social impact

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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:

Play Video

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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Good Cycles releases its Impact Snapshot 2023 on World Skills Youth Day

We are proud to release our 2023 Impact Snapshot on July 15 to coincide with World Youth Skills Day, a day the United Nations chose to recognise the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.

Read our 2023 Impact Snapshot here.

2023 was a big year for Good Cycles. We celebrated our 10 Year anniversary, increased our employees by 40%, moved into Sydney (and now Brisbane and the Gold Coast) with our Lime contract. We did all this while redefining and structuring Good Cycles services through four new business divisions, all ideal industries to grow our impact and Youth Employment Program:

 

Good Spaces: Large scale green space and asset maintenance services.

Good Deliveries: Specialist inner-city deliveries, logistics and sustainability services delivered via e-bikes.

Good Bikes: Bike retail, corporate servicing  and tailored micro-mobility services.

Good People: Specialist managed workforce partnerships (labour hire) with value-aligned partners.

 

 

Most importantly, we had 52 young people in our Youth Employment Program (up from 29 participants in 2022) for a total of 33,484 hours of paid work (up 45% from 2022).

 

Good Cycles 1
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Good Cycles 9
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This snapshot touches on some challenges the young people face and we look forward to expanding our reporting to align with our
23-24 annual report and share more of our research findings in the near future. 

We know that young people thrive when given the right opportunities, and we are striving to learn more, adapt and grow together.

Read our 2023 Impact Snapshot here.

We had 52 young people in our Youth Employment Program
up from 29 participants in 2022 for a total of 33,484 hours of paid work up 45% from 2022

Good Cycles is incredibly proud of our team leaders, managers, coaches and mentors that bring their passion and commitment towards helping young people who experience barriers to employment.

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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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10 Years of Change video tells the Good Cycles Story and Champions Our Young People

We have been steadily growing as a social enterprise these past ten years, so to celebrate, we’ve gathered together staff and crew to feature in a 10 Years of Change video. The video shines a spotlight on each division of our organisation, demonstrating the Good Cycles of Change that began in 2013.

Showcasing our humble beginnings teaching young people to repair bikes, then highlighting the expansion of our social enterprise to provide jobs for young people facing barriers to employment. As you will see, the video champions our Young People, by supporting them to acquire transferable goals to reach their own goals. We will continue to develop new ways to create employment to makes a positive impact on community and on the planet.

"Our mission is to create safe and meaningful work that create good cycles of change within out community and protect our planet."
Jaison Hoernel
Good Cycles CEO

We’d like to send our gratitude to the wonderful folks at Cormac Creative Studios for bring our vision to life.

A special shout out to our very own John Bech, for providing his voice over for the video.

We’d also like to thank our generous partners for their continued support during our Ten Years of Change. Each and every one of you has made a positive impact to the lives of young people facing barriers to employment.

Video Transcript:

Spoken by John Bech

It all started in 2013. An idea born over a cup of tea to use the bicycle for positive change. Loretta Curtin and Luke Wright taught people how to fix bikes and break through barriers to employment. Through the Pedal Empowerment Program,  we up-skilled young people, serviced thousands of bikes and donated bicycles to help asylum seekers get mobile.

In 2015, we took over Bicycle Training Australia. Mixing Trainees with young people who were battling our justice system, new to Australia, or facing long-term unemployment.

In 2016, we opened the community bike hub in Docklands and our new CEO wins us the Melbourne Bike Share servicing contract.

In 2017, Good Cycles expands even further, opening its second community bike hub – this time in Geelong. But we didn’t stop there!

In 2018, we begin to deliver services on bikes. Everything from car share cleaning, collecting organic food waste, solar bin checks, deliveries and logistics, asset management and more. Creating meaningful jobs to empower young people while removing trucks and cars from our streets.

It’s 2021 and we go beyond the bike: acquiring Open Spaces, a commercial landscaping business to help young people find jobs landscaping, collecting litter and mowing grass for the entire length of the Western Ring Road. Our Youth Employment Program provides countless hours of employment, coaching and support.

But we didn’t stop there! In 2022, we opened our fourth bike shop at Nightingale in Brunswick and we are servicing all the Lime share bikes across Melbourne and Sydney.

Which brings us here – The Purpose Precinct, a hub that showcases the wares of over 30 social enterprises. Supporting the sector, while employing and training more young people.

10 years on, we are still innovating to create meaningful jobs. Good jobs that break through barriers to employment, that nurture our community, are good for the planet, and create Good Cycles of change.

Want to get involved in all things Good Cycles?

Enquire about our membership packages for 2024!

Memberships for 2024
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2023 was another fantastic year, with plenty of highlights

We want to take this opportunity to thank our amazing staff for all they’ve accomplished this year. Our Good People make us proud to be a part of the Good Cycles family. In fact, we saw a 40% increase in employment – amazing! We’re privileged to ensure safe and meaningful work for all our employees, so watch this space to see what’s in the works in the new year. Now follow us down memory lane and relive this year’s stand out moments.

 

February saw us launch our newest bike shop in Brunswick. Located in the Nightingale Evergreen building, nestled by the Upfield Bike Path, we have been welcomed by thousands of cyclists this year. We are so thankful to Nightingale Housing for supporting us throughout this journey. A special shout out to Woodbeast and YMCA Rebuild for the countless hours fitting out the bike shop – without you none of this would be possible.

June played host to the annual Melburn Roobaix, an exhilarating fun ride that twists and turns through Melbourne’s inner north. We provided fun and support for participants riding in costumes and all types of contraptions. Many cyclists received complimentary 3 month memberships to all of our bike shops as a thank you for participating. A brilliant ride was capped off with the news that Melburn Roobaix had raised $500 for FoodBank Australia.

 

In July, Good Cycles began its partnership with Brunswick Cycling Club. A fantastic opportunity for us to broaden our social impact and reach through passionate cyclists of all ages.

September was jam packed: we were featured on ABC News and Tern Australia partnered with Good Cycles. Tern’s range of Bosch powered e-bikes and cargo bikes will give you peace of mind since they’re accessible and comfortable to ride. You can find our range of Tern e-bikes and cargo bikes online and in store, where our friendly retail staff will show you how easy it is to replace your second car.

A few of our staff had the chance to be featured on ABC News as our FOGO Program stole headlines for its innovative organic waste collection service operating in Melbourne CBD’s cafes and restaurants. Reducing food waste in landfill as well as setting career goals in the equally innovative Youth Employment Program, everyday heroes showing out.


October’s Ride2Work Day was a huge success. We provided free safety checks for cyclists along the Docklands and MCEC as well as on-site servicing and tune ups. Free snacks from our friends at Bicycle Network and Lime Australia kept spirits high on what was a cheerful and memorable morning.

At the end of October,  Minister for Employment Vicki Ward officially launched the Purpose Precinct at its new home in F Shed, Queen Victoria Market. The social enterprise retail space is Melbourne’s one stop shop for gifts with purpose – stocking clothing and accessories, homewares, and kitchenware from Victorian social enterprises. Another step in building Melbourne’s circular economy and providing safe employment for young people, so come say hello to our staff the next time you’re at QVM.

November was a milestone month as we had our 10 Year Celebration, where we recognised 10 Years of Change and enjoyed the social impact we have made over the years. A great turn out and lovely to see so many faces on the night, be sure to check out our social media for more photos of videos and read our 10 Year Recap at Good News.

December rolled around the corner as we celebrated Open Spaces turning 2! The Good people at Open Spaces are dedicated to maintaining the lawns, bike paths and roads along the M80/Western Ring Road, working in all weather conditions and motivating all of us to go above and beyond. Congratulations on this milestone and keep up the good work!

Honourable Mentions:

Watch this space for all the good news and we hope to see around in 2024!

Stay safe and have a festive holiday season!

Thanks for your continued support, we can’t wait to show you what’s in store for 2024!

Want to get involved in all things Good Cycles?

Enquire about our membership packages for 2024!

Memberships for 2024
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A bike mechanic’s journey with Good Cycles in the Youth Employment Program

Jason wandered into our Geelong bike shop as a wide eyed customer not knowing that Good Cycles was a social enterprise. Now he’s working with us, learning on the job and setting goals for his job of the future.

(Jason is not the real name of this Youth Employment Program participant, as they have chosen to remain anonymous.)

As an avid road cyclist, our YEP staff member always appreciated the knowledge and welcoming environment the team at Geelong provided, and quickly built a rapport with JP and the Geelong team. He really wanted a job with Good Cycles, but at the time there was nothing on offer.

Jason was new to Geelong, after moving out of home for the first time from regional Victoria. He quickly found himself in the pressure cooker of young adulthood, stuck in a work environment that wasn’t inclusive and lacked a positive work culture.

J.P., our Bike Shop Manager at Geelong, reached out and offered an opportunity to work as a trainee mechanic and retail assistant, which Jason didn’t pass up.

At first, Jason wasn’t a part of our Youth Employment Program (YEP) but as JP listened and learned more about his new employee, he approached Jason to see if he’d be keen to have a chat with one of our Youth Coaches, Leesa.

Good Cycles welcomed him into the program. Leesa now sees Jason on a regular basis to set personal goals and study goals, so that he can find long term employment in a job of the future. One of his goals is to go back to university.

"Jason recently set a goal to find a university course in Environmental Sciences and to start planning a move to Melbourne to broaden study and job opportunities in that field."
Leesa
Youth Coach
Since March 2023, our YEP participant has been steadily achieving the goals he sets out for himself. Interpersonal skills are what his manager JP wants to instill in the young bike mechanic and the team at Little Malop Street:

“At our bike shop, I like to think we uplift, encourage and educate… it’s all about creating a positive work environment and to give the confidence to ‘talk shop’ for hours on end.” ~ JP

At first, Jason didn’t think he was eligible for the Youth Employment Program. He gradually took the time to listen and gather a deeper understanding of the challenges that he and other young people face. Our YEP participant went in with an open mind and is now reaping the rewards of the program.

Our YEP staff member loves his job and has been working at Good Cycles’ Geelong bike shop for several months. In that time frame, he has expanded his bike mechanic knowledge and says the positive, people-focused work culture motivates him.

The Youth Employment Program provides coaching for young people to overcome employment challenges through one-on-one training sessions and on-the-job training. It’s designed to reduce barriers to employment by offering:

  • Real jobs to people aged 18-28
  • A steady income
  • Tailored training and personal development
Click here to learn more about our Impact
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We recap our 10 Year Celebration event!

The Good Cycles 10 year party was a joyous celebration of social enterprise, history, and our fantastic employees.

Under the sheds of the Queen Victoria Market, our November 16 celebration coincided with World Social Enterprise Day, as we held our own festival of Social Entrepreneurship.

Purpose Precinct and Green Collect opened their doors for trade selling their “for purpose” and upcycled products. All our tasty food was provided by our amazing social enterprise buddies — STREAT, Free To Feed, All Things Equal, and Crepes For Change. And we had all of Good Cycles capabilities on display, showcasing a variety of bikes and machinery across our 4 Divisions; Good Bikes, Good Labour, Good Deliveries and Good Spaces.

We had it all—delicious mocktails and non-alcoholic drinks from Liquid Infusion, a fun Photobooth for our Good People Mosaic, and tunes from Kassandra & Him that had us grooving all night.

It was touching to see a number of guests and staff sporting HI-Viz safety gear in solidarity with our many employees who wear it everyday, in particular the late-night and early-morning crews who couldn’t make it that night.

The evening was enriched by video messages from co-founders Luke Wright and Loretta Curtain plus speeches from Chair Darrell Wade, Co-Chair Lucinda Makrakis, and Good Cycles CEO Jaison Hoernel, each sharing the emotional resonance of the night and eloquently narrating our ten-year journey.

We mixed the old with the new, with a strong and diverse contingency of young people, taking to the stage. A special acknowledgment goes to Stef, Abby, Oliver, Lucy, and Vaughn who each reflected on how Good Cycles has shaped them as individuals, emphasising the importance of belonging to an organisation that creates a safe and inclusive workplace.

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"Wearing Hi-Viz tonight symbolises the foundational building blocks Good Cycles has laid down, to create a safe workplace in which young people can succeed and thrive"
Jaison Hoernel
Good Cycles CEO

Our journey was made possible through all our partners over the years, and the generous support of event sponsors Lendlease, Paul Ramsay Foundation, and Queen Victoria Market. Plus a heartfelt shout-out to the dedicated staff from Purpose Precinct and Green Collect who worked tirelessly during the 10 Year Celebration to host the festival of social enterprise.

Special thanks are extended to event organisers Adam, Hannah, Kirra, Joe, Cory, and Khan. Gratitude is also owed to our Gracie St neighbours, advertising firm GDJ, Lara, Cathy, Sally, Hanna and Cormac from Cormac Creative Studios for their countless support and creative hours in crafting the night.

Noteworthy mention goes to Khalid, a former supported employee who left us to create Kushitic Productions, capturing the night’s action and presenting us with all the images featured here, plus the captivating video above celebrating our milestone.

Last but not least, sincere thanks to our own John Bech for his remarkable voice-over skills and to all our fantastic team members who contributed to the creation of the ‘Ride along’ 10 Years of Change video. The event was a beautiful celebration of all the Good People who help us deliver our Good Cycles of Change.

Be sure to join our mailing list for updates on upcoming events and news

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Good Cycles marks 10 years of change on World Social Enterprise Day

Celebrating ten years of change on World Social Enterprise Day

Good Cycles begins its 10-year anniversary celebration on World Social Enterprise Day, November 16, 2023, what a great day to celebrate 10 years of change. This momentous day gives us a chance to reflect on how we got here, the impact that we have made and provides a guide into our future of impact and growth.

2013–2017

In 2013, founders Loretta Curtin & Luke Wright created Australia’s first bike based social enterprise, using the bicycle as vehicles for positive change. Our goal, to train young people and break down their barriers to employment.

I could not hold a steady job, it was really hard. With Good Cycles, they gave me the structure … the support. And I had mentors.​ ~ Andy, Good Cycles employee-trainee

Through the Pedal Empowerment Program and with the help of corporate and government partners including Westpac Foundation & the City of Melbourne, Luke and Lorretta trained, upskilled and donated bikes to refugees, asylum seekers and young people from diverse backgrounds including those within the justice system.

In 2016, our fresh-faced CEO Jaison Hoenel joined Good Cycles bringing with him his global knowledge of bike share, retail, and an idea to expand and to create more jobs for young people.

2017-2021

After almost four years of repairing thousands of bikes and training hundreds of young people, Good Cycles starts creating meaningful jobs by delivering services by bicycle.

By partnering with the likes of Melbourne Bike Share, Citywide, Toyota, DM Roads, Fulton Hogan & more, our services include carshare cleaning, environmental waste collection, asset maintenance, solar bin checks, and delivery, logistics and more.

 

“I didn’t feel like there was an expectation that I’d do anything that I wasn’t capable of. It was very accommodating for me.”
~ Eve, Pedal Empowerment Program and Car Services

Using bicycles as work vehicles enabled Good Cycles to offer jobs to young people while removing thousands of cars, vans and light trucks from our roads.

In 2022 alone, Good Cycles prevented 20,000 kg of CO2 from entering the atmosphere and removed 50 light vehicle movements from our congested roads a week!

 

This job has given me purpose and a reason to wake up in the morning, so I’m very grateful for that.

~ S’moe, Good Spaces Team member

2021 – 2023

December 2021, saw Good Cycles go beyond the bicycle acquiring Open Spaces, a commercial landscaping and horticulture business which helps young people find jobs. At Open Spaces, the crew are responsible for landscaping, collecting litter and mowing grass for the entire length of the Western Ring Road; across fifty plus Fire Rescue Victoria sites across Melbourne.

We opened our fourth bike shop in 2022 with Nightingale in Brunswick’s award winning social enterprise apartment complex and we are servicing all the Lime share bikes, across Melbourne and now Sydney.

During this time we define our social impact through our Youth Employment Program, which provides countless hours of employment, coaching and support to young people facing barriers to employment.
"Good Cycles gives me the credit for the good work I do. It’s nice to have someone check in with me on how I am, and what I want for my future."
Lucas
City Services

December 2022 saw us partner with STREAT and the Victorian Government to launch the Purpose Precinct, at the Queen Victoria Market a hub showcasing and selling the wares of over 40 social enterprises, including….

Ten years on, we are still innovating to create meaningful jobs, currently employing about 150 people across Melbourne and Sydney. Over the 10 Years we have directly impacted 767 young people through “Good” employment and training opportunities.
Impact that breaks down barriers to employment, nurtures our community, is good for the environment and creates good cycles of change.

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World Social Enterprise Day gives us a chance not only to celebrate our work, but to raise awareness and praise all social enterprises do to make the world a better place, to create more just and equitable societies, and to reflect on the positive impact we have made on the environment and in our communities.

To keep up to date with all the good things we’re doing, click the button below to join our mailing list.

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STAY TUNED for updates on our 10 year celebration… More to come!