Rotorua Bike Festival comes to a close with Car Park Eliminator

The director of the Rotorua Bike Festival is "stoked" with how the event went as it winds up today. The final event of the festival was the Car Park Eliminator. It saw cyclists ride up the three-storey Pukuatua St Car Park two at a time. The loser was eliminated while the winner stayed on to ride again, until there was just one person left standing.

Festival director Megan Dimozantos said the Car Park Eliminator was a new event and she was happy with how it had run.

"There have been a couple [of events] where I've thought 'that was really cool' and this was one of those."

The Car Park Eliminator saw cyclists ride up the three-storey Pukuatua St Car Park two at a time. Photo / Ben Fraser

Roughly 50 people registered for the event which was one of 32 held over the course of the 10-day festival.

Rider Trudi Shapley said she did mountain biking and road riding for fun and the festival was a good way to bring all ages and groups together.

Del Christie, 4, and Jae Christie, 6, supporting a rider at the Car Park Eliminator. Photo / Ben Fraser

Sue Timmer, who also raced in the Car Park Eliminator, said she had participated in other Bike Festival Events like the Ngongotahā Mountain Bike Climb.

This is seriously fun to watch! 😆 #carparkeliminator #itshowweroll #ekoketatau

Posted by Rotorua Bike Festival on Saturday, 27 October 2018

"It's getting people out and about and getting people to notice an activity they can participate in.

Image 1 of 8: iBike 4 Kids Rotorua as part of Rotorua Bike Festival at Waipa Mountain Bike Park. Max Edwards, 2, 27 October 2018 Rotorua Daily Post Photograph by Ben Fraser

"It's wonderful to have children getting out and about."

Dimozantos estimated roughly 12,000 people had participated in the festival, twice as many as last year.

"Our overall aim is participation, inclusion and diversity. Not just diversity in terms of the people involved but also the type of riding.

"It's exposing people to different types of riding but also normalising riding as a way to get to work, to school.

"We're definitely getting there but it's an ongoing task."

Dimozantos said it had been good to see the community involved.

Paul Bishop during the Car Park Eliminator. Photo / Ben Fraser

"I've seen a lot of people on their bikes this week, there's a bit of a buzz."

Te Manawa was the hub of the festival including public art interactions, a trick competition and events for children.