New bike track gets Tawhero and St Marcellin schools pedalling

Tawhero principal Chris Dibben says the project is about encouraging healthy activity and learning bike safety. Photo/ Bevan Conley

A new bike track between Tawhero and St Marcellin schools has opened adding another cog in Whanganui's growing network of cycleways.

An official opening for the track was held on Monday and Tawhero School principal Chris Dibben said it was about helping children "get healthy, use bikes and learn about the road rules and everything like that".

The school plans to run lunchtime bike programmes but the track will also be well used by the community for cycling and walking, Dibben said.

"It's going to be a great community asset and it's going to be linked in with all the city's cycle ways at some stage."

The Tawhero side of the track was also part-funded by a donation from Dora and Bruce Gollan and has been named the Gollan Bicycle Track.

Dora was a former dental nurse at the school to which the couple still have a strong connection.

Cycle store Velo Ronny's has supported the schools with bikes while funding for the track was courtesy of Bike On New Zealand Charitable Trust.

Whanganui couple Bruce and Dora Gollan, who was a former dental nurse at the school, helped fund the Tawhero side of the track. Photo/ Bevan Conley

The project was also supported by Whanganui District Council's Let's Go team.

At the opening Whanganui mayor Hamish McDouall told students the track had been built because its supporters "care about you, and your cycling skills".