An Auckland charity that started their first Bike Hub in a humble container eight years ago has just clocked up 100,000 visitors across the nine hubs it now operates. The most popular hub is in Grey Lynn.
It’s largely thanks to Aucklanders showing up week after week to buy or donate second hand bikes, or to learn how to maintain the bikes they already have, says EcoMatters Environment Trust’s Bike Manager Brent Bielby.
It’s also been made possible with the backing of a wide range of funders who saw the potential in EcoMatters’ original concept, plus the incredible commitment and passion of staff and volunteers - many of whom have been assisting Aucklanders since “day one.”
“We’re blown away by the support we’ve had from Tāmaki Makaurau, which truly shows Aucklanders want access to this type of community service in their lives. It’s all about making it easy for people to get on a bike,” adds Bielby.
In the 2024-2025 financial year alone, EcoMatters’ nine Hubs have seen over 35,000 visitors; fixed 12,267 bikes with those visitors and sold 2158 bikes that were donated for refurbishment and resale. In Grey Lynn park and only in its second year of operation, this central Auckland hub topped the other eight by a healthy margin – it saw 5776 visitors; fixed 1703 bikes and sold 242 donated and refurbished bikes.
EcoMatters CEO Carla Gee adds that reaching this overall milestone shows the demand is there, not just for individuals, but for the whole family.
“I’m particularly proud that this is a space for the whole whānau to enjoy. Making cycling accessible and affordable for more people of all ages is good for our environment, our community and our health. It’s also good for the health of the environment, which of course is the basis on which EcoMatters operates.”
Gee explains that one of their key focuses is making cycling accessible for short journeys that people often default to driving for: “…we know that carbon emissions can be significantly reduced by taking this ‘everyday’ approach to using a bike.”
Reaching the 100,000 mark adds weight to cycling statistics such as Auckland Transport’s monthly cycling monitor tool, showing a 4.5% YOY increase in cycling movements around the region. But Bielby believes the influence of the Hubs far exceeds 100,000, because those
newly empowered visitors who visit them go back home and share their skills with whānau and friends.
“Cycling counters and other tools are great, but our Hubs give us a much broader, deeper picture of cycling in Tāmaki Makaurau. Our figures indicate that there are more people interested in cycling than is reported in a range of media, and this is so encouraging.”
#ponsonbynews #iloveponsonby #loveponsonby #auckland #aucklandshippestrip #onlyponsonby #ponsonbyroad #Greylynn #freemansbay #westmere #ponsonby #hernebay #stmarysbay #archhill #coxsbay @followers #followers @everyone #everyone #waitematalocalboard @highlight
