New Zealand cities strive to be cycle-friendly with e-bikes, cycleways

Cycle-share schemes, or e-bikes, for New Zealand's major cities, Auckland and Christchurch, have been considered, helping to ensure cycling is an everyday travel choice, Transport Minister Simon Bridges said on Thursday.

Current investigations into cycle-share schemes in both Auckland and Christchurch shows the increasingly significant contribution cycling is now making to the country's transport system, Bridges said.

The NZ Transport Agency and Christchurch City Council are investigating whether to introduce a cycle share scheme in Christchurch, and Auckland Transport is beginning a study into the introduction of a similar scheme for Auckland city center.

"We now live in a world where technology is creating new ways to connect customers and service providers. These technologies have also opened the door to new ways of solving some of our long-standing transport challenges, with e-bikes already becoming part of the solution for cities around New Zealand," he said.

"Cycle share schemes are an important part of the transport system in more than 700 cities internationally, and they hold real promise here," Bridges said.

By researching the feasibility of a cycle share scheme for Auckland and in Christchurch, more integrated transport systems have been developed to give both residents and visitors more options about how they get around towns and cities.

Cycle share schemes also have the potential to add value and optimize investment in cycleways and shared paths, as these increase across the country.

Cycling infrastructure and initiatives have been seen across New Zealand, with Bridges on Thursday marked the halfway point for the government's 333 million NZ dollars (230.72 million U.S. dollars) Urban Cycleways Program (UCP).

"The UCP is making a real difference to cycling in the regions all around New Zealand," Bridges said, adding that the opening of the Barrington to Moorhouse section of the Little River Link cycleway in Christchurch marks the UCP's halfway point.

He said the link will provide safer options for central city commuters and new developments in the southwest of the City area, adding that "cycling is becoming an everyday part of more and more people's lives."

"Christchurch has the vision to be a cycle-friendly city," Bridges said, adding that the completion of the section will help cater for and improve on the 21 percent annual increase in the number of people cycling into Christchurch's city center.

"Through the UCP our goal is to encourage more people to cycle for everyday trips," which has been proved by latest statistics, he said, adding that the improvements funded under the UCP will make it easier and safer for people to cycle. Enditem