{"id":1192157,"date":"2026-09-07T22:35:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T22:35:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1192157\/"},"modified":"2026-09-07T22:35:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T22:35:17","slug":"edinburgh-bike-charity-launches-crowdfunder-after-flooding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1192157\/","title":{"rendered":"Edinburgh bike charity launches crowdfunder after flooding"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by\u00a0Ross Chalmers<\/a> <\/p>\n

AN EDINBURGH bike charity has launched a crowdfunder<\/a> after their workshop was affected by flash flooding.<\/p>\n

The Bike Station\u2019s<\/a> basement workshop in Tollcross<\/a> was forced to close for eight days, after torrential rain caused their underground workshop to flood on 19 August.<\/p>\n

Their team was able to get the shop back up and running in \u201crecord time\u201d, but the work stoppage caused a 30% drop in bike repairs compared to the previous month.<\/p>\n

Thousands of pounds of revenue were lost at what is usually the workshop\u2019s busiest time of year.<\/p>\n

\"Bike<\/a>Bike Station mechanics at work \u00a9 Andy Catlin<\/p>\n

The charity refurbishes, sells and maintains pre-owned bikes in Edinburgh and Perth, while running community events and classes, teaching people how to fix and maintain bikes.<\/p>\n

In a statement, a spokesperson for the bike workshop said: \u201cThe water was ankle-deep on South Bridge, the steps on Victoria Street were a waterfall, and our beloved basement workshop didn\u2019t fare any better.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were forced to down tools and shut our doors for eight days to look after our team, clean up, replace tools and repair our workshop at the Tollcross branch.\u201d<\/p>\n

They added: \u201cThanks to a dedicated and gargantuan effort by The Bike Station team, we have been able to rebuild our workshop in record time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re so proud to have opened the doors to Tollcross again, but the work isn\u2019t finished yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cEight days of closure in our busiest time has a big impact \u2013 August should be busier than July, but this closure has led to around a 40% drop in the people getting on bikes, and an approximate 30% drop in the number of bikes refurbished at Tollcross this month compared to last.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot to mention thousands of pounds in lost revenues which help us to run our community programme, helping kids and adults from all walks of life to discover freedom on two wheels.\u201d<\/p>\n

They say that a donation to their crowdfunder will help the charity continue their free bike library for kids, as well as their cycling confidence and bike maintenance workshops.<\/p>\n

They have so far raised just over \u00a32,000 towards their goal of \u00a310,000.<\/p>\n

They asserted that Edinburgh\u2019s flirtation with extreme weather this summer has underscored the importance of their mission.<\/p>\n

They warned that extreme weather is predicted to continue and worsen due to climate change, adding that we are currently experiencing a historic, record-setting El Ni\u00f1o.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis extreme weather event makes us more determined than ever to carry on our work helping everyone to enjoy a sustainable, and joyful, mode of transport,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

The Bike Station, now based in Tollcross, was founded in 2001, initially starting as the Castle Cliff Bicycle Workshop on Johnstone Terrace, before moving to a basement in Waverley Station in 2002.<\/p>\n

In the succeeding years, they moved to Causewayside, opened branches in Perth, Glasgow, and Gorgie, and eventually completed their move to Tollcross in June 2025.<\/p>\n

This is not the first time the charity has had to seek public support following a setback; in 2016, they suffered a devastating fire in their Causewayside shop.<\/p>\n

They were able to get up and running again shortly afterwards in a different Causewayside warehouse space, but it took them until May 2017 to get the original shop back online.<\/p>\n

Their stated goals are to contribute towards \u201cequality in active travel\u201d and a \u201ccircular economy\u201d where recycling and repurposing are prioritised.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Ross Chalmers is a journalist focusing on local Edinburgh news, transport, the environment, the arts, and housing.<\/p>\n

He graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in journalism in Summer 2025 and began working at Deadline News as a reporter in August.<\/p>\n

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