Good Life Community Bike Shop Told to Hit the Road

A popular community bike centre in downtown Calgary has put the brakes on its operations while it scrambles to find a new home.

The Good Life Community Bike Shop, which has operated out of Eau Claire Market for the past three years, was given notice this week that its annual lease would not be renewed, according to founder Jackie Mann.

“We’re not sure what happened. We just found out on Wednesday,” Mann said, adding that the decision came "without any reason or opportunity to re-negotiate."

The group has until February 17 to vacate their 1,720-square-foot location and find a new space, she says.

In an email, Devon Hutt, property manager at Eau Claire, declined to explain why the Good Life's lease was not extended.

"We have been happy to have the Good Life Community Bike shop as a tenant for the past three years in addition to the 70 non profit/charitable events held at Eau Claire Market annually," Hutt wrote. "The tenant's lease has expired and a tough decision was made and the tenant has been asked to vacate the premises."

"Another tenant has been secured to back fill the premises and will support the existing tenants at the Market."

The landlord was offering "support" to help the bike centre find a new location, Hutt added.

Good Life is hosting an emergency meeting Monday, January 16 at 6:30 p.m. at its Eau Claire location to decide its next steps and collect donations for a possible move.

Good Life Co-ordinator Britt Aberle says finding a new location for the non-profit group will be challenging, since any potential location has to meet specific criteria for accessibility, location, floor space and price.

“We need a space that is both accessible and located somewhere in the downtown,” Aberle says. “We need room for storage… and a workspace for people to work on their bikes.”

Cost is also a concern, she adds, since the Eau Claire location was offered to them at a subsidized rate.

She says she’s concerned a disruption in service could affect the group’s membership, which includes people from marginalized communities and those living in poverty.

“We still get between 200 and 300 people in the shop every week… The Good Life is really needed and is a vital service to a wide range of people,” says Aberle.

Photos courtesy Good Life Community Bike Shop

The Good Life Community Bike Shop was founded 2008 with the mission of bringing the community together through cycling. The volunteer-driven organization helps members build and repair bicycles, hosts community workshops and gives riders a place to meet.

According to a press release from the group, more than 5,000 members have accessed the Good Life’s programs and services, and more than 3,000 bikes have been diverted from landfill.

The group has also won several community awards, including the 2011 Volunteer Engagement Award from Volunteer Calgary.