Edmonton’s new public bike-repair stand a hit

Sometimes, the need to fix your whip happens at the worst times, blindsiding you on what was meant to be a quick, casual ride downtown—like rolling down to the pub to meet other riders for a weekend radler, for example.

In Edmonton, there’s a new option for riders when such inconvenient calamity falls. It’s in a particularly convenient location.

Located in front of the Next Act Pub in Edmonton’s Old Strathcona neighbourhood, Steam Whistle Brewing unveiled a new bike repair station at 8224 104th Street, painted in the distinctive bright green colours of the Toronto-based beer brand. Last spring, the company introduced similar bike-repair stand in Toronto, too—free for riders to use, like the one in Edmonton—and as Steam Whistle representatives told the CBC, the convenience of the stands can be a big help.

“If you need to just tighten or adjust your seat, or pump up your tires, you can do that here and you don’t have to bother a bike shop,” sales representative Ben Taylor told CBC reporters. The eye-catching station is the result of a partnership between Steam Whistle, the City of Edmonton and the Old Strathcona Business Association.

The stand has a pump, adjustable wrenches, Phillips screwdrivers and Allen keys. The smaller tools are attached to the stand with cables. Sources say, the repair stand has been busy.

That, says Murray Davison, executive director of the Old Strathcona Business Association, raises hopes for three or four more repair stands in the bike-friendly, cycling-heavy part of Edmonton.

“Our cycling community,” Davison told the CBC, “is extremely important to us. It’s important to our businesses. We’re seeing more bike corrals put throughout the area, so anything we can do to enhance the infrastructure is really key.”