BikeWise activities and bike lanes get support
And they’re off! The Bikewise Family Fun ride begins. Photo: Ina Holst.
The popularity of BikeWise has continued to grow. Over 100,000 people around New Zealand participated last year, so the week-long event has now extended to fill a whole month.
The BikeWise Family Fun ride on Sunday from the Village Green to Bencarri Nature Park & Café was attended by close to 200 cyclists, including a three-year-old who rode the whole distance on trainer wheels, a 74-year-old, and a pedalling policeman with a siren on his bike.
For Go By Bike day last Wednesday, over 70 cyclists piled up in front of the Quiet Revolution Cycle shop for a quick-stop breakfast snack.
Recreation co-ordinator Dave Myall and his volunteers, TDC councillor Noel Riley, environmental education officer Claire Webster and community board member Karen Brookes, served up muffins with jam, cream cheese and bananas.
Participants included biking regulars, schoolchildren and teachers, plus those going to work and passers-by who were pleasantly surprised when TDC councillor Noel Riley accosted them to slap a day-glow wristband on them.
“We also fed a few of the local shopkeepers and visitors walking by. They all thought the Go By Bike day was an excellent idea,” Dave said.
He added that over time, drivers had become more aware of cyclists sharing the tarmac and were sometimes cyclists themselves, and that continuing publicity was part of the safety campaign.
For Georgie Stone, safety continues to be a main concern. Her three sons travelled the furthest on the day, covering a 22km cycle ride from Uruwhenua to school, which took them about an hour.
“They go to school on their bikes quite frequently, but I am extremely hesitant about whether it’s safe. They are so keen to cycle and we have got to give them some freedom. But I’ve drummed it into them to wear their hi-viz gear, to stay in single file, to keep their ears open and get off the road when they hear a logging truck coming,” she said.
Georgie would welcome cycle lanes, but, she said, “It’s been so long coming.”
Cyclists Cat Heron and Gerry Bill from California felt the Bike Wise events were drawing the right attention to Golden Bay’s narrow and dangerous roads.
“It is really important to have bike lanes, especially around the more urbanised areas and near schools, and to have more signage and more frequent events like this one,” said Cat. “Palmerston North is the best place for biking, they have the largest bike lane network.”
Councillor Stuart Borlase said he was optimistic that cycling will become safer in the future, referring to TDC’s promise to build a bike lane between Pohara and Takaka as part of the Abel Tasman Drive upgrade over the next two years.
“A committee is working hard on this, and we’re getting an application on its way soon for funding,” he said.
Additionally, the Golden Bay Cycle and Walk Society is making progress in establishing a network of recreational pathways across the Bay. Aided by the generosity of landowners, work is continuing from Paynes Ford on an off-road bike/walk lane, which could become the first part of a planned circuit from Paynes Ford to the Uruwhenua Bridge and back along the Takaka River.
“The Golden Bay Cycle and Walk Society wants to use the Takaka River as an artery, and if there was a cycle lane in Pohara, even if it was on the main road, it would be like a vein going off this artery. Also, when the pines come down in Ligar Bay, there may be a chance to open up the old road to Wainui,” Cr Borlase said.
Some cycling fans have aired ideas of developing a tourism attraction similar to the Otago Rail Trail, which attracts over 100,000 visitors every year.
In the meantime, the GB Mountain Bike Club is planning to have a go at building another track behind the bandrooms in Takaka and is calling for volunteers. If interested, please ring Bruce Chick on 525 7274 for further information.
Ina Holst
