Grimsby Cycle Hub celebrates 10 years in its railway station home

Grimsby Cycle Hub celebrates 10 years of activity in its town centre home, on Saturday 16 September.

The building, at Grimsby Town train station, was an old and unused Red Star Parcel Office storeroom before the council and its delivery partner, Equans, successfully bid for funding from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund to give it a new lease of life.

A partnership with Cycle Hub Lincs, which trades as Grimsby Cycle Hub, was formed and the building was converted into an impressive open-plan repair workshop with indoor cycle storage for safe parking.

The town-centre location is perfect for the not-for-profit Community Interest Company, Cycle Hub Lincs, as it is readily accessible whether by bicycle, on foot, by car or on the train.

Every year around 6,000 people use Cycle Hub’s repair and parking services. They also help an additional 500 people each year with Doctor Bike events, which tour the borough fixing bikes for free.

To celebrate this momentous milestone, Grimsby Cycle Hub is holding a special event between 9am and 5pm on Saturday 16 September with competitions, giveaways, free datatag marking, free health and safety checks and refreshments.

Janine Walker, founder and managing director of Cycle Hub Lincs, said: “We wouldn’t have a Cycle Hub if it hadn’t been for the support of North East Lincolnshire Council and Equans, who collaborated with Network Rail to fund this refurbishment.

“I’m so pleased that we have given this building a new lease of life. We love it here and feel very lucky to have such a central, easy-access location. The only ‘problem’ is that we are so popular, we’re starting to need more space! We always find room though, and we never turn people away. There are plans for an overflow space in the near future.

“Looking after bikes is what we do best and having the support of the community for 10 years is an achievement that we’re all very proud of.  We stick to our motto, ‘Cycle Hub Lincs – Keeping the Community Cycling’.”

Councillor Stewart Swinburn, portfolio holder for traffic and transport, finished: “The refurbished building has added immense value to the community by helping thousands of people get back on their bikes.  Cycling helps to improve both our physical and mental health therefore it’s important to have The Cycle Hub in the centre of town to help people get easy access to any bike needs they may have.”

Anthony Snell, traffic and transport manager at Equans, added: “Bringing an empty property back into use and helping to increase cycle users in the borough have come hand in hand. The statistics speak for themselves with how many people have benefitted from the Cycle Hub during the last 10 years.”