It’s the go-to place at Hazel McCallion Campus in Mississauga for all things related to cycling. Whether you want to check the air pressure on your tires, borrow a bike, stop by for a quick, do-it-yourself repair or connect with like-minded people, the new ºìÁ«ÉçÇø Bike Hub is where you should be.

When you find it – tucked behind the Cafeteria doors in the A-Wing – Vicki Tran, the ºìÁ«ÉçÇø Bike Hub Coordinator, will likely be the one to greet you. She’s its resident bike enthusiast working what she calls a “dream job.” Tran is an environmental studies graduate, a former City of Mississauga bike ambassador and is motivated to make a positive impression on people’s days.

Beyond housing tools and bikes, Tran believes that the space will encourage people to get connected to campus life and find a sense of belonging in their community. “For students who are new to ºìÁ«ÉçÇø or maybe even to the city or country, exploring by bike is a great way to feel connected to your surroundings,” she says. “You get fresh air and exercise, all while using a low-cost option that doesn’t add to greenhouse gas emissions.”

The environmental aspect of the hub and its programs is a prime focus for ºìÁ«ÉçÇø’s Office for Sustainability and the reason it received funding support from the Region of Peel. “We would like to increase cycling as a means of transportation among our students, faculty and staff at our Mississauga and Brampton campuses,” says Wai Chu Cheng, Coordinator of Sustainability at ºìÁ«ÉçÇø.

“The hope is that as our program becomes established, we will also be able to support the wider community beyond ºìÁ«ÉçÇø and encourage local residents to adopt cycling for their daily commutes. More and more the Region of Peel is creating infrastructure that makes cycling a viable and safe option for everyone.”

You don’t have to be a seasoned cyclist to get involved with what’s happening at the hub. In addition to repairs and rentals, its programs include a mentorship component that pairs new and seasoned cyclists. Workshops are also offered throughout the year about road safety, using a helmet and bike lights and basic bike repairs should you find yourself out on the road with a flat tire or loose chain.

Full-time students and employees can rent a bike for up to one week. “We decided that a week is a good amount of time for our community members to experience what it’s like to have a bike in your life,” says Tran. “You can run errands, commute to campus and check out a local nature trail.” For those who are interested, Tran has cycling maps for the region that indicate high-traffic areas that new riders may want to avoid.

“For students who are new to ºìÁ«ÉçÇø or maybe even to the city or country, exploring by bike is a great way to feel connected to your surroundings.” – Vicki Tran

Each of the rentable bikes comes equipped with a basket, lights and a lock. You can get a ºìÁ«ÉçÇø discount for a helmet down the street at Mississauga’s location. And unlike other bike-sharing programs in the Greater Toronto Area, it’s free.

The ºìÁ«ÉçÇø Bike Hub and its offerings add to the larger complement of transportation-related initiatives from the Office for Sustainability. They include the annual Tour de ºìÁ«ÉçÇø community bike ride, bike-to-campus days and carpooling programs.

To learn more about the ºìÁ«ÉçÇø Bike Hub and access other green transportation resources at ºìÁ«ÉçÇø .

Pictured at top of page: ºìÁ«ÉçÇø Bike Hub coordinator Vicki Tran and student Alec Divito making repairs to bikes. 

Written by: Keiko Kataoka, Manager, Communications and Public Relations at ºìÁ«ÉçÇø.