‘We’ll pivot and shift’: Big Bike Giveaway may be heading in a new direction

Big Bike Giveaway in jeopardy of shutting down program after lack of access to storage. CTV London’s Gerry Dewan reports.

A charity that provides free bicycles to those in need may be heading in another direction. The organizers of the Big Bike Giveaway said the next three months will determine their fate.

Just over 12 years ago, Shayne and Monica Hodgson launched the Big Bike Giveaway from their Wortley Village home.

Interest exploded with long lines of people hoping to get a bike. The giveaway shifted to Argyle Arena where, at its peak, more than 700 bikes were given away.

To avoid people being turned away without a bike, the Hodgsons shifted to having potential recipients register online, with smaller giveaway events.

The challenge has always been to find a space where bikes could be stored and repaired. Starting in 2021, London developer Shmuel Farhi provided space at no cost, but Hodgsons said that property is no longer available.

“Times are hard for everybody and building owners are having the same (challenges),” said Hodgson.

“We have to thank Shmuel Farhi for all the years he gave to us. There’s no animosity, no anger. It’s just business.”

Bikes currently sit under tarps in the Hodgsons’ Carling neighbourhood backyard, waiting for a new home.

Hodgson said many of the refurbished bikes will become Christmas presents, mostly through the Salvation Army’s Christmas Hamper program.

“I don’t need to have someone to say, ‘Oh, the Big Bike did this.’ I just want someone to take that bike and give it to the kid. That’s more than enough for us,” he said.

But the bikes can’t remain in the yard through the winter. It’s the time when Hodgson needs an indoor space in order to prepare bikes for the summer giveaway.

“By December, if we don’t have something, then we’re going to start figuring out what we’re going to be doing for the summer, and it probably won’t be a giveaway,” he said.

The Hodgsons rely on donations to buy parts, but said that funding isn’t sufficient to pay for leasing a property and they can’t afford to absorb the cost.

Shayne remains passionate about fitness and the overall benefits of cycling. He wants to continue to share that passion with others, especially kids. He told CTV News the efforts will continue, but they may need to approach it in a different way.

“We’ll pivot and shift and figure what big bike we’ll do next. And it’s not going to be ever gone. It just won’t be the same,” he said.

Hodgson said the giveaway had other benefits, including diverting bikes from landfills and getting transportation to those on limited incomes who need to work or go to training programs. He also wants to see those supports continue.