Cyclist Wiremu Tapara loves getting to work on his bike instead of sitting in a car. Photo / George Novak
Cyclist Wiremu Tapara loves getting to work on his bike instead of sitting in a car. Photo / George Novak
Wiremu Tapara used to spend up to 40 minutes sitting in a car every morning as part of Tauranga's infamous traffic filling up the city's arterial routes each day.
These days, the 29-year-old is one of a growing number of people commuting by bike.
But questions have been raised aboutwhat kind of infrastructure is in place to support cyclists like Tapara and Tauranga authorities have confirmed there is a cycling infrastructure "shortfall" they are trying to fix.
Tapara has been biking to and from work for more than a year now and wouldn't change a thing.
"Traditionally I suppose I'm probably a little more environmentally conscious than most and my partner and I used to carpool each day. Then I started at Sport Bay of Plenty in 2020 and I was able to upskill and get a bike which gave me the confidence to start commuting into work on my bike. Before that, I hadn't ridden a bike in 10 years."
Tapara used to commute via car from Pāpāmoa to 13th Ave, which would take anywhere from 25 to 40 minutes one-way. On his bike, it took about 45 minutes. These days, he's moved and his commute from Mount Maunganui takes about 30 minutes. In a car, it takes from 20 to 30 minutes.
But Tapara doesn't bike to save time.
Wiremu Tapara enjoys commuting to work on a bike. Photo / George Novak
"If you arrive at work having sat in traffic for 40 minutes, it's not the best start to your workday. But arriving after biking in, it puts me in the best position to start my work."
Other people Tapara has spoken to have expressed interest but a lack of confidence to do the same, he said.
"People are happy to take bikes to where there are just cyclists around but if you want to take them to Cameron Rd, Hewletts Rd, etc, then that really discourages people."
Tapara said he would like to see more separated cycleways because he believed more people would use them.
"I feel like sometimes there are so many entry and exit points for vehicles on the road, you really have to have your wits about you."
This month, cycling advocacy group Bike Tauranga called for more separated cycleways at a Bay of Plenty Regional Council hearing for the 2021 to 2031 Long Term Plan.
Member Andrew Thorpe told the Bay of Plenty Times that separated cycleways were not just wanted by cyclists but were essential to meet carbon emission targets and encourage more bums on bikes. The regional council has set an emissions target of zero by 2050 in its Long Term Plan.
Thorpe said while there had been an increase in cyclists, many others were keen to bike more but were concerned about safety. Some joined Bike Tauranga's social rides but admitted they avoided certain streets or did not usually bike because they felt too vulnerable, he said.
"That's totally the message that we tried to convey to the regional council: separated cycleways are, in our opinion, essential if we are going to meet the targets that the city and regional councils are setting out for themselves."
Thorpe was encouraged by the future-proofing Cameron Rd project, which includes a dedicated cycleway, but things could be better, he said.
Bike Tauranga cycling advocate Andrew Thorpe on Totara St, an area some cyclists avoid because they feel too unsafe, he says. Photo / File
"We've got about 2km (of separated cycleways space) on Ngatai Rd. That's it. That's the only significant roading infrastructure that we've had that we can point to and say 'that's fit for purpose'."
Thorpe said cycling was a quality mode of transport that needed better backing in Tauranga.
When asked why money should be funded into separated cycleways more so than building or maintaining roads, Thorpe said "just look at our city over the last five to 10 years".
"Look at how congestion has grown. Look at the B2B [Baypark to Bayfair project]. For the last three years the traffic through there has been worse than ever before because of construction. When it's finally built, the congestion will be just the same as it was before because of population growth, I believe."
Better cycling infrastructure would encourage more people out of cars and help free up the streets from congestion, he said.
Tauranga City Council acting director of transport Russel Troup confirmed there was a "shortfall in cycling infrastructure in Tauranga" which was being addressed through its Long Term Plan.
"Cycling is an increasingly popular transport choice for people in Tauranga, so we've included a range of projects that will provide safe cycling routes and links throughout the city. We want to encourage more residents to use cycling to get to and from work or school, recreational riding while helping to stay safe, fit, and active," Troup said.
More separated cycleways such as this one on Ngatai Rd would result in more people choosing to commute via bike, transport boffins say. Photo / File
The council was involved with a Transport System Plan, which is an overarching project targeting the local district's transport and infrastructure. Within it, there were three focus areas identified for "significant investment in separated cycleways", he said.
"These are in the Mount/Arataki and Pāpāmoa areas, the Ōtumoetai/Bellevue and Bellevue areas as well as improved facilities from the Welcome Bay/Ōhauiti into the CBD. These facilities will link to existing infrastructure and allow cyclists to have end-to-end journeys separated from traffic."
Other projects on arterial roads proposed installing painted cycle lanes and better cycle infrastructure to ensure cyclists have designated space where needed, Troup said.
The council's Long Term Plan is currently being planned with community consultation happening from May 7 to June 7.
A Bay of Plenty Regional Council spokesman said the organisation was committed to reducing organisational greenhouse gases, exempt biogenic methane, to a net-zero by 2050.
