About Us
Our vision is to create a community bike hub giving access to bikes and bike hire for everyone and use those cycle related activities as a tool to engage individuals and groups who may be disadvantaged through a variety of different social issues.
Our Mission
Biosphere Bikes came about through a love of cycling and a desire and we want to encourage people into a healthier lifestyle using cycling as a means to do that. We are a Not-For-Profit social enterprise charity based in the town of Girvan in South Ayrshire and at the start of a very exciting journey. Our vision is to create a community bike hire hub at Girvan seafront giving access to bikes, bike hire and related activities for everyone no matter age ability or disability. We aim to do this through a range of bikes including electric bikes, manual bikes and bikes for the not so able bodied. We want people who don’t have access to a bike or think cycling is not for them due to accessibility issues to realise that there is a bike for everyone.
We also have a Community Bike Hub shop and space where we will use cycling related activities as a tool to tackle social issues around health and wellbeing, social isolation, exclusion through physical or mental health issues, financial issues and any other barriers that affect accessibility or inclusion. The Community shop space will give opportunity for volunteering, employment and training and a space where anyone can come in and just have a cup of tea and a chat, use the internet or even get their bike fixed. We also want to reuse and recycle as many unused bikes as possible to keep as much as possible out of landfill sites.
The name – Biosphere Bikes – was inspired because we live and work in a UNESCO recognised special area called a Biosphere and wanted the name to reflect this. At Biosphere Bikes we are very proud to say that we are a Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere Certified Business and as a social enterprise our principles very much align with those of the Biosphere. We want to create a Community bike hub in Girvan that brings health and social benefits to local people but will also reap rewards for local businesses through tourism.
Looking after our natural environment is so important and Biosphere Bikes wants to encourage cycling as an eco friendly and sustainable travel option. We have been awarded the Biosphere Certification Mark in recognition of our sustainable practices and our collaborative work with other businesses, supporting the community and looking after the natural environment.
Visitors will be able to explore and appreciate the hidden places across South Carrick that are less accessible by car and enjoy our beautiful landscapes, local culture and wonderful heritage whilst reducing environmental impact by using a bike instead of a car.