Janine Walker & Grimsby Cycle Hub: Creating a Connected Town, One Bike at a Time

When Janine Walker first started hiring out bikes from a holiday park in rural Lincolnshire, she never imagined she’d one day run a thriving community cycle hub in the centre of Grimsby. But what began with a van full of bikes and a vision for active travel has grown into a mission to make cycling more accessible, inclusive, and safe for everyone.

A business born from necessity — and passion

Janine’s cycling journey started not with a business plan, but with a challenge. After the holiday park she worked at was sold in pieces, Janine negotiated a unique severance: she took ownership of the park’s fleet of hire bikes in lieu of wages, then invested her own money in a van and set up a mobile cycle hire business. She travelled across Lincolnshire, delivering bikes to families and tourists in Cleethorpes, Skegness, Lincoln, Mablethorpe and beyond — all from a makeshift HQ in her bedroom, with 26 bikes squeezed in around the furniture. “I got stuck on the landing with a tandem on the wrong side of the bathroom,” she laughs. That moment marked the beginning of Grimsby Cycle Hub.

From mobile hire to community hub

When North East Lincolnshire Council proposed opening a town centre cycle hub, Janine was the obvious person to lead it. She set up the Cycle Hub as a Community Interest Company, ensuring it would exist to benefit the people of Grimsby, not profit from them. The hub now offers secure indoor cycle parking (for just £1.50 a day), low-cost repairs, sales of refurbished bikes, and regular outreach through free events and community support initiatives.

Supporting the people behind the pedals

With over 6,000 annual visitors and more than 2,500 using secure parking, the Cycle Hub has become a lifeline for commuters, students, and leisure cyclists alike. The team also runs a mobile Dr. Bike service, visiting schools, scout groups, and workplaces to provide free repairs. One standout story involves a young boy born with a smaller hand — Janine’s team customised a brake lever he could use and added Velcro straps. “The smile on his face was everything,” Janine recalls. “That’s why we do this.”

Get involved

Janine is looking for new directors to join the board — people with marketing, legal, business, or cycling experience. Local businesses can get involved by sponsoring repair events, hosting Dr. Bike sessions, or becoming a Cycle Hub sponsor. Email: info@grimsbycyclehub.org.uk