E-bike charging stations a ‘game-changer’ for Little River Rail Trail as route turns 20

Tuesday, 9 June 2026

Cycle enthusiasts pedal their way along the Little River Rail Trail near Kaituna, Banks Peninsula. (file photo)

E-bike riders on the Little River Rail Trail will soon be able to recharge on the go, with new charging and secure parking stations planned for the Banks Peninsula township and two stops in Lincoln following a $180,000 government funding boost.

The upgrade comes as the 65km trail, which runs from Cathedral Square in Christchurch to Little River, marks its 20th anniversary this year, having been established in 2006.

The full trail from central Christchurch is 65km long.

The Rod Donald Banks Peninsula Trust has secured funding through the Government’s Electrifying the Great Rides (EGR) Fund, which is drawn from the international visitor conservation and tourism levy.

The project will see three sites each equipped with five Locky Dock e-bike charging and locking stations, all free to use.

Trust chair Jenn Chowaniec said the new infrastructure would remove a key barrier for e-bike users attempting longer return trips.

Signs along the trail detailing the region’s biodiversity.

“This will be a game-changer for e-bike users who would like to make a return trip along the Little River Rail Trail, but have been put off because they know their battery won’t last the distance,” she said.

“Soon they’ll be able to top-up their batteries for free while enjoying a much-deserved break in Little River or Lincoln, and then carry on.”

Kaituna River Bridge. The Little River Rail Trail is one of only two South Island cycling routes to receive funding through the latest Electrifying the Great Rides programme.

The Little River Rail Trail is one of only two South Island cycling routes to receive funding through the latest Electrifying the Great Rides programme. The other is the Great Taste Trail in the Tasman-Nelson region.

Three North Island trails — the Hauraki Rail Trail, the Whakarewarewa Forest Loop in Rotorua and the Great Lake Trail in Taupō — will also receive e-bike charging infrastructure.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the the Little River Rail Trail, following its formation in 2006.

According to Christchurch City Council, about 41% of cyclists on local trails now use e-bikes, while the Department of Conservation estimates there are about 11,000 cycling journeys annually on the Little River Rail Trail. That equates to roughly 86 e-bike trips per week.

Kiwi company Big Street Bikers will install the Locky Dock stations, which provide secure parking and charging for a wide range of e-bikes and standard bikes.

The goods shed, now a rest stop for cyclists and walkers.

The company already operates nearly 100 sites nationwide, including several in Christchurch.

The trust said installation of the charging stations would take place over the next 12 months.

Local businesses said the upgrade was extremely welcome, particularly as the Little River community continues to recover from flooding in February.

Callum Fawcett, owner and manager of Mountain Road Outdoors in Little River, said the rail trail had become an increasingly important gateway to Banks Peninsula.

“The Rail Trail is an asset to the local community and with the addition of the charging and locking stations, visitors to our town will be able to relax and sightsee and may plan to stay overnight.”