Right To Ride

Our community shop is a great place to fix your bike for a reasonable price, but we know that cost can be a barrier. Right To Ride (R2R) is a program for anyone who cannot afford our regular rates. If that applies to you, R2R can help pay for shop fees, or essential parts and accessories (but not bikes), on a pay-what-you-can basis.

support right to ride

Support this important program, and help make cycling accessible to everyone! Visit our donation page to make an online contribution, or donate in person at our community shop.

Using Right to ride

If you can’t afford our regular prices for shop time or parts, first read through the rules below, and then let us know when you arrive at the shop that you'd like to use the Right To Ride program.

Program Rules

The following rules apply:

  • you must provide government issued photo ID whenever you use R2R

  • R2R will cover a maximum of $50 per day on up to 3 separate days within a 3 month period

  • shop time, parts & accessories covered through R2R within that 3 month period must be used on a single bike, and you must bring that bike to the shop to get any parts or accessories

  • essential new parts are covered at our discretion only if there’s no suitable used alternative

  • you must buy a low-income membership ($15, which can be covered by the daily maximum) the first time you use the program to cover shop time (DIY/DIT/full service), if you’re not already a Bike Edmonton member

  • R2R is to help people get a bike they personally use safe and functional; it cannot be used for major restorations, aesthetic modifications, etc.

FAQ

  • We expect people to pay what they are able. But if you can’t pay anything, that’s ok. You can get up to $50 covered per day (see rules). And if you can pay something, you can combine that with the $50 amount we offer and cover more parts or repair time on a single day.

  • Right to Ride is for people who cannot afford our regular rates at all or without real hardship. The program is not meant for people who are simply frugal.

  • $50 is the daily maximum we can provide free of charge. If you can’t afford to add any of your own money, and need more than that will cover, you must return another day. Note that you can only use R2R funds on 3 days within any 3 month period, even if you do not use the $50 each time. That is, if you only use part of the $50 max on one day, you can’t get more than $50 in covered parts or service on another day.

  • Yes, you must have your bike present anytime you use R2R. This applies even if you’re just in need of an accessory, such as a lock, that doesn’t require installation. Funds are limited and we want to make sure they’re used to help people who are working on their own bikes. Requiring that bikes are on hand also reduces the likelihood that we will provide parts/accessories that won’t work properly on your bike.

  • Parts and accessories that aren’t necessary to get your bike safe and functional, or aren’t compatible with your bike, aren’t covered by R2R.

    For example, if you have a 1 × 10 speed drivetrain and need a replacement shifter, then it would be eligible. But, if you have a working 3 × 8 speed drivetrain and want to switch to a 1 × 10 then it wouldn’t be eligible.

  • This helps make sure people are using R2R as intended. A lot of people come through our shop and we need a way to check who is using R2R, and how many times they’ve already used it, that’s more reliable than memory and less subject to misuse than just for asking for a name.

    Need help getting government-issue ID? Try the Edmonton Navigation and Support Centre, or the AHS ID program.

  • Appointments are encouraged though they aren’t required. An appointment guarantees you space and time, and you may need to wait or return if you drop in and we are very busy.

    Make an appointment here for Do-It-Yourself or Do-It-Together work, or for a Parts Consultation (help finding parts). Full service repair appointments are paid in advance. Please just drop in during open hours if you need full service repair using R2R. You can either book in person without pre-paying, or get help that day if we have capacity.