Christchurch cranks up commitment for cycling

Christchurch City Council is looking to further crank up interest in cycling in the city during February’s Bike Wise Month.

This year the Council will introduce a new single-day distance endurance event in Cathedral Square on February 27 to complement Business Battle, the annual workplace-based challenge designed to encourage staff to take up cycling.

Registration for the Bike Wise Business Battle is now open and the Council is enthusiastic that it will beat the participation for last year - 4000 - by a large margin this time. Nationally, 96 organisations (with a total of 283 departments) have already signed up for the challenge.

Supporting and increasing the profile of the national Bike Wise Month is one of the several initiatives by the Council to turn its residents towards opting for cycles as a regular mode of transport.

The popular Season of Cycling has played a major role to rejuvenating the residents’ interest in cycling as have the Council’s Cycle Safe programme and Wheel or Walk Wednesday Challenge.

Twelve years after adopting its Cycling Strategy, the Council has implemented a safer environment for cyclists with over 58 kilometres of on-road cycle-lanes and 73 kilometres of off-road paths in the city.

The strategy has arrested the decades-long decline of cycle use in Christchurch, once deemed one of the top cycling cities in the world.

Bike sales are up as commuters feel the urge to become more active, save money and lessen their impact on the environment, says Marie-Ann Martin, Marketing Advisor with the Council.

“We are on roll - and we want to take advantage of those conditions that dictate that cycling is the one of the best ways to get around in Christchurch,” says Ms Martin.

Residents are responding well to the need to consider the environment and are beginning to appreciate the major health and financial benefits of cycling, she says.

The new Community Pedal Power Challenge in Cathedral Square on February 27 will call for participants to clock up kilometres in short bursts on stationary bikes to see how far Christchurch can go ‘around the South Island’ in five hours.

The month-long Business Battle challenge focuses on organisations promoting cycling with its employees. It offers prizes in different categories (small to large businesses) for achieving the highest percentage of staff cycling during the month.

The idea is to entice more rookies – first-times cyclists or those who seldom cycle - out of their cars, off their couches, and onto their bikes, says Ms Martin.

“The great participation last year clearly shows that more businesses are ‘buying into’ the idea of having employees ride in/ride out of work. By providing showers at work and being more understanding to the needs of cyclists, our businesses are building up the culture of cycling and contributing to a healthy population and a safer environment”, she says.

“Bike Wise Month is all about lifting cycling’s profile and getting even more Kiwis to realise or re-discover how enjoyable and convenient it is”.

editors notes

b Bike Wise Week is a nationally coordinated week of cycling activities and promotions. The annual cycling celebration has become so popular that a full month is now needed to accommodate more than 500 events held around the country.
b The Christchurch City Council promoted the Bike Wise Business Battle programme – a fun inter-business challenge to encourage more people to give biking a go. Last year over 4,000 people took part in the Christchurch Business Battle alone (nationally 10,000 took part).
b On Wednesday 18 February 2009 New Zealanders are encouraged to ditch vehicular transport and 'go by bike' instead. People can bike to their local event where they will be rewarded with a healthy breakfast. The event will take place in over 50 centres throughout New Zealand
b Bike Wise Month is funded by the NZ Transport Agency and the Ministry of Health. Activities are coordinated around the country by schools, councils, sporting groups and cycling enthusiasts.
b In 1996, Christchurch City became one of the first councils in New Zealand to adopt a Cycling Strategy, signifying the importance of cycling as a means of transport.
b Christchurch is a cycle friendly city with major investments in infrastructure improvements such as cycle lanes and paths, as well as intersection controls, making cycling safer and more attractive for people.
b For more details about the fun and family-friendly Bike Wise events happening in Christchurch and Canterbury and around the country, check out www.bikewise.co.nz.