Celebrating five years of the New Lynn bike hub

It has been five years since the trailblazing opening of the very first EcoMatters bike hub in New Lynn, a project supported by Whau Local Board, with no signs of the hub slowing down.

The hub provides a range of services to help keep bikes running, including free access to tools and advice on basic bike maintenance, restored second-hand bikes for sale, parts and accessories, safe cycling advice and guidance and more.

Since opening in 2017, the New Lynn hub has been followed by the Henderson and Glen Innes hubs, which have hosted more than 30,000 visitors, helped fix and restore more than 10,000 bikes and redistributed more than 2000 bikes back into the community.

The success of the model has been recognised regionally and nationally, with the Bike Hubs winning awards from both Waka Kotahi and Auckland Transport.

Opening of the Bike Hub in 2017. Photo credit: EcoMatters Environment Trust

Cycling

Whau Local Board Chair, Kay Thomas, says that the hub has shown there is a real appetite for cycling in the area.

“We are so thrilled that the bike hub has continued to go from strength to strength,” says Kay.

“Five years is a fantastic milestone that has gone by in the blink of an eye. We know there is a real appetite for cycling in Whau, and the success of the hub underlines that fact.

“Many congratulations to EcoMatters for the mahi and vision to make the hub a reality, it really has become a much-loved part of our community.”

Transformational

EcoMatters Environment Trust CEO Carla Gee says the hub has been transformational.

“Our Bike Hubs are pretty special places,” she says. “They are very rooted in their communities, offering advice on safe cycling routes and running local guided bike rides.

“The original plan was driven by one of our longest-serving team members Meg Liptrot and thanks to great support, became a reality that we know has, in some cases, truly changed people’s lives,” she says.