Stories

Georgia

When loading shopping we have great conservations about what is possible with a bike.  

....now equipped with the high vis water protecting bag covers from NPDC.

Riding a cargo-bike is always a conversation starter, and we love chatting to people about why we chose our bike, how we use it, and its potential as a car replacement. Our family decided to buy a cargo bike (her name is Blueberry) to reduce our emissions and we now try to ride for most of our short trips around town. We can take 1-2 kids on the back, or even do a full week's shopping by bike. It's been really life-changing, and really fun! We love riding along the walkway into the city, especially if our trip happens to coincide with a beautiful Taranaki sunset; it's always great seeing people we know and being able to wave or easily stop to say hello. And as an added bonus, the parking's much easier when you go by bike! 

Picture of a cruise bus ride to work!

Here are Dee and I, car-pooling from Oakura. We used to be colleagues but our car pool trips have been so enjoyable that we’ve continued the habit since I’ve shifted workplaces, and built a firm friendship all from these little trips! 

We don't get caught in traffic jams.

I also love it because it’s so much quicker than driving and I never have to worry about finding a darn car park!

I only travel a couple of kms each day, but it’s a great way to begin my day.  I bought my Mi e-scooter over two years ago from the Mi store at Sylvia Park in Auckland, but PB Tech were selling them here in New Plymouth not long after too.

Lisa from the Events Team at NPDC

I’m actually living in Rotorua for 10 months and working remotely for Taylor Patrick but I will be commuting back to New Plymouth 1 week per month to do field work. 

In Rotorua ride 20km each way to my office a few times a week. When home, I live in Oakura so I drive into town and skateboard 2km to and from work each day.

I mainly commute by active travel because biking and skateboard is fun and fresh air is nice before sitting in front of a computer for the day.

Thomas from Taylor Patrick

Walking has always been part of my life, growing up in the south island town of Invercargill where traffic wasn't much of an issue, little investment was put in to the public transport system,  and the wide sprawl of the city meant it took me an hour to walk in to the city with friends if the next bus wasn't due for an hour.

Moving up to the capital, I was impressed at the (at the time) electric busses and trains, an everyday part of people's daily commute. Spending 7 years of my life in Wellington and studying in the architecture field it's easy to understand the ecological, economical, and health benefits of a walkable city.

When I made the move to New Plymouth in 2019, I knew I wanted to live centrally, where I could be close to events going on, and not have to rely on wheels so much on my everyday commute. Although I have a relatively fuel efficient car, the hassles of parking and the benefits of what I get out of a walk are too good to beat!

Two years later, I've been in four flats, all between 8-25 minutes walks, and I now have a 25 minute walk to work from the inner suburb of Merrilands. I've had daily commutes along the Te Henui and coastal walkways; some of those views just sink in to my soul and get me energized for the day! As well as getting in some of my daily exercise, I really do get to explore some of the hidden gems of the city, skip the traffic queues in peak times, and have a moment to myself. 

I often make myself a hot drink in a keep cup for cold mornings, which makes for a cosy start to the day!

Jeanette from Boon Team Architects

Cycling allows me to get out into the fresh air and the countryside and gives me a feeling of freedom to choose the path less travelled, sometimes discovering new places right on my door step!

It is a great way to improve my mental health, not only do I feel invigorated after the work out, but there is something about the repetition of pedalling on the open road that seems to help me catalogue and gain clarity of my thoughts into something more manageable – a stress reliever of sorts.

It gives you a sense of escaping from the everyday distractions.  I love that cycling, if you want it to be, can be a social event by sharing your interest with others. It could be a social cycle with one other cyclist, a small group or a massive race, not only do you have choice but you also have variety.

Justin Hawkridge - The Port Taranaki

I love biking! Its free exercise, I don’t have to worry about finding a car park, it’s a great wind down riding home along the walkway and I generally go the long way to enjoy the scenery,  plus it saves me on petrol and mileage in my personal vehicle.  It’s a win win 

Riding by the ocean, it’s so soothing and beautiful.  Or if I go further up one of the walkways, we are so blessed to have such lovely spots to ride.

The Fresh Air Challenge is an opportunity for our whanau to celebrate what we try and do regularly. We live rural so active travel is a challenge, let alone with a 4 and 1 year old, but we try and incorporate it into our lives with park and ride/scoot.

My daughter Ava did a short scooter to her preschool this morning, as we parked away from the congested state highway. Not necessarily a long scoot but an opportunity to develop skills, and a love of independent travel. I then drop my younger daughter at her preschool in town, leave my car there and bike the remaining 4km along our beautiful Coastal Walkway to arrive at work feeling revitalised and refreshed.

Doing the reverse on the way home allows me to leave work at the door and focus on time with my whanau.

Liz Beck - Let's Go Project Team

My travel to work is 3.5 Km there and back so a 7km return ride. I'm enjoying commuting even more in lock down (essential worker) as there are hardly any cars on the roads.

I have been commuting to work by bike for 20 + years!

Mark from NP Police Station

I use my bike everyday, it is part of my lifestyle. It has made me go light in life.

By Paola Alvarez

I have an e-bike which cost me $1900 brand new from the importer in Inglewood.

I only bike to work if it’s not raining when I leave home and I don’t mind getting wet after work! I live in Bell Block and travel to the airport, which is approximately 9 kilometres each day. 

We are set up at the airport with a mechanical bike tools just outside the airport entrance, make sure you check them out and use next time you are visiting with your bike. 

Frank at the New Plymouth Airport 

Carrying my tamariki on our cargo bike means one less car on the road. It saves time as I don't need to look for a park, or get stuck in traffic.  My 4 and 6 year olds will choose the bike over the car every time. 

My boys said...

"We get to have a big breeze. I like that we can bring my bike and I can ride when we get to the top of the hill. We don't have to drive round and round and round to find a park. My favourite place to ride is down the Huatoki. " (6yo)

"I love going in the little tent (rain shelter). I like to sing and toot like a train on the cargo bike." (4yo)

Hayley Hill from New Plymouth Playcentre

I ride to work as I enjoy feeling the wind on my face, the pleasure in making my muscles work, the relationships I build with ‘regulars’ I pass and say good morning to, the feeling of satisfaction that I’ve done ‘something’ before I even get to work, smelling the daphne as I bike past this house, noticing the Tui in the Kowhai as I go past that tree…..

Jen from Pukekura Park Kindergarten

I love not having to worry about parking and I can ride straight to the office.  If I have to pop out to an appointment during the day it’s much more fun to get around town on the bike. There’s so many options of scenic access routes you can’t drive on too, making the ride even more enjoyable.

Julia from Taranaki Chamber of Commerce

By Phil and the car-share team

We like to sometimes walk the bush walk up to school because there are no cars, there are lots of plants and we get to breathe even fresher air! Today we walked because it was too windy to bike.

By the Davies kids (Welbourn School)

Plus, it drops us off by the museum, which is a favourite spot for us. Being able to sit with them and not have to drive also a bonus!

Martha Desimone