Bike 'hubs' uniting cyclists of East Auckland
• April 27, 2024
East Aucklanders get educated on bike repairs at Pakuranga’s Lloyd Elsmore Bike Hub. Photo: Isabella Reeve
Helping cyclists with basic repairs and refurbishing bikes has led to better connections between the many different cyclists of East Auckland, says organisers.
It's due to the opening of a Bike Hub in Pakuranga in Lloyd Elsmore Park which has been increasingly popular with locals.
Different types of bike fanatics are meeting each other through the hub, said Kelvin Aris, the park's Bike Hub coordinator.
“You stand here and meet all sorts, you see the retirees, the sporty people, the people with kids, the commuters, the racers, the mountain bikers, the BMXers, you get a real picture of what’s going on.
"The idea is that it connects with a wider network meaning you can get used to your bike hub here and then if you’ve got friends out in say, Onehunga, you spread the word and meet them there.
“You get a real sense of who’s riding and the sort of demand that you aren’t really aware of in a car-centric part of Auckland like this," he said.
The Pakuranga Hub has gained popularity among the community ever since it opened last November.
“We have massive days here, some Saturdays we just don’t stop," said Aris.
“There has been times where 70 people come through, a dozen bikes get donated. We’ll sell more than 10 and then also have a dozen or so fixes to do as well.”
The Pakuranga Bike Hub operates from Thursday to Sunday in the park.
“We have conversations around general biking stuff like how to get to the trails, choosing a bike and knowing where the bike shops are.
“We are a point of contact to get people connected into what’s going on with bikes around the city.”
The hub is a great way for the community to alleviate commute pressure within East Auckland, he said.
“You can bike to Botany through this beautiful bike path network, you can bike to Panmure and can even quite easily get to Sylvia Park.
“A lot of people don’t realise that and instead get frustrated with traffic.”
There are currently eight Bike Hubs across Auckland with plans for an additional four to open later this year.
The Bike Hubs are an initiative that started with EcoMatters and now fall under Auckland Transport.
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