Low-cost bike shop closes this weekend in downtown Chilliwack, seeks new home
CHILLIWACK — A secondhand cycle shop in downtown Chilliwack that sought to provide lower-cost bikes for families and individuals while raising funds for the work of Chilliwack Restorative Justice plans to close later this week due to the forthcoming demolition of the United Church.
According to a statement from Chilliwack Restorative Justice executive director Steve Roukema, Restorative Cycle intends to vacate its roughly 2,000-square foot bike shop by this Saturday, May 11 as the former Cheamview United Church at 45835 Spadina Avenue prepares for its transformation into a multi-storey downtown housing complex.
In 2023, Cheam View United Church had generously opened its doors to Restorative Cycle and CRJ, a community program that creates opportunities to repair harm and prevent crime in Chilliwack and the Upper Fraser Valley region. Roukema says he knew all along that Restorative Cycle might have to relocate.
Fortunately, Roukema says the bike shop has access to a local barn where it will be storing the bikes and tools in until it secures a permanent location.
“We plan to be out of our current location by Saturday, May 11, our last day open at the current location at the church,” Roukema said in an email to Fraser Valley Today. “We have a couple of potential options that we will know more about near the end of May for the permanent location.”
In the meantime, Roukema says he’s receptive to any potential locations around Chilliwack that might be able to house a bike shop.
The bike shop held a grand opening celebration on Saturday, September 9, 2023, offering a number of in-store services to supplement the work that that CRJ had been doing for over a decade through both in-person and online auctions.
“The cost of new bicycles is out of reach for many families as well and those experiencing homelessness in Chilliwack rely on their bicycles for a transportation,” Roukema said in a September 2023 news release to herald the grand opening of the bike shop. “The Restorative Cycle shop will enable Chilliwack Restorative Justice to grow the online bike auction to be transformed into an in-person shop that enables people of low income to purchase used bikes.”
Previously, the Restorative Cycle program, under the auspices of CRJ, sold bikes through an online bike auction for over two years. The auction operated in person for over 10 years, Roukema said.
Funds received from bike sales enabled Chilliwack Restorative Justice to provide a bike maintenance service to the community and grow the online auction to receive, restore, and sell more bikes.
An average of 10 bikes are donated to Chilliwack Restorative Justice every month from the RCMP detachment, Roukema previously told Fraser Valley Today. Other bikes are donated through the City of Chilliwack, residents, and local businesses. Proceeds go towards Restorative Cycle and restorative justice work in the community, Roukema said.