Simon Sephano-Parekura (left), Colin Leitch, Selwyn Lilley and Teau Aituau.
Photo: RNZ / LUKA FORMAN
Māngere residents are on a mission to promote cycling in the southern suburb of Auckland – with the aim of making the area the capital of Pacific cycling.
A new bike path was underway in the area, which would connect the city center of Māngere to the municipality of Māngere Bridge and the port of Manukau.
The local cycling hub expects once it will end, it will have even more people using two wheels instead of four.
The Māngere Bikefit Community Hub helps fix bicycles and then donates or lends people who need them and organizes group walks.
Teau Aituau, or Mr. T, directs the hub and has seen cycling grow in Māngere since he began his charity, or time to thrive in 2014.
“More people wanting to ride a bike. Many children are walking. I just need to make their parents walk too.”
One of the biggest obstacles to getting people to go on a bicycle was their safety concerns, Aitarau said.
This is something that volunteer Selwyn Lilley can attest – he had now given up bicycle after an unpleasant accident last year.
Worker Simon Seetphano-Parekura fixing a tire on the Māngere Bikefit Community Hub.
Photo: RNZ / LUKA FORMAN
“While I was around the roundabout on Robinson Road, when I was arriving at the corner, this car left Bader Drive, didn’t even see me and collected me. He spent four days at the hospital and three weeks of crutches.”
This is why cyclists – such as the construction that connect Māngere and Māngere Bridge – were important, said Aitarau.
“When they complete all these Clelelans, you’ll see the network coming. You’ll see everyone wanting to get around the bike.”
People felt safer in numbers when everyone was walking together, said Aitarau.
Photo: RNZ / LUKA FORMAN
When the passers-by saw them out of their Hi-Vis vests, they caught their attention, he said.
“People laugh at us, but it’s okay. Let’s laugh back. We’re laughing through them – we wave ‘keep the wheels spinning’. It’s a lot of fun man … That’s what it’s fun.”
It was not just about taking people from A A B.
Nelly Hakiti is the Free Pest Activator of Māngere East family services and made use of electronic bicycles in the hub and the sharp young people involved there.
Photo: RNZ / LUKA FORMAN
“I thought it would be a good idea to collaborate, use bikes, carry our resources and enter the community to deal with invasive pest plants.”
Some residents of Māngere Bridge are complaining about building the new on -line cycle, saying that the community does not want it and is a waste of money.
But Mr. T was not disturbed.
“Keep complaining, because it won’t stop. We have to keep moving on, we are making a change in Māngere – making an impact instead of seeing the same old road.”
The construction of the new bike path will be completed in three steps between now and the end of October.
SUBSCRIBE IN NGā Pytopito Kōrero, A daily bulletin curated by our editors and delivers directly to your inbox every day of the week.
