Council focuses on health and environment

Papakura District Council staff are now equipped with the ultimate in zero-emission, zero fuel use, carbon-friendly transport: a pair of mountainbikes.

Equipped with panniers to carry documents and other equipment needed by Council staff in their travels along with safety gear required for use on New Zealand roads, the bikes are already proving popular.

The bikes are being used by staff for site visits around the central business area and also to travel between the Council Chambers in Coles Crescent and Council offices at Accent Point. Keen staff have cycled as far as Drury on Council business since the bikes were made available.

Staff say in many cases using the bikes to get around the town centre can be more convenient than driving.

The bikes were supplied by local cycle shop Ride Cycles, with one bike donated by the shop and the other purchased by Council.

The initiative was prompted by the Council’s development of a walking and cycling strategy and work being carried out to identify the highest-use routes for both recreational and commuter cycling.

An opportunity became apparent to improve the mobility of staff and further enhance the Council’s environmental performance through the use of bikes – the ultimate zero emission vehicle - for short trips.

A workplace travel plan is under development for the Council, which is one of the most cycle-friendly employers in the district.

It provides secure covered cycle storage for employees who cycle to and from work and for the two new bikes as well. There are showers available for the use of cyclists, and a group of staff have come together to enjoy regular Wednesday after-work training rides.

Papakura District Council was recently praised for its performance in reducing vehicle exhaust and carbon emissions through the replacement of older cars on its fleet with new fuel and emissions efficient models which have significantly reduced the Council’s carbon emissions.

A survey of vehicle fleets among local authorities carried out by the Green Party named Papakura as one of the most “green” and carbon-friendly local authorities in New Zealand. Since the results of that survey were made public the Council has also replaced several of its larger and older cars with the petrol-electric hybrid Toyota Prius, which has the lowest carbon emissions of any car on New Zealand roads.