$5.5m cycleway for Rotorua (+video)

John Key rides Rotorua's green corridor on Thursday Photo/Ben Fraser

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has today announced that the Rotorua Cy-Way will be accelerated with funding from the Urban Cycleways Programme.

"This project is among 41 nationwide, which will make cycling a safer and more attractive transport choice," Mr Bridges said during his visit to Rotorua.

"The Government's $100 million Urban Cycleways Fund is designed to pull together a range of funding sources, and will result in a total investment in urban cycleways of $333 million over the four-year programme.

"The Cy-Way will receive $1.5 million from the Urban Cycleways Fund, along with $2.09 million from the National Land Transport Fund and $1.93 million from local government.

"Cycling is already critical to this region's economy - as evident from the estimated 200,000 people who visit the Whakarewarewa mountain bike park each year.

"The Urban Cycleways Programme demonstrates how central and local government can work together, delivering high-quality infrastructure which will encourage more people to ride to work, school, and everywhere in between," Mr Bridges said.

Rotorua MP Todd McClay said the $5.5 million to build a network of cycleways in Rotorua will be a big drawcard for visitors to our city and is likely to help grow the local economy.

"Cycling is a big contributor to the local economy. With the success of Crankworx, the popular National Cycle trail stretching 74km from Rotorua past four world renowned geothermal areas, and world-class mountain biking in Whakarewarewa Forest we are quickly becoming the cycling capital of New Zealand. This welcome funding will see the commute to work, the shops and school become a whole lot safer and a whole lot more popular," Mr McClay said.

Mr McClay said an increasing number of domestic and international visitors include cycling as an important part of their tourism experience. We know that countries who have invested in cycling infrastructure attract a higher value visitor who often stay for longer and spend more.

"This investment will mean Rotorua has some of the best cycling infrastructure in the country. This is very good news for Rotorua."