Bike Waikato June 2024 Newsletter

In this newsletter from Bike Waikato:

• VIP Parking at Events this July – Maanawatia a Matariki, Friday 28 June
• Hamilton City Council Transport Updates
• Protect Safer Speeds – Submission on the Speed Limits Rule close 11 July
• Do You Want To Help Run Events? We’re Seeking Volunteers
• Cool Events and Bike Things! – Alba Bikes and Light Night (6 July and 27 July)

VIP Parking at Events this July!

One of the obstacles to riding to events, markets, concerts, or sports games is finding somewhere to securely park your bike. Our Bike Valet is a FREE service to help keep your bike safe and secure while you enjoy the event.

If you’re planning to attend Maanawatia a Matariki this Friday 28th of June at Lake Rotoroa, make sure you find us first!  We’ll look after your bike while you enjoy the live music, entertainment, food, markets, and more.  We’ll be onsite from 2-7pm.  You’ll find us at the Lake Domain end of the site. 

Back in the day, almost all kids biked to Saturday morning sports – and it is about time it made a fashionable comeback.  

Hamilton City Council hosted two Bike to Sport events during June to encourage kids to get to the games under their own steam. Spot prizes and free goodies were up for grabs – Ninja Valley passes, free coffees and hot chocolates, bike bells, high visibility jackets, and bike path maps. Alba Bikes provided a free comprehensive check for all bikes.

Bike Waikato supported both events by providing our Bike Valet parking service. We parked over 40 bicycles, and there were more people who showed up with bicycles who did not use our service. Massive shoutout to our volunteers who operated the service over both weekends – We couldn’t do this without you!

We hope that we can provide more of this service in the future and that we inspired more kids and families to bike to Saturday morning sport.

Hamilton City Council Transport Updates

Thank you for supporting us through the Long Term Plan process at Hamilton City Council.

The final deliberations concluded by reprioritising $31.5 million from the proposed walking and cycling bridge to water infrastructure. While water infrastructure is critical, it does nothing to address the looming congestion, transportation, and climate challenges in Kirikiriroa…  There was also reduced investment, postponement or cuts to other strategic cycling projects.  This is especially disappointing in light of the progress that had been made in the last few years.

However, it’s not all bad news. We can celebrate the following wins for the city:

• Te Aroha Street/Ruakura Road (Eastern Pathways) – $27 million budgeted
• Biking and Micro-Mobility Programme – $4 million per year
• Road Safety Programme – $5 million per year
• Intersection upgrade at Grey/Naylor completed
• Hayes Project project completed
• Upgrades at Bryce Street – scheduled to completion June 2024

There have been some changes to the decision making process for transport projects, with a traffic light system being established. Red and amber projects will require workshops to be held with Elected Members to discuss multiple project options, with independent safety assessments and to identify a preferred option(s) for community engagement.  

Hamilton City Council will be deliberating on the approved projects and more on 8 August 2024 and 26 September 2024. Keep an eye on our newsletter and socials for how you can support this mahi. We’ll need your help more than ever to show support for cycling in Kirikiriroa.

Now is the time to let us know about quick wins on our network – an area that is missing bike parking, staples that are restricting access, or a pathway through a park that would add value to the area. Let us know at [email protected] so we can pass it on to the biking and micro-mobility team at Council.

You can read and watch our submission or read our musings about our (lack of connected) cycling network here.

Protect Safer Speeds

The Government has opened consultation on the draft Setting of Speed Limits Rule 2024, with submissions closing on July 11. These rules provide the framework for how local authorities can set speed limits.

The draft plan proposes to:

• Remove requirement for permanent 30 km/hr speed limits outside schools
• Increase the standard speed limit in urban areas from 30 km/hr (under the previous rule) to 50 km/hr
• Reverse speed limit reductions made under the previous rule

This plan threatens the safer speed limits that have been implemented around the country in the last two years. We know that faster speeds create more risk of serious injury and death, especially for our vulnerable transport users such as cyclists and pedestrians and especially tamariki.

See the Climate Club submission guide here for details on how to have your say.

Do You Want To Help Run Events? We’re Seeking Volunteers

Have an idea for a group ride? A coffee catchup or a picnic? We’re looking for more opportunities for our community to connect; and keen to hear from anyone who wants to get involved in organising events. Let us know at [email protected].

You can check out the events section on our website to keep up with what we have organised.

Cool Events and Bike Things!

Alba Bikes – Maintenance on Wheels!

Check out the coolest new bicycle business in Kirikiriroa: Alba Bikes! Providing mobile bicycle maintenance, servicing and repairs, and rider training within the Hamilton area.

Te Awa Light Night

Brought to you from our friends over at Te Awa The Great New Zealand River Ride, experience Te Awa like never before with sections of the trail lit up after dark.

• Light Night, Cambridge – Saturday 6 July
• Light Night, Ngaaruaawahia – Saturday 27 July