Free Ride builds it's programme using member voice.
Every member fills a membership survey, and the data from this survey is used to drive and develop programmes. Members are asked if they want a free bike, a bike for someone else, access to tools, mechanic training, free fix ups, free safety gear, bike riding skills courses and information about safe routes.
“for us, it's a very clear way to create programmes that our community wants. I don't have to do massive consultation, as the data is all there in the membership survey” Lily - Project lead.
So far we've managed to provide about 6 months worth of free fix ups, free bikes, and safety gear and some Pedal Ready Training.
Our next step is to fit out our Free Ride Workshop, and start mechanic training sessions.
This will enable us to train more mechanics and give the ones with exisiting skills access to tools to use. It's important for us to train mechanics for three reasons:
More people with mechanic skills means more safe bikes in our community.
There is a mechanic shortage and there are many opportunities for work
Free Ride members can be involved in getting more bikes out to the whānau who need them. Ross can only do so much, so having more people fixing in our workshop means more bikes get given away.
Having a space will enable us to build more of a community around Free Ride, and develop a bigger presence at Naenae's Hillary Court. The space will be open 10am-1pm 3 Saturdays a month.
As part of using community voice to create programmes, we want to use community voice to influence and advocate to councils, and government. We are in conversation with Hutt City Council around their new Streets for People programme funded by Waka Kōtahi.
This programme is about making the routes through the community better for whānau and community to access so that we might see more people choosing cycling. We intend to work with HCC to bring Free Ride voices to this conversation so that we might get the best result for our community.
Find out more about Streets for People here
