Back to the Cyclopolis: Christchurch returns to its cycling city roots

Friday, 30 June 2023

Christchurch is returning to its cycling city roots, with the city seeing a 30% increase in cycling over the last five years.

“Build it and they will come.”

It’s a cycleways mantra, says Ministry of Transport chief science adviser Simon Kingham, “and that has been shown here in Christchurch. We are transforming the city.”

Over halfway through a planned 101km cycleway network, Ōtautahi Christchurch can now reclaim its former title of “Cyclopolis”, the cycling city.

Despite a dip during Covid lockdown, the city has seen a 30% increase in cycling in the city over the last five years – measured across designated cycleways, this figures reaches 40%.

* National Portrait: Simon Kingham: Transport scientist

* Council approves $4 million section of major Christchurch uni-cycle route

John Lieswyn has a new Riese & Müller e-bike that can transport Indi the dog too.

“It’s a real success story,” Kingham tells Frank Film.

It is also an old story.

In 1915, bicycles made up 77% of Christchurch traffic – for a dozen years it even boasted its own Bicycle Band, with pedalling trombonists, trumpeters and drummers – so earning the city the “Cyclopolis” tag.

Cars at this time accounted for just 3% of road traffic. By the 1950s, bikes and cars shared the road equally. By the 2000s, the car was king.

Lieswyn, the director of transportation consultancy Viastrada, says he’s not surprised the number of cyclists in Christchurch is climbing.

In 2018, just over three-quarters of people in Christchurch commuted by car. Only 5% went to work by bike.

Now, despite the recent furore over a temporary, car-lane narrowing cycleway opposite Hagley Park, cyclists numbers are moving up again.

John Lieswyn, director of transportation consultancy Viastrada, is not surprised.

When the Christchurch City Council ran its hugely popular public engagement programme Share an Idea after the 2011 earthquake, bicycle-friendly streets and more cycleways were the second-highest ranked item requested by respondents, he says.

Since then, an increase in designated cycleways has seen not only more people taking to pedal power, but also a wider range of cyclists across age and gender.

“When you have few people cycling, the portion of women is much lower,” Kingham says.

Emily, left, and Diana are keen cyclists in Christchurch.

“The more people you get cycling, you get more women. That is partly about the perception of danger and the fear of cycling.”

Outside peak travel times, a growing number of recreational cyclists are now taking to the designated cycleways.

At 84, Emily is a regular cyclist.

“If I want to go north or south, I can get on a cycleway and feel safe.

Simon Kingham cycles across Christchurch to get to work, and says it’s improved his mental health.

It keeps you active, you’re out in the fresh air, you are enjoying nature – what more could you want?”

The proportion of e-bikes on the road has also increased – from 4% of all bikes in 2017 to 25% today.

This year Toha Kai, a Christchurch community organisation delivering locally produced organic food to low income households, replaced its delivery van with two cargo e-trikes.

As co-founder Michael Reynolds says, it is a win for the environment and a boon for efficiency.

Even with 21 boxes of fresh veges on board, “I can get up to 20km an hour in less than a second. And that was on the lower setting – I haven’t dared go up to setting five yet.”

Lieswyn too is upgrading his wheels. He has just replaced his 10-year-old Danish electric cargo bike with a new Riese & Müller e-bike – dual battery, belt-drive, full suspension, even a rain cover for Indi the dog.

Not only do we have a climate change emergency, he says, “but countries that have a higher mode-share of biking are happier countries.”

This comment is backed up by a 2019 study by researchers from the University of Minnesota and Northwest University in China – for commuters, they concluded, cycling is “the happiest mode of transport”.

Kingham agrees. To get to work, he cycles 9.5km across town to the university in Ilam – riding along designated cycleways, through Hagley Park and across Deans Bush for a 25-minute commute.

“I honestly believe my mental health has improved by cycling,” he says.

“I’ve driven a couple of times to work recently and I felt quite stressed. I cycle and I feel great – it really enhances my wellbeing, I’ve no doubt about it.

“I haven’t missed a [traffic] light yet, but it’s going to come because of so many cyclists. What a wonderful problem to have.”