13 Sep 2017

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Helmets on people: Christchurch is about to be overtaken by pedal power.

The month of October has been renamed “Biketober” this year as the city brings together a number of cycling events and celebrates the power of pedals. 

Christchurch will play host to the Asia-Pacific Cycle Congress for the first time on October 17, with around 300 delegates descending on the city from throughout Australasia. Christchurch will also host the first ever New Zealand Bike Expo on October 28-29, where visitors can find out about all things cycling.

Pauline Cotter, chair of the Christchurch City Council’s Infrastructure, Transport and Environment Committee, said Biketober was a time to celebrate Christchurch’s status as a leading cycling city.

"Christchurch has a vision to once again be a cycle friendly city. We are proactively investing in our cycleways as a commuting choice, to reduce emissions, and to support our Healthy City vision by providing active travel choices. 

A cyclist is lit up by lights as she bikes through Hagley Park in midwinter.

Cyclists tackle Hagley Park by night for the annual mid-winter ride through the park.

“Construction is underway of the 13 Major cycleways at a cost of $156 million, jointly funded by NZTA, Council and the Government's Urban Cycleways fund. To date we have completed the Puari ki: Papanui Parallel and Puari ki Wairewa: Little River link. Puari ki Pū-taringa-motu: the Uni-Cycle will be finished in October and work has begun on the Rapanui to Shag Rock section of the Heathcote expressway.

"The 13 routes are being treated as one project, with the idea that when all are complete, the routes will interlink to provide easy, safe and enjoyable cycle network around our city.

“We have so much to celebrate with the opening of each of these cycle routes, which are showing an unprecedented 21 percent increase in cyclists using them.

"As more of the cycleway routes are rolled out, we anticipate more and more people will be drawn to use them for either commuting to work or for the sheer enjoyment of getting around Christchurch in a healthy and safe way,'' Cr Cotter said.

Council will also be celebrating the City of Cycles as part of Heritage Week in October, acknowledging the role that cycling has played in Christchurch over the two centuries.

Find out more on Major Cycle Routes, cycling and Biketober.