Nick still under his own steam

Wanganui's Nick Pyle has never held a car licence but he may switch to an electric bike when he gets older. Photo/Stuart Munro

Nick Pyle celebrates his 88th birthday today, and hopes to be still riding his bike at 90.

The bike is Mr Pyle's only mode of transport and the Wanganui identity is often seen riding around the city.

Mr Pyle has never driven a car, but he held a scooter licence for a time.

"I had a Vespa and a collector came and bought it for $100."

As a teenager living in The Hague, the Netherlands, during the war everyone rode bikes and long distances.

Mr Pyle has continued cycling long distances when overseas visitors come to Wanganui.

They get to see the countryside, he says.

They take their cycles up in the Durie Hill lift, then ride out along No 2 line, down through Okoia and back to town. He says the number of cyclists in Wanganui has not increased greatly, and thinks this is because they are afraid of cars.

Mr Pyle says he cycles defensively. His view is that worldwide the car is a disaster, and unsustainable, with the design of cities given over to vehicles.

Mr Pyle arrived in New Zealand in 1952 with the Dutch immigrants who were brought here after the war.

He paid his own fare, though.

"New Zealand is an easy country to live in," he says. "There are not the pressures of Europe."

Mr Pyle attributes his good health to the years he has ridden his bike.

And as he nears his 90th birthday, he's thinking about an electric bike where he'll still have to use the pedals, but it will be easier in the wind and going up hills.