Take a free ride on Nextbike

BY JANIE SMITH

People wanting to get from one side of the city to the other without getting stuck in traffic or having to pay for parking can take a free ride on a public bicycle.

Nextbike was launched last summer with 70 public bikes on racks throughout the city. This year, it has expanded to an extra 100 bikes and riders get their first 30 minutes free.

Rider Jeanette Perry used the bikes last summer and is looking forward to renting them again this season, which runs until May.

Although she has her own bike, the One Tree Hill resident enjoys using the Nextbikes to show guests around the city.

"These ones are very comfortable, much more than a mountain bike or road bike. They are a nice way to see the city."

Director Julian Hulls says the freebie has encouraged more university students to use the service.

Inspiration for the scheme came from public bikes in Europe, which are funded by city councils, he says.

Last summer, each of the Nextbikes was used for an average of three hours a day which Mr Hulls says is more than the usage in a typical European scheme.

"We’re trying to provide bikes for people to commute and get around town on."

The original plan was to provide bikes for backpackers based at hostels but after becoming aware of the European bicycle systems, the plan changed.

"From an Auckland point of view, there is a large number of people living in the central city and 60,000 students in the learning quarter."

He says students are encouraged to use alternative forms of transport and the bikes are much cheaper than running a car.

The bikes are at 35 spots from St Mary’s Bay to Newmarket and throughout the city.

Riders register with a credit card and a phone number at www.nextbike.co.nz.

When they find a bike they want to hire, they call 909-9090 and follow instructions to get the lock code.

The bikes can be returned to any of the rental stations – riders simply need to call the number again to confirm the bike is returned and locked.

Rental costs $4 an hour up to $16 for a 24 hour period and if riders register before November 15, registration is free.

Nextbike is sponsored by the Auckland Regional Transport Authority as part of its provision of more public transport options.

For more information go to www.nextbike.co.nz.

-The Central Leader has 20 one-day Nextbike credits up for grabs.

The first 20 people to input the voucher code #857857 when they register online at www.nextbike.co.nz before November 16 will receive the credit.

By registering on or by November 15, users will also get 30 minutes free every day up until the end of May.

URBAN CYCLE ROUTES

Three new urban cycling routes may be on the cards for Auckland.

Great Urban Rides, a joint initiative by Cycle Action Auckland and Nextbike, has been proposed to the Auckland City Council’s transport committee.

Cycle Action secretary Pippa Coom and Nextbike director Julian Hulls have suggested a Ponsonby heritage route, a Waitemata Harbour route and a Maungawhau volcanic route.

The 8.8km Ponsonby ride would travel through Herne Bay, St Mary’s Bay, Grey Lynn and Westmere.

The harbour route would see cyclists ride along Quay St, through Mechanics Bay and Parnell and travel down towards Westhaven and the harbour bridge, stretching 13.6km. And the volcanic ride, 12.4km, would travel through Mt Eden, Kingsland, Grafton and Newmarket.

“The initial three have won great support,” Ms Coom says, with some minor route changes to be made around Eden Park to take advantage of road upgrades.

She says council officers have indicated a budget of about $30,000 for the project.

“We will need to look at co-funding options,” she says.

This could include funding from Auckland Regional Transport Authority, the New Zealand Transport Agency, the Tourism Ministry and small local improvement project funding from community boards.

The routes are designed to compliment the national cycleway scheme and the Auckland trips would pass interesting spots like the Auckland Zoo, Motat, Kelly Tarltons and Auckland War Memorial Museum.

“The rides take advantage of Auckland’s long gentle ridges and coastline to encourage enjoyable and regular trips,” the proposal says.

- © Fairfax NZ News