Oxford Cycle Workshop Limited

Oxford Cycle Workshop Ltd was a social enterprise based in Magdalen Road, Oxford, England. Its aim was to explore the new roles bike shops could play in serving their local community through the piloting of a broad range of social and environmental projects. It became a worker co-operative and never went against it's core beliefs in being an ethical bike shop. It never sold cheaply manufactured new bicycles from the far east, and offered recycled bike parts to make bike repairs cheaper and keep Oxford's cyclists cycling. The organisation's core project was the recycling of Oxford's many unwanted bicycles destined for landfill, and successfully renovated and resold between 700 - bikes a year. Training was also a key part of the vision for the organisation from the start, creating partnerships with local charities to use cycle maintenance skills as an engagement activity in youth reparation and vocational training. They were also the first organisation to offer mobile mechanic services in Oxford, a service which continues to be offered by James Dawton. Oxford Cycle Workshop was also the birthplace of Oxford Alleycats and Oxford’s Bike Polo Group both of which continue to hold regular events.