MEDIA RELEASE: KiwiRail moves Christchurch bikes to Dunedin

Wednesday 11 June 2014

KiwiRail is today moving a special consignment between Christchurch and Dunedin - 70 bikes donated in Christchurch to individuals and families in Dunedin.

The bikes are being moved free of charge, courtesy of KiwiRail and its transport partner Toll TranzLink.

KiwiRail spokesperson, Jenni Austin, says the bikes are bound for the South Dunedin Community Bike Library Project and are surplus to the needs of the Canterbury DHB co-ordinated ICEcycle (Inner City East) project.

“KiwiRail is very aware that we are an integral part of the community nationally and when we were approached we were glad to be able to respond quickly and to involve one of our partners.

“We’re particularly happy to lend a hand to support other sustainable initiatives.”

ICEcycle spokesperson, Meg Christie, says the project’s 30 or so volunteer mechanics and bike enthusiasts have restored and given away over 620 bikes since 2009. They often work on bikes donated by people leaving Christchurch following the earthquakes, as well as people cleaning out houses, sheds and garages, and various organisations including Police.

The bikes are given to people referred to ICEcycle by schools, mental health facilities, Corrections, social welfare organisations, case workers, and tertiary institutions.

“The 70 bikes and spare parts moved today are surplus to ICEcycle’s current requirements and all have been checked over by ICEcycle volunteers to ensure they are refurbish-able,” Meg says.

Dunedin Bike Library Project Manager, Rose Dovey, says getting the bikes to the city was shaping up as a problem before KiwiRail and TOLL stepped in and the Project is grateful for the help.

Charlotte Flaherty, Dunedin City Council Safe and Sustainable Travel Co-ordinator, will organise the bikes’ delivery to the Dunedin Training Centre for repair by local youth and adults involved in the Centre’s skills training programme.

Bikes unable to be repaired will be dismantled for parts by people under the supervision of the Department of Corrections Probation service, she says.

“Getting this many cycles in one go will add a huge amount of impetus to the Project and once ready we hope there’ll be many more Dunedin-ites taking to the roads on two wheels.”

Ultimately the bikes will find their way to the South Dunedin Community Bike Library Project for distribution to new owners.

ENDS

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