Belfast’s First Wheelchair Accessible E-Bike Launched at Girdwood Community Hub

Belfast’s first electrically assisted wheelchair accessible bike is now available at Girdwood Community Hub. The free service gives wheelchair users, carers and family members a new opportunity to enjoy cycling together. Users must complete a safety briefing and induction before booking.

Belfast’s first wheelchair accessible e-bike has been launched at Girdwood Community Hub, opening up new cycling opportunities for wheelchair users and their families.

The electrically assisted bike is designed to allow wheelchair users, carers and family members to cycle and enjoy time outdoors together.

Until now, Belfast residents wanting to use a similar power-assisted adaptive bike had to travel outside the city.

Find out more about Girdwood Community Hub on the Belfast City Council website.

Belfast wheelchair accessible e-bike aims to make cycling more inclusive

The pilot initiative has been delivered by Belfast City Council as part of the Active Belfast Partnership, working alongside the Public Health Agency and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

The Active Belfast approach brings organisations together to encourage physical activity and improve health and wellbeing across the city.

Bookings for the new bike are being managed by GLL, which operates Girdwood Community Hub and Belfast’s council leisure facilities under the Better brand.

Visit the official Better Girdwood Community Hub page.

The new bike features a reinforced frame and enhanced safety features.

According to Belfast City Council, it has been introduced in response to growing demand for more inclusive leisure opportunities across the city.

More than 5,600 Belfast residents use a wheelchair

Figures from the 2021 Census show that more than 5,600 Belfast residents use a wheelchair, including more than 3,300 people aged 65 and over.

Research undertaken by the Active Belfast Partnership also identified demand for more accessible cycling opportunities.

Wheelchair users regularly take part in programmes at Girdwood. However, there had previously been no local provision of power-assisted adaptive bikes.

The new service aims to help address that gap.

Lord Mayor welcomes Belfast’s first accessible e-bike

Launching the bike, Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly highlighted Belfast’s status as a European City of Sport for 2026.

She said:

“Belfast is proud to be a European City of Sport for 2026, with lots of work underway to ensure sport and physical activity can be enjoyed by everyone.”

She added:

“The introduction of the city’s first e-assist wheelchair accessible bike contributes to this goal, giving more people the chance to enjoy the benefits of cycling, while supporting families, carers and friends to be active together. It’s also free to use which reduces a further barrier.”

The Lord Mayor said the initiative was another example of efforts to create experiences which help people across Belfast feel welcome and involved.

Where is Belfast’s wheelchair accessible bike?

The bike is based at Girdwood Community Hub in north Belfast.

The centre is located at:

10 Girdwood Avenue
Belfast
BT14 6EG

Girdwood has sports, fitness and community facilities, including an outdoor 3G pitch. Belfast City Council also provides dedicated accessibility information for the venue.

View Girdwood Community Hub facilities and accessibility information

View Belfast City Council’s disabled access information

How to book the wheelchair accessible bike

The bike is available to hire free of charge, but users must first complete a Bike Safety Briefing and Induction.

The next induction session will take place on:

• Date: Friday 16 October 2026

• Location: Girdwood Community Hub

• Cost: Free

• Requirement: Users must complete the safety briefing and induction before booking the bike

Further induction sessions are planned for the coming months.

Anyone who wants to register or find out more can contact the leisure team at:

leisure@belfastcity.gov.uk

More information about Belfast’s council-operated leisure centres is available from Belfast City Council.

View Belfast leisure centres and contact information