The City of Fremantle’s strong support for our city’s bicycle culture has been taken to the next level with Mayor Brad Pettitt announcing today the creation of BIKEMATE, Australia’s first ever bike support group, that is based on the RAC roadside service model. Together with the BUG cyclist group the City will establish a volunteer organisation that will attend to bicycle breakdowns in Freo. It was the idea of bike-mad City Ward Councillor Simon Naber who also created the seacontainer bike parking facility at Paddy Troy Lane.

From the middle of this month when cyclists in the Fremantle area have a flat tyre or other mechanical problems they no longer have to walk home and push their bike. All they need to do from Monday April 11 is call toll-free number 1300 7388488 for one of the volunteers to attend and repair their bike on the spot for just $ 5.00.

The City will sponsor BIKEMATE and pay for the cargo bikes, tools, uniforms, painting of the bikes and the free phone service. The cargo bikes will be ocean blue with the white BIKEMATE logo on either side.

Only a few weeks ago the Freo Mayor tweeted that thanks to the $ 2,2 million investment the City has made in bike infrastructure since 2013, people on bicycles in the port city have increased by 46%.

I believe that BIKEMATE is a really good initiative. I have not heard that this service is offered in any other country in the world, where bicycles are far more prevalent, so well done City of Fremantle for being a leader in bike innovation!

Roel Loopers