Bike repair a no-brainer for Australian charity

They can be spotted abandoned on nature strips or floating upside-down in the Yarra. Parts of them could be chained to a parking sign on your street or a handrail at your train station. You might even have one rusting away in your back shed.
Australia has a huge problem with unwanted bikes, with as many as 500,000 ending up in landfill each year.
When Paul Bird, CEO of Brainwave Australia, saw bikes left out for hard rubbish in his neighbourhood, it sparked an idea. Instead of letting these bikes go to waste at the tip, why don’t we repair them, sell them, and use the profits as another fundraising avenue for our charity.
Brainwave Australia provides care and support to children and families affected by brain injuries and illness.
During the peak of the pandemic, donations were drying up, so they needed a new source of revenue and Brainwave Bikes was born.
Less than 12 months later, the team has already recycled more than 2,500 bikes which they receive from transfer stations and private donations.
Brainwave Bikes Manager Kieran McMahon says the average bike takes less than an hour to repair.
“It's quite a short period of time and testament to the fact that these bikes shouldn't be going to waste,” Kieran says.
“Being a not-for-profit, we also have to be cost effective. I would say we’re spending no more than 15 or 20 dollars on fixing a bike.
“Some of them only need a hose down and a new chain put on.”
Supported by a grant from Sustainability Victoria, Brainwave Bikes has been able to reach out to councils to improve their recycling processes and ensure more discarded bikes can be given a second life.
Kieran says their goal is to be listed on the waste and recycling guides of every local council to establish a point of intervention.
“You won’t believe the treasures that one can find in the dump,”
“You don't realise that they can be worth quite a lot of money if you do the restoration on them.
“The bikes that end up in landfill, we can't save all of them, but we don’t want these good quality bikes ending up there, left out in the weather.
“So if we can try and get them to Brainwave Bikes earlier, it just improves the cycle and makes our circular economy a lot more successful.”

While saving bikes from landfill and raising money for their charity, Brainwave Bikes also donates bikes where they can, giving away as many as 60 per month to other charities and community groups.
Kieran says their waiting list for gifted bikes is starting to swell.
“I didn't realise the need that was out there. I think we take for granted the access to affordable transport or just the access to transport in general,” Kieran says.
“Not everybody has it, especially with the cost of myki going up along with cost-of-living pressures.
“Once you have a bike that's your world unlocked, you can go anywhere. And you’re reducing emissions by leaving the car at home.”
To support Brainwave Bikes, you can gift a bike, volunteer your time, or drop off your old bike. You can also purchase tickets to the 2023 Brainwave Gala event on 25 August.
For anyone in the market for a second-hand bike, Kieran says you’ll be pleasantly surprised if you drop into Brainwave Bikes. The store looks less like a second-hand shop and more like a mainstream sporting goods store featuring colourful bikes of all sizes.
“There’s a stigma around second-hand bikes,” he explains.
“People might think they’re these rusty pieces of junk, but if you come to our shop, you'll see there's actually some really decent, high-quality bikes here.
“You don't need to be afraid of second-hand bikes. You’re getting incredible, affordable bikes that are quality serviced by a mechanic and I’d encourage anyone to check us out.”