This blog will have anything and everything about promoting bicycle infrastucture from Seatoun to Foxton Beach and over the Rimutaka Rail Trail to Martinborough. Cycling is seen as a bit of a freak activity, and this is an attempt to make it more normal, safer, more fun, and more widespread. It is especially galling when dangerous bike lanes are painted on the side of a road by people at the bequest of people who’d never ride a bike. We want decent bike lanes, designed by cyclists for cyclists to make it possible to live anywhere south of Palmie or Masterton and get around the region by bike and train, and not need a car, so that we can be part of the world, instead of apart from it.
Another blog by Matty T.
To contact me leave a comment. It won’t appear here.
Like your blog.
Just thought I would let you know about the site I have created (I’m not a coder so use Googles tools) to promote mountain bike and back coutry touring routes in the Manawatu and wider region.
I have been involved with Destination Manawatu, Rangitikei DC and Tararua DC to submit concept proposals for the National Cycleway. I’ve also submitted two other proposals on behalf of the Manawatu Mountain Bike Club, so I was pretty busy through November and December.
I am in the process of tidying up the mapping on EveryTrail, so that I can include all the submissions on my website. The three back country tours are
The Wild Rover – Wanganui to Woodville 220km.
Gorges to Sea – an expansion of the Rangitikei Cycleway to include a link from Ohakune to Taihape and then down to Utiku 285km
Tararua Elements – 270km with an origin at Woodville with loops up to Dannevirke and back to Pahiatua and also up along Hall Block Rd through the windfarms and down to Pahiatua and then south to Masterton via Mauriceville to connect with the Wairarapa wine trails and the Rimutaka incline.
The Mountain bike proposals were to gain funding to rebuild Kahuterawa Loop ionce logging is complete and to develop a DOC block near the TeApiti windfarm, which will create 16-20km of single track through native bush reserve.
On top of that I also know of a Moari Iwi who have proposed a trail from Porogahau to Akitio across a couple of coastal stations. Horowhenua also proposed a route from Shannon to Eketahuna using the existing Makahao dams road and then a new trail right over the tops of the Tararuas (900m!). Wairarapa have also proposed routes from Masterton through Gladstone and Martinborough to the Rimutaka Incline to connect with the Hutt River Trail, which Wellington Regional Council proposed along with a trail out to Eastbourne and to Wellington via the Eastbourne Ferry.
All in all an amazing amount of activity given the 8 weeks lead time to prepare submissions. Most of these submissions use existing roads to are low cost to implement. I am sceptical that while we meet most of the criteria (easy, multi-day experiences) the funding committee will not see these routes as “iconic”. The perceptions about the Rangitikei, Manawatu and Tararua areas as tourist destinations will be difficult to overcome, however we have given this our best shot.
I’d love to discuss these topics further as now the ideas are out there, there is only the barrier of money to develop and implement them. The National Cycleway fund is the most expedient way to fund them, but not the only fund available.
I am also keen on pedal electrics (and also electric motorcycles). I see pedelecs as a good way to get more people cycling and make the bicycle a more practical commuting alternative
Hi Matt,
Are you interested in helping change the NZ helmet law? We have a small but growing band of movers & shakers here
http://groups.google.co.uk/group/repeal
Cheers
Mike
Hi Matt,
I’ve been following your comments about spending on cycling relative to that on roads.
Please have a look at the Traffinz submission to the Govt’s draft GPS (Policy Statement) on transport funding.
It’s an excellent summary of what needs fixing in the way we spend our transport dollars. Perhaps you might like to post an article on this?
http://can.org.nz/candocument/the-proposed-direction-of-the-government-policy-statement-on-land-transport-201213-to-20#comment-5051
Drop me a line if you’d like to discuss.
It’s a wonderful website and I’ve just discovered it. Just a small comment, as I’ve been looking at the Wairarapa pics … eg the pub in Martinborough. Would you mind checking that the apostrophes are correct, eg it should read and it has ‘its own pub’ (not it’s own, as that would mean ‘it is own’). Cheers, Linley
OMG. are you pedantic or what. give the guy a break miss perfect.
Hi you gotta have a look at this mate