Bike Rotorua is removing everyday barriers preventing people from riding.
Bike Rotorua is removing everyday barriers preventing people from riding.
The hardest part of cycling in Rotorua isn’t the ride, it’s the “real hassle” of finding somewhere safe to leave the bike.
The inconvenience was a “huge barrier”, often pushing people back into their cars because there was not enough infrastructure to lock bikes securely, said Claire Graham, whoco-founded Bike Rotorua with Hamiora Mutu and Chris Broadbent.
The group was formed to address a gap in cycling support after Rotorua Cycle Action lost momentum during the Covid-19 period.
While Rotorua catered well for mountain biking and BMX, Bike Rotorua’s focus was practical rather than recreational, helping people to use bikes for daily trips to shops, events, work and around their neighbourhoods, Graham said.
She worked in the sustainable transport sector and previously lived in Auckland.
She believed Rotorua had been missing some of the simple, proven initiatives that helped fuel cycling as a transport option in other cities.
Drawing inspiration from groups such as Bike Auckland, Bike Rotorua began trialling a staffed bike-parking “valet” service to remove uncertainty around where bikes could be left.
Clearly marked, cordoned-off areas were fitted with temporary bike racks and staffed by Bike Rotorua volunteers for the duration of an event.
Riders could leave their bikes knowing they would be supervised, removing the need for locks and the anxiety of leaving bikes unattended.
The concept was first tested during the Rotorua Christmas parade on November 29, at which Bike Rotorua set up a free, secure valet service close to the festivities.
Graham said the group wanted to start slowly by doing “positive things” in the community and using those initiatives to gauge interest.
Despite little promotion, demand exceeded expectations. Graham had expected about 20 to 30 bikes to use the valet service, but it ended up hosting 95 bikes and more than 100 people, including children riding with their parents.
More than 20 people had since expressed interest in helping at future events or becoming more involved with the group, she said.
The valet service was supported by local organisations, with Stone Soup providing free ice creams and Mountain Bike Rotorua contributing spot prizes as a reward for those who biked into town.
The Rotorua Christmas parade valet service attracted 95 bikes, far exceeding expectations.
Bike Rotorua hosted community bike rides led by Mutu. The rides were designed to be social and accessible rather than competitive, helping people discover routes and connections they might not otherwise have tried.
The group worked with Rotorua Lakes Council on an interactive “pin-drop” map that would allow people who biked, walked or scootered to share feedback on where Rotorua’s walking and cycling networks worked well.
Bike Rotorua also supported the work of Carlo Lumapas, who partners with residents at Arvida Glenbrae to restore discarded bikes and gift them to children who might otherwise miss out.
Graham said the project fitted closely with the group’s aim of making bikes a realistic option for more families.
The group planned to run more bike valet areas at public events and hold additional community rides over the summer, and continue to build its volunteer base.
Graham encouraged interested residents to connect via the Bike Rotorua Facebook page and keep an eye out for upcoming events.
Annabel Reid is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post, based in Rotorua. Originally from Hawke’s Bay, she has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canterbury.
