3 May, 2026

Bike hubs buzzing as more people turn to cycling

Two wheels good… Forrest Hill Bike Hub coordinator Steve Cable (right) works with volunteer and team member Max Brackley on a repair

More people are turning to affordable cycling, with environmental charity EcoMatters reporting record visitor numbers at its nine Auckland bike hubs, including one in Forrest Hill.
The facility at Greville Reserve recorded 417 visitors and helped people fix 189 bikes during March, with April figures also tracking up, but had yet to be fully collated by this paper’s deadline.
Across the city, EcoMatters fixed almost 2000 bikes in March and also sold a record number of refurbished donated bikes. “Visitor numbers are up 25 per cent compared to the same time last year,” said the trust’s chief executive Carla Gee.

Supported by Auckland Transport and local boards, the bike hubs take a hands-on approach. Team members and volunteers work with visitors to teach basic bike maintenance, so people have the skills to keep their bikes functioning and safe. By restoring donated bikes for resale, these are kept out of landfill. They also offer safe cycling guidance.
Hubs manager Brent Bielby says: “While rising fuel costs have certainly sparked new interest in cycling, these record numbers are also part of a longer-term pattern of growth.”
The Forrest Hill hub is one of several that offer e-bike loan schemes, allowing people to try before they buy. Interest in booking two-week free trials is high.

The local hub has operated out of a container by the reserve’s football pitch on East Coast Rd since October 2024. It is open Thursday to Sunday, from 10am to 2pm.
Bielby says hubs break down barriers to people getting into cycling, regardless of their experience or budget. For those considering investing in an e-bike, the opportunity to trial one in their daily lives, rather than just taking a quick turn around a car-park at a retailer, helps assess how their value.
“For a lot of people that’s the moment everything clicks,” says Bielby.

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