Previously known as the Roskill Bike Kitchen situated at the Wesley Community Centre, the new look-and-feel Mount Roskill Bike Hub now has much more to offer its community.
Officially opening on 11 July, Mount Roskill Bike Hub is the first of a new tranche of bike hubs coming to Tāmaki Makaurau. Thanks to Auckland Transport (AT) funding, the upgraded hub is operating 15 hours, three days a week with more staff, tools, work and storage space, as part of AT’s regional bike hub network – with eight more to come.
Puketāpapa Local Board Chair, Ella Kumar, is delighted with the significant benefits for the community and environment the project offers.
“We’re so thrilled that this amazing community project is receiving additional support to thrive as the hub it should be,” she says.
“It has huge positive impacts on the environment – by reducing emissions and diverting unused bikes from landfill to be upcycled.”
Mount Roskill Bike Hub and Puketāpapa Active Transport Haven Founder, Richard Barter, is grateful for all the support and grants from the local board over the years to get the bike kitchen up and running. “We wouldn’t be where we are without the board’s help.”
He is also pleased with AT’s contribution. "It means we can now run more programmes and services for the community that we couldn’t in the past – which is fantastic,” says Barter.
Barter manages various active transport projects in the area and started Roskill Bike Kitchen in response to a 2016 mobility survey conducted with Puketāpapa residents. Survey results showed more residents would cycle if they could afford a bike. Since being established, the bike kitchen has received, serviced and given away thousands of bikes.
Bike hubs offer bike repairs and education, safety checks and gear, affordable bike sales, accepts and refurbishes donated bikes and pop-ups at local events. All services are free, and they rely on a wide range of supporters and partnerships to operate.
AT bike hub programme manager, Ben Mansfield, is excited to be launching another eight bike hubs and expanding the network.
“We want to make it easy for people to cycle and know bike hubs work best when they look, feel and operate like a local,” he says.
“Bikes are key tools to increase accessibility and support local economies.”
Community Bike Hubs is an Auckland Transport project designed to address emissions from the transport system and improve active modes access as part of Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan.
Mount Roskill Bike Hub’s new hours beside Wesley Community Centre are:
Tuesday 9.00am to 1.00pm, 3.00pm to 6.00pm
Friday 9.00am to 1.00pm
Saturday 9.00am to 1.00pm
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