Go by Bike Day is coming to town

Go by Bike Day is coming and a local doctor is encouraging people to ditch the cars and hit the pedals.

Sport Bay of Plenty will set up "pit stops" throughout the city tomorrow for Go By Bike Day, a Bike Month event asking people to bike to work, school or play instead of driving.

Dr Phil Shoemack was one of a large number of Toi Te Ora staff who would be taking part in tomorrow's event.

He said cycling was a great way to stay fit and healthy, and cycling also helped cut down on traffic congestion.

"Go By Bike Day is a great way to fly the flag of the value of getting people more physically active, cycling is one way of many to do that. It's a good way of getting from A to B in an urban environment, it's often more convenient than using a car and it's fun, especially with a growing network of cycle tracks separate from traffic."

Dr Shoemack has taken part in the event every year he has been able since it began and he would recommend it to anyone.

Dr Shoemack said safety was often a big deterrent for potential cyclists and one way to combat that was "safety in numbers" such as Go By Bike Day as it made cyclists more visible and cut down on traffic.

Sport Bay of Plenty Western Bay recreation officer Nicki Scott said the day was a chance for everyone to get on their bikes and stop off at the pit stops on their morning journey, to get refreshed and go in the draw to win a new bike donated by Rocket Bikes Tauranga.

She said the stops would be manned by Sport Bay of Plenty staff who would hand out spot prizes, cold water, coffee and fresh fruit.

"It's good to be able to mix it up a bit as it gives freshness to the day which traditionally has been a popular one. With over 90 teams doing the Tour de Bay Corporate challenge I imagine they will use Go By Bike day as another way to get biking as a team."

To find out more about Bike Month, visit www.bikewise.co.nz.

Go by Bike Day Tauranga pit stops

• 
  Red Square
• 
  Maxwells Road Esplanade
• 
  Coronation Park, Mount Maunganui
• 
  Cameron Road, opposite Boys College
• 
  Harbour Bridge (marina, cycleway side)
• 
  Te Puke, outside WBOP council building