Another fantastic turnout to our annual event!
We had over 300 people enjoying coffee and a great breakfast on a fresh, but beautiful Taupo morning. With lots of spot prizes, give aways, live music, a skills course and live radio broadcast everyone was ready to take on this years Mayoral Callenge.
We counted 277 riders on the course around the harbour road
Posted: Sat 28 Feb 2009
Bike Taupo Incorporated is a cycling advocacy group that was incorporated in 2003 to provide the Taupo community with a voice for cycling. Bike Taupo currently has 1484 members and was runner-up at the TrustPower volunteer awards held in Wanaka.
Cycling has many benefits – it provides an environmentally friendly form of transpor’t keeps people healthy and fights obesity, is a fun recreational activity. Economically, it is very important to the Taupo District through events such as the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge and visitors who come to ride the local roads and tracks.
Cycling (and walking) improves the liveability of our community by increasing economic activity, improving safety and personal security and increasing community accessibility and cohesion. Increased cycling particularly for short trips also helps reduce transport emissions and improve public health.
Liveability refers to the environmental and social quality of an area as perceived by residents, employees, customers and visitors. This includes safety and health (traffic safety, personal security, and public health), local environmental conditions (cleanliness, noise and air quality), the quality of social interactions (neighbourliness, fairness, respect, community identity and pride0, opportunities for recreation and entertainment, aesthetics and existence of unique cultural and environmental resources.
A liveable community forms the conditions that encourage people to cycle and walk, while more people walking and cycling help to create a more liveable community.
Draft Long Term Council Community Plan 2019
Recommendation 1
That the Council implement the recommendations contained in the Cycling and Walking Strategy (currently under review) and the Urban Design Protocol.
Recommendation 2
That the Council establish a position for a dedicated Active Transport Officer. This person should be responsible for the implementation of the Walking and Cycling Strategy and the responsibilities associated with being a signatory to the Urban Design Protocol.
Recommendation 3
That the Council consider the provision of cycling and walking facilities when developing the Taupo Urban Commercial and Industrial Structure Plan.
Recommendation 4
That provision of safe cycling and walking facilities is a key consideration when considering post East Taupo Arterial roading enhancements.
Recommendation 5
That the Council continue to develop a network of shared paths for cycling and walking throughout the Taupo District.
Recommendation 6
That the Council continue to extend and widen the Great Lake walkway to accommodate both walkers and cyclists.
Recommendation 7
Bike Taupo supports the construction of the Waikato River Pedestrian / Cycleway bridge.
Recommendation 8
That the Council support the continued development of a shared path around Lake Taupo.
Bike Taupo would like to thank the Taupo District Council for its ongoing support and asks that the Council continue to support the promotion and development of cycling in the Taupo District.
Bike Taupo wishes to present this submission to the Council in person at a hearing and would prefer to do this in Taupo.
Posted: Mon 23 Feb 2009
Would you stand on the spot with your back towards a truck as it drives towards you at 100km/h, knowing it was going to pass within a metre?
Plain Lunacy? This is an everyday occurrence for cyclists on our roads.
There are nearly 1.5 million of us riding bikes in New Zealand, yet the Ministry of Transport's 10-year road safety strategy discussion document has little to address the safety needs of cyclists. We must act now, (right now...September) if we want cycling conditions on our roads to improve in the next 10 years. This is your moment to speak out!!
Submissions close Friday October 2nd, 2009.
Posted: Sat 19 Sep 2009
Hotel right next to town with heaps of rooms and places to park you bike Rip across the park out the front and you are on a bike lane or cross the road and its onto the Lions walk / cycle path where you can head out to 5 mile bay for a warm ride along the lake.
Two minutes to the bike shops by treadlie
One off the good guys who believed in us from the start. A long term sponsors and with out them in the early days many tracks would not have be built.
Posted: Thu 29 Oct 2009
Bike Taupo, a group usually associated with pedal power, was last night very happy to accept keys from Taupo’s Moana Rotary Club to a motorised vehicle which will they’ll use to transport equipment and members to a wide range of projects.
The cycling advocacy group’s volunteers maintain more than 100km of cycling and walking tracks around the Taupo area.
This summer they plan to upgrade the track from Kinloch to Kawakawa Bay and reliable transport is essential.
When Bike Taupo’s old van ‘died’ recently, Taupo Moana Rotary Club came up with $15,000 for a new one. A club member helped Bike Taupo buy the 2007 Kia vehicle.
“We have a fantastic relationship with Rotary”, says Richard Balm Chairperson of Bike Taupo.
“In 2003 they provided the funds to build the Rotary Ride which goes from Spa Park to Huka Falls and they’ve been supporters of Bike Taupo ever since.”
Bike Taupo had the van sign written which, says Richard, helps make the group much more visible in the community.
As well as the Kawakawa Bay track upgrade, Bike Taupo will continue its work to improve track networks in Wairakei Forest.
Posted: Sat 15 Aug 2009
