Cycling keeps Whanganui man David Alexander fit and relaxed

Whanganui's David Alexander tried cycling in the Cook Islands last year. Photo / Supplied

On most days Whanganui's David Alexander bikes to work - and if that's not enough pedalling he takes the long way home around four bridges.

Mr Alexander lives 3.5km from work, and a trip home around the bridges brings the kilometres to 8.5 - as counted by an app on his phone.

He grew up in Christchurch, a flat city with easy cycling. As a student he biked to Canterbury University.

Now 66, he cycles to work from his hillside house, and regards getting up the hill every night as a challenge.

"I can recommend cycling at any age, and now at 66 and retiring later this year I intend continuing," he said.

Mr Alexander works at Oranga Tamariki, in the Winz building on St Hill St. There are two other cyclists in the building and it has a bicycle rack and a shower.

After a short, flat and downhill ride Mr Alexander doesn't use the shower, but his fellow cyclists sometimes change their clothes before the work day begins.

"Usually I take the long way home and the short way in so a shower is not so critical."

Cycling is cheap, relaxing and good exercise, he said.

"I used to go to the gym by car - and then thought if I bike to work I get the exercise plus save transport costs."

His bike is an ordinary town bike, and it also works fine on the off-road sections in Whanganui East.

Whanganui's new cross-town cycle track, Te Tuaiwi, runs right past the door of his work place in St Hill St. At present he uses Wilson St to get across to the Whanganui River and its bridges after work, but is likely to use Te Tuaiwi when it is completed.

He said a safe way for cyclists to cross Taupo Quay will be an improvement.

"Between five and six it is not always easy to cross Taupo Quay by The Warehouse with the 'rush hour' traffic, and will be more so at St Hill St.

"On a bike you have to give way to everyone, it is the only way to be safe."