Frequently asked questions

Frequently given answers

Will Bike Pirates buy my bike?

No. We don’t buy OR trade any bikes or bike parts. We rely entirely on donations to stay afloat. This also keeps us from ever accidentally buying a stolen bike. We’re pirates, not thieves.

Will you fix my bike for me?

Sometimes. See our Saturday Minor Repair Service hours. But our collective is based on a DIY ethic, which means you need to do the work yourself. Our volunteers are friendly and helpful, and we don’t care if you’re new to bike repair, we’re happy to teach. You may have to get your hands dirty (we have gloves you can use) but hopefully you’ll have fun and learn something at the same time. If you’re not into fun or learning – or just don’t have the time to DIY- there are plenty of bike shops in the city with reputable service departments.

How much does it costs to fix my bike at Bike Pirates?

That depends on you. We’d like you to make a donation based on

  1. how much time you spent in the shop;
  2. how much help you received from our volunteers;
  3. how much oil/grease/etc. you used;
  4. how much you learned;
  5. how much fun you had;
  6. how useful it is for you to have a working bike.
  7. how much you can afford

We also require a donation for any used parts you use.
If you need any new parts to repair your bike (like cables, brake pads, or inner tubes) we will let you know their prices so you can stay within your budget.

Are you hiring? How much do you get paid to work at Bike Pirates?

There are no paid employees at Bike Pirates. We are all volunteers, and we’re not looking to change that. We always welcome new volunteers and you never know, maybe you’ll learn enough to be a professional bike mechanic someday.

How can I volunteer?

To become a volunteer we ask that you attend one of our Volunteer Orientation sessions.
These are scheduled demand and generally run for about an hour.
We need volunteers to help with every aspect of running a community non-profit! Don’t worry if you don’t know anything about fixing bikes.
Check out our Volunteering page for ideas or just drop by the shop and we’ll find something for you to do.

Bike Pirates looks awesome, but I don’t live in Toronto. What should I do?

Luckily, most major cities in North America have at least one similar community bicycle organization. Check out the big list.

I’d like to buy a certain style of bike. If one gets fixed up and ready to sell, can you hold it and contact me?

Sorry, but because we’re run by a huge number of volunteers, it would be impossible for us to take orders for bikes. If you’re looking to buy a bike from us, the best strategy is to drop by often and see what we have available for sale. Either that, or come in and build one up yourself – that way, you’ll get exactly the bike you want, and you’ll know how it works.

Who pays for all this? Are you financially supported by the city or some corporate sponsor?

We’re funded entirely by donations from users and by the sale of the donated bikes we fix up. No government funding. No corporate sponsors.

Are you trying to put ‘normal’ bike shops out of business?

Of course not. We want to encourage more people to cycle more often, and that’s going to mean more business for bike shops, not less. Some people want to fix their own bikes, and we aim to make that possible. Some people don’t want to fix their own bikes, and there are plenty of local neighbourhood bikeshops who can help them out. Actually, we have pretty good relationships with most bike shops in the city, and collaborate with them on projects from time to time.

Why are you called pirates?

Our sign was supposed to say “Bike Pilates” but it arrived with a typo and we ran with it. Never go with the cheapest printer! Arrr!

To be honest, we don’t know. The scurvy dog who came up with the idea has since walked the plank. So make up your own reason. But let’s be clear:

  • We don’t steal bikes, buy stolen bikes, or keep all the booty for ourselves
  • We’re not here to get rich
  • We’re not here to rip you off

Do you offer classes or workshops?

Sometimes! Please follow us on social media or join our mailing list to hear about them. If you are interested in teaching a class or workshop, or if you have ideas about what we should be teaching, please write to events@bikepirates.com

Can my organization use the Bike Pirate space when it’s not in use?

Maybe. Bike Pirates know they have a great space and they very much want to share it with other like-minded community groups; provided that they are clean, inclusive and responsible. In the past, our space has been used by groups not only for special bike-related teaching (through the use of our tools, our parts, and even our volunteers) but also for broader community work (including meetings, events, etc.) and events (like fundraisers) that fit within our greater mandate.

We do operate as a collective which means we need plenty of time to discuss and agree on space sharing. If you can let us know before our organizational meetings (on the last Monday of each month), it would make things at lot easier. When requesting the use of our space, you might consider:

  • which bike pirate key holder is available to open and close the space for you;
  • who will be setting up the space for you and cleaning it afterwards;
  • whether you need exclusive use of the space;
  • what additional resources you might require (access to tools, sound system, etc); and,
  • whether you are able to make a donation to help support the space.