[font=Arial]While I currently live in Sydney, my family live in Palmerston North (New Zealand). I spent some time in the late 1990's riding my bike, instead of getting my license. I found cycling to be a relatively hassle-free, fun and convient way of getting around. [/font]
[font=Arial]I've just happened to coming across Palmerston North's council page, particulary it's cycle plan. Compared to Sydney, cycling seems so much better there.[/font]
[font=Arial]Keeping in mind the city has a population of around 76 000.[/font]
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Palmerston North is a great city to cycle in. It‘s flat and compact, and has a mild climate. Some facts about cycling in Palmerston North:
- If you were to draw a circle with a radius of 3 kilometres from the Square, the heart of the Central Business District, 75% of us live within it.
- For most of us it is only a 15 minute bike ride almost anywhere in the city!
- We led the country in commuter cycling numbers in 1996, and in 2001 only the Buller District (7.6%) surpassed us (7.3%).
- Cycling to school continues to be a popular choice in Palmerston North with around 7.5 times the national average of intermediate students cycling at around 30% and 20% of secondary students cycling to and from school.
- Cycling to Massey University and the research institutes sees up to 12000 trips across the Manawatu River every week.
Palmerston North has a proud history of cycling. We led New Zealand in people choosing to commute by cycle with 9% in the 1996 census. Council wants to see this trend kept up
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Does that not sound good? I've adapted to Sydney's traffic and claim the right to the road. But at times, I do miss the safe roads of home.
There's never was a shortage of bike stands, near the mall, movies, library and university.
Cycling to and from the University was hassle free, with bike lanes, cycle traffic lights, a smooth bike path and at rush hour faster than cars.
In the hour preceding first classes at Massey Uni, the cycling traffic could be rather heavy.
And to top it off the council actively encourages and supports it.
For a more detailed report
pncc.govt.nzBikePlan.pdfOpen ↗
Now that's how a local council should approach cycling.