Wirral bike recycling scheme opens new central Liverpool hub
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
The founders of a Wirral bike recycling scheme have opened a hub across the River Mersey as part of a campaign to encourage more people into cycling.
Pic from Facebook - HYPE Urban Bikes
Birkenhead-based social enterprise HYPE Merseyside began its work during the pandemic as a celebration of recycling and since distributed more than 5,000 bikes into the local community.
The non-profit organisation's second hub on Sefton Street in Liverpool, was officially opened by Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram.
It offers affordable bicycles for hire and purchase, as well as a host of free and low-cost cycling-based activities and skills workshops.
It aims to make cycling accessible to all and get people living in and visiting the region on their bikes to explore the area, improve their health and wellbeing, and promote green, active travel.
HYPE Urban Bikes provides free and low-cost activities including road and cycle safety sessions, group rides and balance bike sessions in, and a host of courses and workshops covering topics such as cycle mechanics, recycling sustainability and leadership.
The hub also sells repair services and accessories and new, recycled and refurbished bikes for sale, with a wide variety available at affordable prices.
As a not-for-profit organisation, all monies generated by the bike hub will be invested back into the community, funding events, initiatives and the establishment of future hubs in other boroughs in the city region.
HYPE Urban Bikes was originally launched in 2017 in Birkenhead, where its first hub is located, with the aim of making cycling cheaper, safer, more accessible, and an easy choice for as many people as possible.
The scheme expanded during the pandemic when HYPE recycled, refurbished and distributed more than 5,500 bikes into the local community, including NHS and key workers, asylum seekers, local young people and commuters unable to afford the cost of a new bike.
Recognising the appetite for cycling and exploring the barriers to access, HYPE has since been focused on bringing a central hub to Liverpool, to enable more people to get on their bikes and enjoy the benefits.
As well as supplying thousands of people with refurbished bicycles, HYPE Urban Bikes has also trained 27 young people as bike mechanics, engaged more than 800 children aged 3-7 years in balance bikes programmes in schools and raised £25,000 through bike sales and repairs, funding other programmes and initiatives, including the new Liverpool bike hub.
Speaking to the Wirral Globe, Matthew Houghton from HYPE Urban Bikes, said: "There are so many health, wellbeing and environment benefits to cycling and we believe that everyone - regardless of age, gender, background or financial barriers - should be able to access the sport.
“We also want to encourage people who might never have considered cycling before to give it a try, through our many initiatives, events and the network of businesses and organisations supporting cycling across the city region, who we are already proud to work with.
“HYPE Urban Bikes will create a vibrant, healthy and connected community that will give back to the region and the people in it through cleaner air, reduced social isolation, improved fitness and a reduction in waste, through recycling and refurbishment of bikes."
Simon O'Brien, Liverpool City Region Cycling & Walking Commissioner, said: “When I visited HYPE’s Bike Hub on the Wirral I was blown away by the energy and passion that Matt and the team have for encouraging everyone to get out and enjoy time on their bikes, so it's great news that they are now opening a new hub in the heart of Liverpool.