History of Bike for Good

Bike for Good is a charity and social enterprise which started in July 2010 in a small stall in Glasgow’s Barras market. With a few donated bikes, a cobbled-together tool kit and a team of volunteers with a huge amount of passion and drive, Bike for Good (then known as Glasgow Bike Shed) was born.

We now have two thriving Community Hubs in Glasgow and an amazing team of 20 staff members and over 100 volunteers who are changing thousands of lives through cycling.

Bike for Good provides access to low cost but good quality bikes whilst diverting tonnes of waste from landfill.  These bikes are kindly donated by members of the public and are then refurbished and sold in our two Community Hubs.

  • On average, our team of mechanics refurbish over 1000 bikes per year, diverting tonnes of waste from landfill while also providing access to affordable bikes to the public. As well as the environmental impact of this work, the income from bike sales helps to fund our work in the community.
  • To keep you cycling all year round, we have a dedicated service and repair mechanic to keep your bike in tip top condition. Every year our workshop teams come to the rescue getting people back on the road with those mid-commute inconveniences. Punctures, flapping mudguards!
  • We also provide a variety of interventions from cycling lessons and group led rides to introduce new and experienced cyclists to safe road cycling and using Glasgow’s cycle infra-structure, to an innovative mechanics programme for 14-25 year olds and Cytech training for Home Mechanics to those looking for industry-standard accreditation.

Our vision, mission, and values

Our projects and services are all designed to help achieve our vision and mission.

Vision

A healthy and inclusive environment where everyone in the community benefits from more people cycling.

Mission

We enable people to ride a bike. We believe that cycling is the most effective and sustainable form of transport; we believe it enhances our chances for a healthy life and environment.

Values

  • Passionate – We are passionate about cycling as a tool for positive change.
  • Supportive – We work at the heart of communities, empowering people and building partnerships. To make this happen, we nurture a collaborative work environment.
  • Environmentally aware – We protect and preserve the environment for the benefit of all.
  • Expertise – We continuously develop our skills and share them with our volunteers and staff, and throughout the community.

Timeline

  • Glasgow Bike Shed founded and based in Barras Market – July 2010
  • Moved to Haugh Road, the location of our West Hub – October 2012
  • Became a Cycle Friendly Employer centre – May 2013
  • 10,000th bike donated – March 2014
  • Became a City and Guild Accredited centre – August 2015
  • Gained a Quality Scotland Accreditation – May 2016
  • Opening our South Community Hub in Govanhill, – May 2017
  • 20,000th bike donated – August 2017
  • Rebranded as Bike for Good – November 2017
  • Successfully launched Edinburgh Cycle Hire Scheme September 2017
  • Moved our growing Southside hub to new, bigger premises – April 2019
  • Launched a subsidiary organisation Motion Forward – June 2021
  • CEO and Co-Founder Gregory Kinsman-Chauvet steps down as CEO and Alberta Gutteridge steps into the role – May 2026

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