9 Oct 2023

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Nine-year-old greyhound Luna is living the high life as she’s chauffeured around the city in her very own cargo bike.

Christchurch resident Douglas Horrell says biking with your dog is the perfect way for your pup to tag along when you leave the house, and it’s a lot more practical than you think. For small dogs it’s easy – a carrier or basket will suffice. But there are plenty of options for bigger or less mobile canines.

“My bike was made locally by the talented Pete Thornton at Cargo Bike World, who dubbed it the ‘Greyhound Bus’,” says Douglas.

“I chose to make my own box with a side door to make it easier for Luna to step in, which is important as her arthritis worsens so I don’t have to lift her.”

For Luna’s first day on wheels, she was wheeled slowly around a quiet cul-de-sac, but this didn’t prove popular.

“After three to four minutes she’d had enough and tried to jump out, so we stopped there for the day,” says Douglas.

“But within a week she was happy sitting on the bike while I pedalled, then over the next month, we slowly built up our journeys, travelling further, faster, and using busier roads. Short training sessions and lots of treats are the key to success!

“The best part of all now is seeing Luna having a great time on the bike. She travels all over town, sniffing the breeze and dozing contentedly in her sofa-on-wheels.”

Douglas says pedestrians and cyclists often stop to say ‘hello’ to Luna, and she’s learned that being on the bike means getting a lot of attention and pats.

“Getting from A to B with your dog in New Zealand is very associated with using a car, but it’s great to discover that bikes are a perfectly viable option too. I’d encourage anyone to give cycling with their dog a go.”

Get on your bike and ride with your pup at Biketober’s Dogs on Bikes event, co-organised by Douglas.

Cycle a loop through the red zone with your pooch in a basket, trailer, box or backpack at Christchurch’s first ever mass dog ride.

To make things even sweeter, the Lil Ice Trike and Cocomutt dog ice cream will be on hand to cool down you and your pup after a big day out.

This Biketober festival is kicking off on 1 October for its seventh year with over 40 events including workshops, guided and self-guided rides, bike-repair workshops and seminars.

Take a look at the full list of Biketober events here.