The four winners of the national SPARC Cycle-Friendly Awards 2006 were announced today at a ceremony at Parliament.
Judged by an independent panel, the winners in each of the categories are:
Avanti Award for Best Cycle Facility Project: Little River Rail Trail, Christchurch (Little River Trail Trust)
BikeWise Award for Best Cycling Promotion: Bike Wise Mayoral Challenge (Bike Wise, HSC)
MoT/Land Transport NZ 'Getting There' Award for Cycle-friendly Commitment by Business: Workplace cycle facilities (Tait Electronics, Christchurch)
Roger Boulter Consulting Award for Cycle-friendly Commitment by Public Organisation: Ilam campus cycle-friendly initiatives (University of Canterbury)
Wellington MP Charles Chauvel presented each finalist with a uniquely designed "bicycle-bell" trophy and a certificate.
Mr Chauvel said, "It will always be easy to find an excuse to drive short distances, but with your help, I hope together we can encourage more and more New Zealanders to reconnect with the cycle and make far more pedal-powered trips in future."
After the ceremony, Mr Chauvel joined attendees trying out a selection of weird and wonderful bicycles on the Parliament forecourt, including a triple tandem, a recumbent, a penny farthing and a variety of folding bikes.
Thirteen finalists were selected from 31 nominations for the 2006 Awards. The nominations included projects as diverse as a shared cycle/pedestrian path in Palmerston North, a workplace mileage policy that includes walking and cycling, and free adult cycle skills courses in Tasman and Nelson.
Now in their fourth year, the Cycle-Friendly Awards are designed to acknowledge and celebrate some of the most notable achievements in the country that are helping to promote cycling and to create a cycle-friendly environment. The Awards were devised by the Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN), the national organisation promoting everyday cycling, and are sponsored by sport and recreation agency Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC), Ministry of Transport, Roger Boulter Consulting, Avanti and Bike Wise.
"SPARC supports innovative ideas that provide people with opportunities to get active. We congratulate the winners and CAN for working to improve the cycling environment for everyone," said SPARC Active Living Manager, Richard Lindsay.
"The Cycle-Friendly Awards are helping to showcase some imaginative and effective projects that are making a difference for cyclists," said CAN chairperson, Robert Ibell. "We're looking forward to working with SPARC and other partners to trial some regional awards next year, as well as running the national event."
The finalists for the SPARC Cycle-Friendly Awards 2006 are as follows:
Avanti Award for Best Cycle Facility Project:
- Pioneer Highway Shared Pedestrian/Cycle Path (Palmerston North City Council)
- Little River Rail Trail, Christchurch (Little River Trail Trust) - WINNER
- SH73 Opawa Road Stage 2 reconstruction (Christchurch City Council)
- SH74 Styx Mill Overbridge widening and four-laning (Transit NZ, Canterbury)
BikeWise Award for Best Cycling Promotion:
- Christchurch City Council cycleway moratorium - Spokes Campaign (Spokes Canterbury)
- Safer Cycling in Nelson CBD (Nelson City Council)
- Bike Wise Mayoral Challenge (Bike Wise, HSC) - WINNER
MoT/Land Transport NZ 'Getting There' Award for Cycle-friendly Commitment by Business:
- Workplace cycle facilities (Tait Electronics, Christchurch) - WINNER
- Kidsfest & BMX Bike Skills (Linwood Cycles, Christchurch)
- Staff Fitness for Bayfair Triathlon (Orica Adhesives & Resins, Mt Maunganui)
Roger Boulter Consulting Award for Cycle-friendly Commitment by Public Organisation:
- Life Cycle Courses: Of course you can cycle (Tasman District & Nelson City Councils)
- Bike Nelson Booklet (Nelson City Council)
- Ilam campus cycle-friendly initiatives (University of Canterbury). - WINNER
ENDS.
For more information, see www.can.org.nz/awards or contact Awards Co-ordinator Bevan Woodward, 021-122 6040, awards@can.org.nz or Robert Ibell, CAN Chairperson, 04-972 2552