Plenty Valley Salvation Army in Mill Park has tinkered with the concept of Men’s Sheds and will open its first men’s bike shed this Thursday.
It will be fully stocked with tools, timber benches and 15 second-hand bikes ready to be repaired by retirees and handed on to asylum seekers and low-income families.
David Ramadge, Plenty Valley Salvation Army’s communications support manager, initially wanted to set up a traditional Men’s Shed but changed plans because of costs.
“The bike shed provides the same camaraderie and skills without as much money,” he said.
“We can also run a program on road safety on the side.”
Mr Ramadge hopes the shed will provide a place for men to come instead of sitting in shopping centres while their wives shop.
“Some men need a screwdriver in their hands before they can talk,” he said.
The project has been developed with support from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and Whittlesea council.
The bike education program will be run with the help of the Whittlesea Bicycle User Group (WBUG). Whittlesea councillor Nicola Davis, a member of WBUG, hopes the bike shed will allow low-income earners to enjoy the health and transport benefits of cycling.
“Our drive and passion is to encourage recreational cycling,” she said.
“We see a lack of support for the under-privileged who don’t have access to bicycles.
“And not everyone can afford a gym membership.”
