Rain no worry for Go By Bike Day

Graeme Lovell-Gadd bikes to work more often than not and was riding through Red Square on Go By Bike Day today. Photo/John Borren

A smattering of rain didn't deter hundreds of people on their bikes for national Go By Bike Day.

Tauranga residents traded four wheels for two and rode to work, stopping in at one of eight pit stops for refreshments and spot prizes on their way to work or school.

Pit stops were set up all through Tauranga from 6.45am to 8.45am.

Sport Bay of Plenty recreational advisor Michelle Barns said this morning two of the stops she had heard back from had more than 80 cyclists each stop by.

At the pit stop in Red Square they ran out of registration forms to win prizes, no spot prizes were left and only bananas were left by 8am.

"There's some really motivated cyclists around here," Ms Barns said.

She said one woman who stopped in was 68 years old and cycled 22km a day to and from work.

Another man had suffered a stroke and, not being allowed to drive, took up biking and had lost a large amount of weight.

"We're hearing a lot of the cyclists' cool stories. There's another man who is cycling to all the stops around town before work."

Go By Bike Day formed part of February Bike Month, where Sport Bay of Plenty put on cycling activities, most of them free.

"Biking is good for you, it's fun and free and reduces the number of cars on the road.

Graeme Lovell-Gadd cycled from Oceanbeach Rd every day to work in the CBD, rain or shine.

"I worked it out, it's about 240 days a year I ride. I don't ever let the weather get in the way," he said.

Mr Lovell-Gadd began by cycling recreationally on the weekends - "then I thought, why not do this to work? No traffic or parking to deal with."

Mr Lovell-Gadd thought Tauranga had the potential to become the Copenhagen equivalent in New Zealand - a "cycling city".

There were hardly any hills and it would help the traffic and parking problem go away.

"It would need to be planned out, and more designated cycleways."

Some of the existing cycleways would need to be re-looked at.

"Even the designated cycle lane on Cameron can be dangerous, people opening car doors or turning onto the road," he said.

February Bike Month activities: http://www.sportbop.co.nz/get-active/play-in-the-bay/february-bike-month/