GP foots bill as free bikes hit street

Whangarei GP Shane Reti is peddling the benefits of a scheme providing free bikes for shoppers. Photo/John Stone.

Whangarei Christmas shoppers were offered a part in a unique social experiment yesterday - free bicycles to get around the city and beat the hectic traffic.

Whangarei GP Shane Reti, through his Reti Philanthropic Trust, arranged to fund 10 free bicycles - complete with side bags - so shoppers could travel between the Farmers carpark and Okara Shopping Centre.

The bike-share scheme - similar to ones Dr Reti has seen operating in Boston and many other overseas cities, as well as Auckland - is supported by Whangarei District Council which provided parking spaces at the two carparks for the bikes as sell as logistical support.

The bikes were provided by Paul Doherty, from Cycle Tours Northland in Onerahi.

Dr Reti said the scheme was a bit of a social experiment, but the feedback he received yesterday showed him there was a definite need for a bike-share scheme.

"It's really about education. If there are less people on the roads everybody will get around that much easier. At the moment [a busy Monday before Christmas] it takes seven minutes to cycle between Farmers and Okara, but if you wanted to do it in a car and find a park it could take up to 45 minutes, there are just so many vehicles on the road," he said.

"What's not to like? It's healthier for the person cycling, leads to less traffic on the roads and less [greenhouse gas] emissions so it's good for people and the environment."

Dr Reti only returned to Whangarei in the last few days after six years living in Boston and working for the prestigious Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Whangarei District councillor and Bike Northland cycling co-ordinator Stuart Bell said the scheme was a great idea and fitted in nicely with what the council wanted to do around promoting cycling in the district.

The council is working on a cycling and walking strategy and next year will open a cycle/walking loop around the city.

WDC Group Manager District Living Paul Dell thought it was a great idea.

"We are keen to explore activities like this which encourage further bike use in Whangarei. Of course, if this type of initiative was put in place permanently, it would need to be set up as a private business venture but this is really the kind of idea council wants to see."