MEDIA RELEASE 16 November 2000

Politicians Join Cyclists in Toast

Marian Hobbs, Minister for the Environment and Wellington Central MP, and Ian Hutchings, Chair of Wellington City Council's Transport & Infrastructure Committee, will join cyclists in a toast handout on Friday 24 November.

Conversion to toast can save motorists a lot of money, according to Ron McGann, co-secretary of regional cycling group Cycle Aware Wellington. "Forget LPG - three slices of toast, costing 30 cents, gives an average sized person enough energy to commute 5 km to and from work by bicycle. Petrol for the same journey would cost three times as much," he said.

"Motorists have to fill both their tanks and their stomachs," said Mr McGann. "Toast also tastes a hell of a lot better than petrol, and produces less greenhouse gas."

Morning rush hour motorists and cyclists at a busy inner city intersection in Wellington will pass a stall advertising free fuel. Marian Hobbs, Ian Hutchings and members of Cycle Aware Wellington will be handing them slices of toast cooked on the spot, along with a flyer.

The event, co-ordinated by national cycling body Cycling Advocates Network (CAN) and sponsored by Quality Bakers, aims to highlight the financial and health advantages of cycling to work, as well as profiling CAN and its national membership campaign. Toast handouts are also taking place in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin. In Auckland, the Minister of Transport, Mark Gosche, will be on toast duty with members of the local cycling group.

CAN's toast and cycle campaign is supported by the National Heart Foundation which encourages all New Zealanders to enjoy the benefits of a healthy lifestyle through good nutrition and regular physical activity.

Despite the apparent unfriendliness of some of the nation's roads, CAN says it's still much better to cycle than not to cycle. "Research shows that the health benefits of cycling outweigh the risks by around twenty to one. And cycling makes you feel great!," said CAN campaigns secretary Robert Ibell. CAN is working to improve conditions for cyclists and encourages New Zealanders to support their local cycling advocacy group.

ENDS

For further information contact Ron McGann, Cycle Aware Wellington, 389 4782 or Robert Ibell, CAN Campaigns & PR Secretary, 04-385 2557, dawbell@actrix.gen.nz

Toast vs Petrol - The Facts

ò moderate cycling for 30 minutes a day uses ca. 150 calories

ò at an average speed of 20 km/h, a cyclist can cover 10 km in 30 minutes

ò a medium slice of bread contains ca. 55 calories

ò a loaf of toast bread costs ca. $2.20 and contains ca. 22 slices - a slice of toast bread costs ca. 10 cents

ò a 30 minute cycle journey can therefore be done on the energy from 3 slices of toast bread, costing $0.30

ò an average (1301-1600cc) car uses 0.073 litres of petrol per kilometre

ò a 10 kilometre journey uses 0.73 litres of petrol

ò at $1.219 per litre, an average car uses $0.89 worth of petrol for a 10 kilometre journey

CAN Groups

Bicycle Nelson Bays

Contact: Iain Dephoff, Tel: 03-543 3639, depwell@ts.co.nz

Cycle Action Auckland

Contact: Adrian Croucher, Tel: 09-373 7599 x4611, a.croucher@auckland.ac.nz

Cycle Action Tauranga

Contact: Steve Lake, Tel: 07-577 3305, lake-family@xtra.co.nz

Cycle Action Waikato

Contact: Eion Harwood, Tel: 07-838 9344, Paul.Ryan@opus.co.nz

Cycle Aware Palmerston North

Contact: Christine Cheyne, Tel: 06-350 5799 x2816, capn@altavista.net

Cycle Aware Wellington

Contact: Daryl Cockburn/Ron McGann, Tel: 04-385 2557, caw_wgtn@hotmail.com

Otaki Cycling Environment & Access Network (OCEAN)

Contact: Liz Mikkelsen, Tel: 06- 364 8187, liz.ocean@xtra.co.nz

Spokes/Canterbury Cyclists Association

Contact: Richard Hayman, Tel: 03-379 9174, spokes_chch@hotmail.com

Spokes (Dunedin)

Contact: Kyp Kypri, Tel: 03-479 8048, kypros.kypri@ipru.otago.ac.nz

Cycling Advocates Network

16 November 2000

AFFILIATED & SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS

Auckland City Council ò Auckland Cycle Touring Association ò Auckland Regional Council ò Bicycle Nelson Bays

Christchurch City Council ò Cycle Action Auckland ò Cycle Aware Palmerston North ò Cycle Action Tauranga

Cycle Action Waikato ò Cycle Aware Wellington ò Cycle Touring Company ò Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority

Ground Effect ò Hamilton City Council ò Kapiti Coast District Council ò Nelson Recycling Centre

Otaki Cycling Environment & Access Network ò Safekids ò Spokes/Canterbury Cyclists Association

Spokes Dunedin ò The Kennett Bros ò Taupo District Council

CAN is a member of ECO (Environment & Conservation Organisations of NZ) & of Cycling Support NZ

ENDS

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