News: November 2019

After 37 years of biking around Wellington, Charles Dawson of Crofton Downs has experienced first hand all of the benefits that come with his choice form of transportation. His favourite things include: hills for exercise, the lovely Skyline, Makara Peak and other trails, the slowly increasing number of bike lanes and a supportive biking culture. In New Zealand it's great we have a flourishing network of regional trails, which my family have specifically travelled to for holidays.”Commuting to work as an educator, Charles acknowledges that “it is hard to retrofit good cycling infrastructure into our roads which were built with cars in mind. But it is worth the effort.“Protected bike lanes help me as a driver, parent änd cyclist. Good cycling infrastructure is an investment in city resilience, our health, and travel options for our kids. Eke paihikara mō Papatūānuku! Cycle for...

Shredding for four years now, Tom Cappleman works for the nonprofit WORD, which is all about encouraging kids to mountain bike. Tom has previously worked as a mechanic and bike shop manager.  “I like achieving goals that are based around fun, and seeing the kids do the same.”  “Getting our city council to see bike infrastructure as a priority and lowering car congestion are things I am passionate about.” by Matt Lorah

I cycled 11,000km around Aotearoa and learned the following bonus safety tips by Dunc Wilson It's one of the most talked about issues of cycling: how safe is that bike person over there on the road? Almost universally, the conversation comes from the perspective of preventing the cyclist from being hit by the car. When, really, it should be about preventing the car from hitting the cyclist. Still, we are where we are and, right or wrong, it makes good sense to deploy every safety tactic, weapon and disinfectant available when we clamber onto a bike. If only to view things through the 'survival of the fittest' prism. 1/ Rear view First up, I highly recommend watching. I don't mean just the regular, forward watching you already do from the saddle perch; I mean enhanced watching. Hugely unfashionable, despised by the speed demon...

Michael Petta was busy fixing his derailleur after buying a used bike off of Facebook when I caught up with him at the Mechanical Tempest community bike workshop.. He enjoys biking recreationally both on the trail and the road as long as there is great scenery, which “here in Wellington is everywhere. We are surrounded by great views and too few ever truly enjoy them.”  By Matt Lorah #PeopleofWellington

“Cyclists just tend to be good people,” says Phoebe Balle. In her work with Workshops For Accessible Cycle Care (WACC), Phoebe has led bike servicing and repair courses. Through the Pedal Ready programme she has instructed young people on how to bike safely and competently.“I like helping others enjoy the biking lifestyle.”  She recently completed the Alps to Ocean bike ride on the South Island and plans to do longer rides in the future. Her only gripe about biking in New Zealand: “We need more protected bike lanes in the cities to encourage new riders with a safe environment.” By Matt Lorah #PeopleofWellington