|
By Patrick Morgan, Cycling Action Network  Imagine biking to the railway station, loading your bike, and relaxing on the train ahead of a weekend ride. You are off to Te Kuiti to ride the Timber Trail. Or to Greymouth for the West Coast Wilderness Trail. Or Kaikoura for the Hurunui Heartland Ride. The train includes dedicated space for bikes, comfortable seating, yummy meals and refreshments. Instead of battling traffic, you arrive relaxed and ready to ride. After exploring cycle trails for a couple of days, the train whisks you home. Easy peasy. This is my vision for the future of rail in New Zealand. Trains plus bikes go together. They combine the speed and comfort of rail, with the point to point convenience of biking. Less traffic congestion, less carbon, safer, and quieter. We'll get more value from our investments in cycle trails. This will create jobs, especially in the regions. An evaluation of the New Zealand Cycle Trails in 2021 found that:
This vision is possible. A couple of decades ago we had passenger trains throughout New Zealand, as described in André Brett and Sam van der Weerden's book, “Can’t Get There from Here”. As New Zealand embraces a low-carbon future, let's make train plus bike tourism the easiest option.  Train plus bike trips
Auckland or Wellington to Te Kuiti - Timber Trail - Taumarunui return Auckland - Waikato trails Wellington - Taihape - Gentle Annie - Napier - Wellington Wellington - Taumarunui - Forgotten World Highway - New Plymouth - Wellington Wellington - Ohakune - backroads - Papanui Junction - Hunterville - Whanganui – Wellington Christchurch - Greymouth - West Coast Wilderness Trail - Hokitika – Christchurch Dunedin – Middlemarch – Central Otago Rail Trail – Clyde – Lawrence – Mosgiel – Dunedin In a future post, we'll explore how rail plus bike can support commuting and local trips.
7 Comments
Ross Clark
3/6/2023 03:08:45 am
An example of this sort of thing in practice.
blair smith
6/12/2023 07:37:08 pm
Love the vision, thought I'd just share that we've now done two awesome trips with trains from here in Christchurch in the last couple of years.
Paul
6/28/2023 11:37:48 pm
Hey - love the vision, but a train from pukekohe to central plateau return with bikes costs over $1000 - which is a lot for a weekend.
Paul
6/28/2023 11:42:07 pm
missing piece of info - for my family of 4 ... to National Park return. 8/8/2023 04:17:31 am
Cycling is not just an individual pursuit; it's a communal activity that brings like-minded souls together. Clubs and groups form, creating a sense of camaraderie and shared passion. Conversations flow effortlessly as cyclists pedal side by side, discussing routes, gear, and the art of balancing life's demands. These connections foster a sense of belonging, turning strangers into friends and transforming ordinary rides into memorable escapades. 8/13/2023 04:36:48 am
The rotary tool's mechanism involves a high-speed motor that drives the rotation of the attached accessory. This rotational power, often adjustable through variable speed settings, enables users to work with different levels of precision and aggression based on the task requirements. Whether it's smoothing rough edges, etching intricate designs, drilling holes, or even trimming a pet's nails, the rotary tool's RPM (revolutions per minute) control offers the finesse needed for each application. 11/9/2023 01:39:17 am
Thank you for being the captain of your incredible travel yacht. Your posts are like sails that catch the wind of wanderlust, and we're the eager crew ready to set sail. Your travel guides are the nautical charts for our own maritime expeditions, and your travel tips are the lifebuoys that ensure our journeys are safe and enjoyable. Keep charting the course of adventure for us! Leave a Reply. |
Authors
Archives
November 2023
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
