Cyclists have plenty to celebrate in Wellington

Wellington City turned on the fine weather for Bike To Work Day today, and cyclists turned out in their hundreds for the free bikers' breakfast in Civic Square.

Marilyn Northcotte of Cycle Aware Wellington (CAW), who co-ordinated Wellington's Bike To Work Day, said "It was great to see so many cyclists coming in for the event and shows that Wellington is a good place to bike. The Bike To Work Day breakfast is a chance to celebrate and recognise the contribution that cyclists make to the city. We were really pleased that there were a lot of people there who don't normally commute by bike, and hope that they realise cycling is a great way to get to work."

More than 500 people rode in for the breakfast today - a significant increase on the numbers who came to last year's event. Brief comments were made by a range of speakers including Wellington's mayor Kerry Prendergast, Greater Wellington Chairperson Margaret Shields and Government Ministers Trevor Mallard and Paul Swain. The increase in cycle commuting in Wellington - against the trend in New Zealand as a whole - was highlighted by several speakers.

CAW expressed their thanks for support from Wellington City Council, Bike Wise and ACC, for breakfast food sponsorship from Tasti Cereals, Healtheries Drinks, Mainland Products and Nui Cafe, and for free bike checks from On Yer Bike.

Bike To Work Day will be run again next year at a similar time of year - the Wednesday of the third week of February.

© Scoop Media