Help Council identify cycling priorities

29 October 2013

Waipa District Council is seeking advice on how it should prioritise its spending on cycling infrastructure.

Dawn Inglis, manager road corridor, said cycling played a strong part in Waipa communities. Council was keen to understand where cyclists thought money should be spent to make the district safer and more attractive for cyclists.

Our aim is to get the views of cyclists and develop an implementation plan that will guide where we spend our cycling dollars over the coming five to 10 years, she said.

Types of cyclists included commuters, school students, recreational users and mountain bikers. Their priorities could be vastly different, she said.

People have talked to us about things like creating separate on-road cycle lanes, off-road pathways, better signage and road marking. One of the key issues identified by most cyclists, and even those who don't cycle, is that of rider safety. Council can help make cycling safer in our district and we need the community's help to prioritise spending.

Council will hold two workshops in early November to canvas stakeholders' views on problems and challenges, what kinds of facilities and infrastructure is needed most and ideas about where investment should occur. Key work projects will also be discussed.

The wider cycling community is also being invited to participate by filling out an on-line survey "Waipa Community Cycling Survey" before 5pm on November 8 2013.

Those who complete the on-line survey can choose to be entered into a prize draw for $200 worth of cycling vouchers.

Ends

For more information contact:

Jeanette Tyrrell (on behalf of Council)

027 5077 599