Going to a university as big as U of T means that sometimes, information about helpful on-campus resources passes under the radar, or gets lost in the barrage of knowledge that its tens of thousands of students must absorb daily. Consequently, there are a few little-known gems on campus that can prove very useful to any student who learns about them. One of these is the small student-run organization called Bikechain.
BERNARDA GOSPIC/THE VARSITY
Bikechain is not only an organization that students can join as volunteers, it is also a do-it-yourself bike repair and rental shop that, almost always, provides services for free. The exception is when a person may need to buy a part that is necessary for a repair and, even in that case, parts are sold for less than other shops. On top of that, when you take your bike in for maintenance, you will walk out with it the same day. The neat thing about Bikechain is that it teaches people how to make the necessary repairs for themselves. This is not to say that someone who has never held a wrench before will be expected to simply follow instructions; rather it means that Bikechain staff will work with you to help you fix your bike while at the same time teaching you how to do it, and giving tips on how to keep your bike in good shape.
Although the thought of biking in this weather may seem odd to some, many students get around campus on two wheels and the number skyrockets when the weather is more favourable. However, not many people are aware that such a convenient stop is available to them free of charge almost every day of the week. Bikechain is even useful for those who do not have a bike, as it also provides free bike rentals — along with a lock, — for a week or longer to any U of T student. This is great for anyone who may be interested in biking but may not be completely sure about it, and thus may want to try it or even just borrow a bike for a short period of time before buying a bicycle.
While Bikechain is a great student service, the organization has struggled in the past to remain open. Although it often flies under the radar, its small location creates waiting times during busy periods, and it has long fought to get a larger space, a fight which it has recently won.
Bikechain is currently located in the basement of 33 St. George St. but will be moving to a more spacious location in the near future. In the meantime, students can take advantage of this resource — one of Toronto’s best DIY shops — by simply walking down to their current location and ringing the doorbell.
David Gelles is a political science student at St. Michael’s College.
