$3.6m push starts cycling drive

Hastings has won $3.6 million of Government funding to develop a ``model community'' for cycling and walking in the region.
Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule says more people could choose to cycle around Hastings as funding allows better and safe facilities for commuting.
Hastings was one of 22 cities competing for the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) ``Model Community'' funding to make the region more cycle and walking-friendly.
New Plymouth and Hastings won the bid for $7 million of funding.
Hastings would receive $3.6 million over the next two years for projects around the region.
Mr Yule was ``absolutely thrilled'' by the results.
``It is a massive investment. It's nice to go compete against your peers and be able to show the rest of the country how we can use this money,'' he said.
He had not been sure about the success of the application before the presentation but said staff had done a great job.
``You're never completely confident at the start of this sort of thing. We've got good staff and at the presentation I thought we had done quite well.''
The presentation focused on linking major arterials such as Havelock North to Hastings and Clive to Hastings. Work on things like road markings could start immediately while he hoped to see progress on bigger project before the end of the year.
NZTA central regional director Jenny Chetwynd said Hastings and New Plymouth had demonstrated the leadership and commitment to make walking and cycling an integral part of their communities.
``They've displayed a real passion to develop their communities as great places to live, work and play, and to make walking and cycling easy transport choices,'' Ms Chetwynd said.
Paul McArdle from Bike On was an early supporter of Hastings' potential to win the funding and says everyone wins with the result.
``This is a fantastic boost for everyone in Hastings District,'' he said.
``There will be less traffic congestion, people will be healthier and Hawke's Bay businesses will benefit from more cycling tourism.''
The funding included $518,000 for improved education including safety programmes and lessons.
Cycle Aware Hawke's Bay's Bernie Kelly said safety was always an issue but a few simple lessons could help people be much safer and more confident.
``We teach basic things about riding on the road and riding in traffic to anyone from school kids to adults.''
Cycling in the area had already made good progress with projects such as the pathways and he had had cyclists from outside the region comment on how lucky the Bay was to have such good facilities.
The goal was to have more people jumping on their bike to run errands, families cycling on weekends and people biking to work, he said.
The first changes are likely to be in adding road markings and improving the road between Havelock North and Hastings for cyclists.