Old bikes needed for 'spectactular' Bike Tree

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Unwanted bikes or bike parts are urgently needed for a giant Bike Tree to be constructed on the Village Green.

Rotorua Lakes Council is half-way to reaching its target of collecting 150 surplus bikes for the Bike Tree temporary art installation.

If enough bikes, frames and wheels are collected the Bike Tree will be constructed on the Village Green near the lakefront, to coincide with Rotorua's hosting of the Crankworx international mountain bike festival later this month (25-29 March).

Bike Tree project manager Brigitte Nelson said more than 70 old bikes had already been donated but more were urgently needed to ensure the Bike Tree became a reality.

Mrs Nelson said people with old unwanted or broken bikes, frames and wheels could drop them off this weekend between 9am and 12pm at the council's City Clean premises in Pukuatua St (driveway between carpark building and Bedstop furniture store).

"We already have a 7m high galvanised steel frame ready for the Bike Tree and when the bikes are mounted on the framework it's going to be really spectacular. But we need more bikes yet to make it a reality.

"The tree will be spot-lit at night, and it will make a bold statement about Rotorua being the southern hemisphere's mountain biking capital, and a great New Zealand cycling destination."

For more information contact Brigitte Nelson at Rotorua Lakes Council on (07) 351 7057 or by email to brigitte.nelson@rdc.govt.nz.