Bike Waikato March 2024 Newsletter

In this newsletter from Bike Waikato:

• Submit to the Long Term Plan and GPS
• Attend our Submission Workshop
• CAN DO Cycling Conference
• Bike Month Wrap-up
• Places We Love

Submit to the Long Term Plan and GPS!

The Long Term Plan for Hamilton City Council is now open for consultation.

Matamata-Piako District Council (including Matamata) also has a Long Term Plan open for consultation. The district councils of Waikato (encompassing Ngaruawhaaia and Huntly) and Waipa (including Cambridge and Te Awamutu) are delivering “enhanced Annual Plans” – the Waikato Annual Plan is open for consultation.

The Long Term Plan outlines how the Council intends to spend money for the next ten years. Many Councils are facing financial pressures and are proposing to cut funding to cycling infrastructure to address this in part. We must highlight the importance of continuing to fund cycling infrastructure to improve transport choices, climate resilience, and invest in safety.

Council	Submission Period	Submission Link
Hamilton	Closes 21 April	https://haveyoursay.hamilton.govt.nz/communications/2024-34-ltp/consultation/
Waikato	25 March – 26 April	https://shape.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/2024-25-annual-plan
Matamata-Piako	21 March – 21 April	https://www.mpdc.govt.nz/news-a-events/have-your-say

The Coalition Government has also released the Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Transport which outlines how the Government intends to spend money on transport initiatives. The policy is incredibly destructive and intends to significantly reduce spending for cycling and safety improvement infrastructure. The Government is also proposing to remove the ability for Councils to build cycling and walking infrastructure as part of roading projects and invest in cycling infrastructure where cycling volumes do not already exist. This has the potential to slow and even reverse the progress that has been made in the last few years. We must tell the Government that we want transport choices and investment in accessible and safe cycling infrastructure.

Cycle Action Network (CAN) have prepared a helpful guide for making a submission.

Attend our Submission Workshop ✍️

Bike Waikato is collaborating with Go Eco (Waikato Environment Centre) to host Write to Influence – Advocacy and Submission Writing Workshops. As an attendee you will learn more about this council process, how to make effective submissions, and korero with others to refine your message, before sending your own submission. 

Join us on:

• 9.30-11am, Thursday 4th April at Go Eco, 188 Commerce Street, Frankton.
• 5-6.30pm, Tuesday 9th April at Go Eco, 188 Commerce Street, Frankton.

Click here for more info and to RSVP.

🚲 CAN DO Cycling Conference 🚲

Our committee members, Jackson and Melissa, had the opportunity to attend the Cycle Action Network (CAN) Conference in Wellington over 16-17 March, while Kelli joined online for Day 2. 

They networked with cycling advocates from all around the country – from Auckland to Hawke’s Bay to Nelson to Christchurch. During the first day of the conference, they received a cycling tour of Wellington, seeing the protected cycleways, cycling superhighways, and other cycling infrastructure throughout the city. A lot of progress has been made in the last 12 – 18 months. 

The second day of the conference saw presentations from advocates, discussing experiences at the Environment Court challenging car centric infrastructure, the importance of accessible cycling infrastructure, and how bikes can serve as mobility aids.

There are a lot of unique problems that cycling advocates are addressing but likewise, there are a lot of shared challenges. We are looking forward to networking more with those advocates throughout the next few years.

Bike Month Wrap-up

Thank you all for participating in an awesome February Bike Month.

We smashed our 10,000 km goal and finished the month with 12,957 km from our 41 riders. What an awesome effort!

A personal highlight was the Callum Brae Park cargo bike picnic and the group ride from Hamilton Gardens to Ngaaruawhaaia. Thank you to our committee members Simon and Kelli for organising.

We have heard from you that you are keen for more events like this. Save the date for the Biketober: Ride to Karapiro (& back): 9am Saturday 12 October

With 52km under our belt after the Bike Month: Ride to Ngaaruawaahia (& back), let’s push ourselves further and pedal 76km to Karapiro and back. (Due to the distance, this ride is for e-bikers and / or people who are fit and confident riders). 

Bike Ride to be hosted by Go Eco & Bike Waikato. Registrations open October 1st.

Places We Love 💖

We are delighted that The Good Workshop on Cambridge Rd in Hillcrest has opened up! A bike Repair shop with passionate and skillful people, it is an absolute delight having them around in the Hamilton East area. Since we had to say goodbye to Holy Spoke Bike Repair a couple of months ago, we are very happy to see this new independent bike shop growing its roots around that part of the city. All our love to Aaron and Cameron!