100,000 Visitor Milestone For Bike Hubs Shows Aucklanders Really Want To Ride
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.
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.
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 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.'
All Bike Hub Statistics July 2024 TO June 2025
New Lynn Bike Hub saw 4659 visitors; fixed 1704 bikes, and sold 265 donated and refurbished bikes
Henderson Bike Hub saw 3620 visitors; fixed 1437 bikes and sold 307 donated and refurbished bikes
Glenn Innes Bike Hub saw 2884 visitors; fixed 1525 bikes and sold 209 donated and refurbished bikes
Queens Wharf Bike Hub saw 3857 visitors; fixed 1280 bikes and sold 170 donated and refurbished bikes
Pakuranga Bike Hub saw 3261 visitors; fixed 1267 bikes and sold 285 donated and refurbished bikes
Onehunga Bike Hub saw 3195 visitors; fixed 1210 bikes and sold 232 donated and refurbished bikes
Grey Lynn Bike Hub saw 5776 visitors; fixed 1703 bikes and sold 242 donated and refurbished bikes
Manukau Bike Hub saw 4440 visitors; fixed 995 bikes and sold 199 donated and refurbished bikes
Forrest Hill Bike Hub saw 3422 visitors; fixed 915 bikes and sold 249 donated and refurbished bikes
Notes:
The first Bike Hub opened in New Lynn in April 2017, with the aim of providing community connection around cycling. It was backed by the Whau Local Board and a Lotteries NZ grant, then Auckland Transport came onboard.
EcoMatters Bike Hubs are found in: New Lynn, Henderson, Grey Lynn, Glen Innes, Manukau, Pakuranga, Onehunga, Forrest Hill and Queens Wharf
By 2022, there were four hubs which had collectively hosted more than 30,000 visitors, helped fix more than 10,000 bikes and kept more than 2,000 bikes out of landfill through restoration and resale.
Today EcoMatters operates nine sites which are staffed by a mix of employees and volunteers, thanks to support from Auckland Transport. EcoMatters is proud to be part of the wider Bike Hubs network of 14 hubs right across Tāmaki Makaurau.
The hubs offer free access to tools and advice on basic bike maintenance, restored and safety-checked second-hand bikes as well as new bike parts and accessories for sale, safe cycling advice and guidance, free cycling maps and local advice about bike routes.
EcoMatters Bike Hubs are grateful for the support of the Henderson-Massey, Maungakiekie-Tāmaki, Waitematā and Whau local boards, Auckland Council, Auckland Transport, Eke Panuku, Tāmaki Regeneration, NZ Lotteries Grants Board, as well as the EcoMatters team, volunteers, donors and visitors.
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