British Cycling

April 14, 2026

Lloyds ReCycle Hubs to tackle challenge of access to bikes for the people of Britain

Landmark project empowering communities to break down barriers and make bikes more accessible to people
Following successful pilot project, community organisations, bike hubs, and grassroots groups are encouraged to apply to become a Lloyds ReCycle Hub

—- British Cycling and Lloyds are working to provide greater access to bikes with the launch of the Lloyds ReCycle Hubs across the UK.

Our research shows that 41% of the British population do not own a bike* with affordability and storage cited as key barriers.

Following a successful pilot project, the new community-run Lloyds ReCycle Hubs initiative will tackle this inequality and bring wider access to bikes for those who need it most across ten sites, including the five locations involved in the initial pilot.

Now in its third year, the long-term partnership between Lloyds and British Cycling continues to champion a shared ambition: to help more people of all ages and abilities access cycling and to inspire a healthier, more inclusive, and more prosperous Britain, and Lloyds ReCycle Hubs is a landmark project which ties into that wider goal.

British Cycling research shows that 34% of adults in Britain own an unused adult bike, while similarly 15% of adults have an unused child’s bike. Providing opportunities to repurpose these bikes locally will offer many people a sense of freedom and opportunity which comes with owning a bike, from improving the commute to work, to making it easier to get to a doctor’s appointment or the shops. The project intends to change lives by improving people’s social mobility whilst also bringing about positive environmental impacts to local communities.

Our research shows 20% of British adults have cited affordability as a key obstacle to riding a bike. Along with lead partner, Lloyds, the organisation is committed to breaking down this barrier through ReCycle Hubs, making riding a bike more accessible to everyone, especially for underrepresented groups throughout communities in the UK.

The pilot project [launched in September 2025] supported hubs in five locations across the UK, working in local areas to revive and refurbish abandoned or donated bikes, and provide training to those who need it most. Those are Manchester Bike Kitchen [Three sites in Greater Manchester], Ay Up Community Bikes in Derby, Changing Gearz in Torfaen, St Augustine’s Centre in Halifax, and Re Cycle In’ Cafe in Stockport.

Applications are now open for community organisations, bike hubs, and grassroots groups to either expand existing recycling and cycling initiatives or establish new Lloyds ReCycle Hubs in areas where they are most needed.

The application form and the toolkit to help with the process can be found here.

Grant funding, as well as guidance and mentoring, will be offered to select community organisations so they can set up new activity and develop any current activity which is currently in operation.

Tracy Power, Managing Director of the British Cycling Foundation said:

“This project is a real catalyst for social change which is a key pillar of the wider British Cycling strategy. Not only will it bring significant improvements to health and well-being, but Lloyds ReCycle Hubs will have a positive impact on the environment, and open opportunities to many people across the UK, making real social impact for those in underrepresented groups.

“Our research shows high numbers of the population do not have access to a bike, and this is a challenge we are committed to facing and finding solutions to bring about change and a real impact to communities across the country. The Lloyds ReCycle Hubs set out to tackle inequalities and improve social mobility, so more people can not only experience the joy of cycling, but the practical benefits too.”

“Through our work with the British Cycling Foundation, we hope to support even more projects like this in the future, initiatives which are having real impact at local level, to get more people riding bikes.”

Jon Lane, Head of Brand Partnerships at Lloyds Banking Group, said:

“With the cost of bikes continuing to be a major barrier to cycling, many people are missing out on the significant mental, physical, and financial benefits the sport offers. The introduction of Lloyds ReCycle Hubs is therefore a vital initiative, helping to redistribute bikes to those who need them most and making cycling more accessible for everyone. This is one of the many great initiatives we’re pleased to be delivering with British Cycling to get more people cycling.”

Sandra Davenport, a volunteer at Re Cycle In’ Cafe in Stockport, said

“Re Cycle In’ was born from a passion to help our community fix their bikes instead of throwing them away. Since May, we’ve been repairing wheels in Heaton Norris with a focus on both bicycles and the environment. This funding gives us the chance to grow, support even more people, and inspire our community to embrace the power of pedal-driven change.”

ENDS

Note to editors:

*British Cycling research from our market tracker.

About British Cycling

British Cycling is the national governing body for the sport of cycling in Great Britain. We govern and develop the sport from grassroots participation through to supporting the riders representing Great Britain on the international stage.

Our purpose is to bring the joy of cycling to everyone, and we’re fulfilling this by building on the elite success of the Great Britain Cycling Team and enabling more people to discover the joys of our sport. Our 145,000 members, over 2,000 affiliated clubs, and 12,500 volunteers are at the heart of what we do and the impact we achieve.

For more information, visit www.britishcycling.org.uk.

Contact details:

Emma Hope, Head of Communications

+44 (0) 7384 214079

emmahope@britishcycling.org.uk

Ellie Stott, Great Britain Cycling Team Communications Manager

+44 (0) 7718 570341

elliestott@britishcycling.org.uk

Gareth Burrell, Communications and PR Manager

+44 (0) 7718 394386

garethburrell@britishcycling.org.uk

Will Kirkpatrick, Communications and PR Officer