Reading Bike Hub officially opened its doors on 7 September, offering not only cycling services but also a new sense of community and warmth in the heart of Reading.
Located next to the George Hotel and The Oracle shopping centre, it is just a seven-minute walk from Reading Station. (14-16A, Kings Street Reading RG1 2HE)
The hub provides a wide range of services, including a Bike Library, where people can try bikes before buying, affordable repairs, refurbished bike sales, cycling courses for adults and children, bike parking, and various programmes of workshops and events.
The project is led by Kat Heath, founder of Kidical Mass Reading and a solo parent, “Dr. bike” Jamie from Stumbles Cycles, Nieve from Reading Bike Kitchen, and Udo, who previously set up a similar community space in Staines, The Talking Tree.
Had a bad day and somewhere to chill? Everyone is welcomed
For Kat, the idea had been brewing for months: the need for a space where people could pause, connect, and feel welcomed.
“There should be somewhere in town where you can sit down and take a breath, where parents can let their kids play or learn cycling, where people can meet like-minded friends, get their bikes fixed, or just start their cycling journey,” she said.
She added: “If you’re having a bad day and need somewhere to chill, you don’t even need a bike, just come in. We’re not just cyclists, we’re people on bikes, with kids and lives. That’s what makes this place special.”
Born from good deeds, aiming to spread warmth
The hub came together quickly, with the team securing the premises and setting it up in just six weeks, and that spirit has already drawn people in even before they officially launched.
In recent weeks, friends and even strangers have turned up and provided all sorts of help, decorating, sweeping and mobbing the place, scrubbing the toilet, bringing food and snacks, and looking after each other’s kids.
“People thought it was a good idea, and they didn’t hesitate to lend a hand,” Kat said. “I’m so grateful for everyone’s time and effort and passion.”
She added: “We genuinely can make the world a better place if we all try, so we just have to try.”
A promise to “fix the world”
For Kat, the Bike Hub also fulfils a personal promise. As a solo parent, she wanted to build a better future for her four-year-old son.
“The world he’s growing up in is full of plastic, hotter every day, and harder to live in. When I was a child, kids played outside together in the community, that doesn’t happen so much anymore. I want to bring that back.”
“I am trying to bring back the community. We should recreate that.”
The Hub encourages active travel, reduces waste by refurbishing bikes, and creates what Kat describes as “a place with warmth and a sense of community”, somewhere that will always welcome you when you need space.
Call for support
The team has launched a £50,000 crowdfunder to pay for tools, advertising, and free workshops. They are also appealing for donated bikes, especially children’s bikes, and for volunteers with time and skills to share.
“If you’re a mechanic, an accountant, good at social media, or experienced in community projects, we need your skills, your time, your passion, we need you,” Kat said.
How long the hub will last is uncertain, but Kat remains hopeful. “Even if it only lasts a few months, it’s better than not trying.”
She added: “It only works if everyone gets involved. Let’s make this place really vibrant. Let’s make a community.”
By Nathalie Chi
