NEWS RELEASE - FOR USE AFTER OCTOBER 19

Onepoto Domain's Wheelwise cycleway opens

October 15, 2003

The city's budding cyclists will have every chance to hone their road skills with the opening of a new Wheelwise cycleway in North Shore City on Sunday (October 19).

North Shore City Councillor Tony Holman and Birkenhead/Northcote Community Board chairperson Jennifer Yorke will officiate alongside some young riders at the Wheelwise opening. A fun relay will include local members of Parliament, councillors, and community board members and friends.

"We believe the Wheelwise lanes will be invaluable for teaching our youngsters basic road safety and cycling skills. Cycling is great recreation and a good way to get to school. The city is doing much to make cycling on our roads safer, and education is a vital part of the total safety picture," says Councillor Holman, who chairs the community board's community services committee.

Costing $100,000, the lanes cover a 270 metre circuit including paths, laybys and "parking" areas covering a 4,000 sq m site at the Onepoto Domain.

Mrs Yorke says the miniaturised streetscape will be complete with intersections, pedestrian crossings and other road hazards.

"Scaled down road signs to mimic those on suburban streets will eventually complete the streetscape," she says.

The official opening of Wheelwise lanes will be in conjunction with Kidsafe Week North Shore, as a part of this year's BikeWise road safety theme. Together they intend to draw attention to the need to better educate young people in street safe skills.

Jennifer Yorke says the idea for the cycleway was originally brought to the Birkenhead/Northcote Community Board's attention through a presentation by a local youngster after he had previously seen and used a similar facility in Australia.

The project was designed by council parks staff and will be used to help young people learn cycling techniques and road safety.

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