on how he learned to create a safe, more inclusive workplace for others, and how he works to create good cycles of change in the wider community.

What was an average day like in car share cleaning and which skills could you transfer to your current role?

Using an e-bike, I would carry cleaning equipment to various work sites in Metro Melbourne. Typically, I would clean up to 14 car share vehicles per shift, completing work orders after they had been cleaned. I think time management and taking responsibility were two skills I transferred to my role as Operations Coordinator. Working under time constraints prepared me to stay focused while coordinating tasks in the warehouse. And even though I am based in the office, I still get to go out into the CBD to do grouting and lock removals which helps break up my day.

Were there any challenges in your role as Operations Coordinator that you had to overcome?

In the beginning, I felt a bit of imposter syndrome because other team members were older than me and they appeared to have more experience than me. This left me feeling like I didn’t deserve to be here. Another personal challenge was overcoming social anxiety when talking to the staff. It used to make me feel uncomfortable because I went from being part of the team to transitioning into a leadership role. I would notice people talking to me differently, but I persevered to become more secure in my position and gained confidence in the role. I’ve also taken steps to make staff feel more comfortable while working, which has provided me with a sense of purpose.

Tell us about some of the steps you’ve taken to make staff feel comfortable while they work.

I’m motivated towards helping make the workplace a more comfortable environment for feminine presenting staff because I didn’t come out as trans until after I began working here. When I started my transition, I experienced a different level of respect from men in the street based upon how I presented myself. I started to notice a huge disparity in how our feminine presenting staff were being treated when they went out into public to work. 

Incidents were going unreported as they were reluctant to speak up. It wasn’t fair to them, so I sat down to listen to their experiences so we could develop strategies about what we could do as a workplace to improve the situation. One thing we tried was sending people out in pairs and never being alone on the street for long. We also made the workplace more welcoming, creating safe spaces to share stories from the job. That meant we could bond over the good and the bad, and rely on each other if we ever needed help. The benefits were immediate and it has been a boost to the warehouse ever since.

"Being an ally is a worthwhile cause and something I am passionate about."
Lucas
Office Coordinator

What has been a highlight for you while you’ve been working here?

Some of our staff used to struggle coming to work on time and found it difficult to focus. When our Youth Coaches guided them, you could see a change. Their work ethic improved and they were arriving to work with a sense of purpose. Doing the simple things right and seeing them accomplish their goals reminded me why I enjoy working at Good Cycles.

Lucas embraces our mission of creating good cycles of change. He spreads positivity by dedicating himself to leadership and being an ally for underrepresented staff members. His willingness to do the right thing is something we should all strive for, whatever our role in life is.

Curious about joining our crew?

Visit our Good Jobs page and see what opportunities await you.

Good Jobs
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Docklands News drops by the Docklands Bike Hub

Recently, our Docklands Bike Hub had the pleasure of a visit from Docklands News

Since 2003, the print and digital publication Docklands News has been a resource for community orientated news for all in and around the 3008 postcode. Docklands News journalist, Kaylah-Joelle Baker, visited our retro-fitted shipping container ‘Hub’ to chat with the team about their experience working with Good Cycles, and what makes our organisation different amidst Melbourne’s bicycle servicing landscape.

(Pictured L to R) Good Cycles' Docklands' staff Abby and Byron, with Good Cycles' Brand & Marketing Manager Adam Lana

Good Cycles’ Docklands’ mechanic Byron summed it up succinctly in his conversation with Kaylah:

I find this place actually creates the opportunity to up-skill employees, whereas in other places there can be limited opportunities to be up-skilled on certain levels of knowledge and tasks. I find this place gives a lot of time to allow staff to learn under seniors and create opportunities to up-skill so you can end up running your own shop in some instances. A lot of people can stay at a lower level of development in other places, whereas this place finds or creates the time for its employees to discuss things.

Byron, Good Cycles mechanic

To read the full article over on the Docklands News website, click here!