Bike hub rolls into action2 min read

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The Onehunga Bike Hub is open and ready for you, offering free simple repairs, expert advice on basic bike maintenance, bike safety checks and tips on how and where to cycle safely.

The hub opened its doors out of a distinctive blue shipping container based at the Onehunga Train Station on Onehunga Mall. Paid staff and volunteers will be on site from Thursday to Sunday, 10am-2pm. The hub is funded by Auckland Transport and is run by EcoMatters Environment Trust, which manages five other hubs in Auckland.

The Onehunga Bike Hub Coordinator, Hannah Miller, has been working at the other hubs, learning from the experts before taking over at Onehunga and has enjoyed being at the grassroots of cycling. She only learned to cycle five years ago, and has embraced it is a great way to get out of the car and connect with her neighbourhood.

She is looking forward to passing on that passion, and her knowledge, “helping the community, on the ground.”

As well as offering access to tools, free repairs and education, the hub team will also sell restored and safety-checked second hand bikes. They will happily accept any sized bikes for donation, as all the bikes would normally risk ending up in landfill.

Auckland Transport’s Bike Hubs Programme Manager, Ben Mansfield, says Onehunga feels like a real milestone, as it is their tenth hub and the fourth in just four months. He’s excited about what bike hubs can bring to the community, getting people into active transport, which is vital for reducing carbon emissions.

Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board is also supporting the hub, and is the only local board in Auckland with two hubs in their area, with the Glen Innes Bike Hub running for several years already.