Minister opens city cycleways

Whanganui MP Chester Borrows and Transport Minister Simon Bridges test ride the new pathway in Whanganui.

Spades, scissors and pedals dominated Transport Minister Simon Bridges' morning in Whanganui yesterday as he turned the first sod of a new inner city cycleway and later cut the ribbon to open the first of a three-section riverside cycleway.

Both projects are jointly funded by the Whanganui District Council and the Government through the Urban Cycleways Programme, costing nationally $333 million "and then some."

"When completed, these two paths will contribute to a safer, more connected cycle network for Whanganui, giving people greater access to their homes, schools, and workplaces," Mr Bridges said.

The morning began at Whanganui Intermediate School with a ceremonial sod turning to mark the beginning of a 2.3km inner-city cycleway scheduled for completion by June next year.

Mayor Hamish McDouall, left, Minister Simon Bridges and Whanganui MP Chester Borrows turn the first sod.

"Te Tuaiwi will connect existing cycleways to provide safer access to the centre of the city and allow the 3,500 students living within 500m of the route to cycle to school in the morning," Mr Bridges said.

Spades became scissors when at the City Wharf Mr Bridges helped cut a ribbon, officially declaring open the first section of the $1.29 million City to North Mole cycleway, a part of the scenic Mountains to Sea Cycle Trail, which will provide a riverside link to the city centre for the 11,000 residents of Gonville, Tawhero and Castlecliff.

The first section runs through to Bedford Ave with section two, which runs to the Whanganui Sailing Club, due for completion by June this year. The third and final section pushes through to the North Mole and is due to be completed by June next year.

Mr Bridges and other dignitaries, including Mayor Hamish McDouall and MP Chester Borrows, took the opportunity to try out the new section on bikes supplied by the Riverlands Family Park.

Mr McDouall said Whanganui had a strong association with cycling, and took the opportunity to remind the minister of the city's velodrome roofing project while also noting sporting heroes such as gold medal cyclist Gary Anderson.

"Whanganui once had the highest per-capita ownership of bicycles. I can recall cycle-jams on the Dublin St Bridge of people cycling to the Eastown Rail Workshops," Mr McDouall said. "Then something changed, school bike sheds got smaller" and cycling became less prevalent.

He acknowledged the role of city cycle advocates had played in promoting a return to "a healthier mode of transport."