31 October 2012

Get Mobile—a sustainable and public transport open day

Upper Hutt City Council wants to make travel comfortable, cheap and easy for everyone in our community.

Upper Hutt, 31 October 2012 - On Saturday 17 November, from 11.00 am until 2.00 pm, the public are invited to attend a sustainable and public transport open day in the Park & Ride car park at Upper Hutt Railway Station. If wet, the event will be moved across the road to the Hapai Building on Fergusson Drive.

The purpose of the event, called Get Mobile, is to allow all people in the community to get familiar with public and sustainable transport. In particular, the event will provide information for people who have specific mobility needs or want information about a range of transport options.

There will be information about accessibility features on buses and trains including:
• the best way to park your wheelchair or pushchair once you’re on-board
• kneeling buses
• wheelchair access on the latest trains
• passenger information available on the trains.

There will also be information about active and sustainable transport options, including:
• cycle safety for children and adults
• teaching your child to take the bus or train to school
• best routes for cycle commuting
• storage locations for bikes and bicycle equipment
• electric bikes and scooters

There will be a free BBQ, giveaways, and prizes, including a vintage-style cruising bike and a child’s bike.

Constable Kerry Fenton from Upper Hutt Police Station will also be on hand to conduct cycle safety lessons for kids using a makeshift safety course. Children who bring their bikes along will be able to have their helmets checked and fitted, and staff from the Cycle Centre will be on site conducting bike checks for both children and adults.

Andrea Curtis, Upper Hutt City Council’s director of Community Services, says Council has done a lot to improve the accessibility of public amenities for the elderly and disabled. “One of Council’s core values is community. It’s very important to us that our community be inclusive and accommodate people with a wide range of needs and preferences,” says Ms Curtis. “This is why we put so much effort into developing our award-winning DIScover customer service training programme, which helps staff better understand how to accommodate people with disabilities, and why we’ve upgraded facilities at the pool and other Council amenities, so they’re accessible to as many people as possible.”

Organisations taking part in the event include:
• Snapper
• Metlink
• Kiwirail
• Valley Flyer bus service
• Driving Miss Daisy
• Hutt Valley Police
• The Cycle Centre
• The Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind
• Deaf Aotearoa
• Adaptive Technology Solutions

For more information, please contact Natalie Finnigan at natalie.finnigan@uhcc.govt.nz

About Upper Hutt City Council
Upper Hutt City Council is the steward and custodian of Upper Hutt City, providing governance, infrastructure, and community services and resources, and promoting opportunity in the city for business, recreation, lifestyle, and leisure. Upper Hutt City is located 30 km north-east of Wellington City (41°07'34" S, 175°04'06" E) and boasts 70% of the region’s parks and reserves, along with state-of-the-art entertainment and leisure facilities.

For more information on Upper Hutt City and the City Council, go to www.upperhuttcity.com

ENDS

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