Here to say: I got an e-bike 2 weeks ago and it's such a delight. If I, female, fat and fifty-something, can ride everywhere, and what's more, enjoy doing it, most people can.
Refreshingly bold thinking! In general, it seems what you are proposing is an alternative to a Universal Basic Income - don't just give out money but make the things we need to prosper in life free or at nominal cost. There's growing support for this idea. Love the e-bike proposal, surely at scale they could be assembled here to end up less than $2000? They don't need to be fancy, just robust and safe. I could even see "premium" models available for purchase by the status-conscious and perhaps for once, the middle class could subsidise their lower-income neighbours.
For many years (before I discovered e-bikes) each workday I took the bus into the Christchurch CBD. Invariably I was the only man of working age on the bus there and back. There seems to be a certain shame associated with using public transport that by some quirk of human psychology is overcome when it's a deal too good to ignore. Because of the false economy of car ownership, that so many cheerfully ignore, public transport already is a great deal. It may just need to be made more explicit by making it "free" because so many people imagine the alternative, each driving their own car, is somehow without cost.
There are also e-trikes, which have a space on the back for a thumping big basket that you could actually fit a supermarket shop in. Love the bike idea, but add some variations like the trike/small cargo/small child carriers.
Heartily agree! Only fools were out in their cars yesterday, the most glorious sunshiney day for a bike ride. And Te Wananga has come up a real treat - our waterfront will be as people friendly as Welly's soon
If we can get everyone using ebikes for short trips, we will have reduced a chunk of the 42% of our CO2 emissions that comes from road transport. But it's not just a matter of having the bike - you have to have safe roads to ride it on.
Excellent idea David. I think it's time we began re-imagining NZ. I guess I'm now of an age where looking backwards is becoming a habit. I remember as a kid and we got our groceries delivered by the two local general stores (my mother alternated because she wanted to support both businesses). She sold eggs to one of them to help pay for what she bought. We also got our meat delivered by the local butchery. It made sense to have one vehicle delivering to the rural area, than dozens driving into the village or beyond. I'm not advocating that we go back to that, although Covid saw the deliveries return. What could happen is that the supermarket, now a 25 minute drive away could have it's click and collect at the one remaining local store, now little more than a dairy, and we could trundle over on our e-bikes to collect the groceries and meat. Bring back catalogue shopping. We did a lot of that during the lockdown everything being delivered by the postie. Then instead of building more roads, lets have more rural cycleways to get around on. Magic thinking, I don't think so.
Quite right - a couple of evenings a week during my years as a student at the Wellington Polytechnic School of Design (1964-66) I would ride my Vespa to a shop in Pembroke Road, Northland, load the van with groceries in recycled boxes, and deliver them.
Fantastic idea. You can also retrofit existing bikes - mine is an old cargo bike now with Leckie central drive kit - its second electric kit. Also, the guy who electrified the bike first time for me was a founder of NZs multi- million electric farm bike company - now selling in China - UBCO bikes. So we have already proven the manufacturing model here.
Love the preposterousness of your idea David. Husband has just had his mountain bike inexpensively converted to an e-bike because it's now a multi-function mode of travel and can also do the trails if he feels like.
In New Zealand bicycles begat the car - at the hands of a Mr Cecil Wood (any relation to our Minister of Transport?) An extract from New Zealand by Design p.71-72:
When he was 21 Cecil Wood moved back to his hometown, Timaru, where he took over the local branch of his boss’s bicycle retail business and expanded the repair capacity by hiring time on a local gunsmith’s lathe. He then bought a drill press and built a furnace for case-hardening axles. Thus equipped, and with several good agencies generating a good trade, Wood turned his attention to making a motorised cycle. With nothing but recollections of pictures of small motors being made in Belgium and France he began producing technical drawings for casting patterns. His ‘boys’, George and Charlie Brehaut, were skilled mechanics who could build violins as well as bikes. They worked with surplus 1⅛-inch-diameter tube (fashion had dictated that bicycle frames should now be 1 inch in diameter) to make a chassis for a three-wheeled vehicle. After much trial and error Wood built a two-horsepower motor and a belt drive system.
If he thought he had solved the major problems he was soon put in his place — which was up against the law while sharing the road with yelping dogs and bolting horses. Wood wrote to the relevant minister about ‘the want of intelligence on the part of those now in charge of this law [intended to control the use of traction engines], and the conditions rising before us in the public mind.’ He was able to continue road trials when the local police sergeant, whose sons happened to be working for Wood, pointed out a railway road that was not controlled by bylaws. In 1896 he finally ‘got it right’ and sold the three-wheeler to a man from Oamaru. He then began work on the first of four four-wheeled motor cars built and sold over the next few years.
Wood’s objective had been to establish an automobile manufacturing industry. But his manufacturing enterprise was, in his view, thwarted by factory inspectors administering employee-friendly changes to the Factories Act. He sold his bicycle business in 1919 and bought the Ford agency. Had he succeeded New Zealanders and others would be driving Woods, not Fords.
Every generation looks to improving the lot of their parents. Cars are a good example of this. But now it's time to let those vehicles go. Time for the future!!
Here to say: I got an e-bike 2 weeks ago and it's such a delight. If I, female, fat and fifty-something, can ride everywhere, and what's more, enjoy doing it, most people can.
This is so great Lorna! Isn’t it the best feeling? Finally got back on the bike yesterday and it was glorious
Refreshingly bold thinking! In general, it seems what you are proposing is an alternative to a Universal Basic Income - don't just give out money but make the things we need to prosper in life free or at nominal cost. There's growing support for this idea. Love the e-bike proposal, surely at scale they could be assembled here to end up less than $2000? They don't need to be fancy, just robust and safe. I could even see "premium" models available for purchase by the status-conscious and perhaps for once, the middle class could subsidise their lower-income neighbours.
For many years (before I discovered e-bikes) each workday I took the bus into the Christchurch CBD. Invariably I was the only man of working age on the bus there and back. There seems to be a certain shame associated with using public transport that by some quirk of human psychology is overcome when it's a deal too good to ignore. Because of the false economy of car ownership, that so many cheerfully ignore, public transport already is a great deal. It may just need to be made more explicit by making it "free" because so many people imagine the alternative, each driving their own car, is somehow without cost.
Vehemently endorse all of this. Thanks very much Quentin
There are also e-trikes, which have a space on the back for a thumping big basket that you could actually fit a supermarket shop in. Love the bike idea, but add some variations like the trike/small cargo/small child carriers.
Nothing in this world is preposterous any longer when yesterday the water was on fire. Love your idea!!
It still is as far as I know.
Heartily agree! Only fools were out in their cars yesterday, the most glorious sunshiney day for a bike ride. And Te Wananga has come up a real treat - our waterfront will be as people friendly as Welly's soon
What a cheerful and exciting idea to wake up to! Thank you!
Excellent article, i hope Jacinda and Transport Minister get a copy of this, not sue about crusher Collins though
Level 4 last year had families on bikes all over the show
If we can get everyone using ebikes for short trips, we will have reduced a chunk of the 42% of our CO2 emissions that comes from road transport. But it's not just a matter of having the bike - you have to have safe roads to ride it on.
Yes yes yes! Slack for PM!
Excellent idea David. I think it's time we began re-imagining NZ. I guess I'm now of an age where looking backwards is becoming a habit. I remember as a kid and we got our groceries delivered by the two local general stores (my mother alternated because she wanted to support both businesses). She sold eggs to one of them to help pay for what she bought. We also got our meat delivered by the local butchery. It made sense to have one vehicle delivering to the rural area, than dozens driving into the village or beyond. I'm not advocating that we go back to that, although Covid saw the deliveries return. What could happen is that the supermarket, now a 25 minute drive away could have it's click and collect at the one remaining local store, now little more than a dairy, and we could trundle over on our e-bikes to collect the groceries and meat. Bring back catalogue shopping. We did a lot of that during the lockdown everything being delivered by the postie. Then instead of building more roads, lets have more rural cycleways to get around on. Magic thinking, I don't think so.
Quite right - a couple of evenings a week during my years as a student at the Wellington Polytechnic School of Design (1964-66) I would ride my Vespa to a shop in Pembroke Road, Northland, load the van with groceries in recycled boxes, and deliver them.
Fantastic idea. You can also retrofit existing bikes - mine is an old cargo bike now with Leckie central drive kit - its second electric kit. Also, the guy who electrified the bike first time for me was a founder of NZs multi- million electric farm bike company - now selling in China - UBCO bikes. So we have already proven the manufacturing model here.
Love the preposterousness of your idea David. Husband has just had his mountain bike inexpensively converted to an e-bike because it's now a multi-function mode of travel and can also do the trails if he feels like.
In New Zealand bicycles begat the car - at the hands of a Mr Cecil Wood (any relation to our Minister of Transport?) An extract from New Zealand by Design p.71-72:
When he was 21 Cecil Wood moved back to his hometown, Timaru, where he took over the local branch of his boss’s bicycle retail business and expanded the repair capacity by hiring time on a local gunsmith’s lathe. He then bought a drill press and built a furnace for case-hardening axles. Thus equipped, and with several good agencies generating a good trade, Wood turned his attention to making a motorised cycle. With nothing but recollections of pictures of small motors being made in Belgium and France he began producing technical drawings for casting patterns. His ‘boys’, George and Charlie Brehaut, were skilled mechanics who could build violins as well as bikes. They worked with surplus 1⅛-inch-diameter tube (fashion had dictated that bicycle frames should now be 1 inch in diameter) to make a chassis for a three-wheeled vehicle. After much trial and error Wood built a two-horsepower motor and a belt drive system.
If he thought he had solved the major problems he was soon put in his place — which was up against the law while sharing the road with yelping dogs and bolting horses. Wood wrote to the relevant minister about ‘the want of intelligence on the part of those now in charge of this law [intended to control the use of traction engines], and the conditions rising before us in the public mind.’ He was able to continue road trials when the local police sergeant, whose sons happened to be working for Wood, pointed out a railway road that was not controlled by bylaws. In 1896 he finally ‘got it right’ and sold the three-wheeler to a man from Oamaru. He then began work on the first of four four-wheeled motor cars built and sold over the next few years.
Wood’s objective had been to establish an automobile manufacturing industry. But his manufacturing enterprise was, in his view, thwarted by factory inspectors administering employee-friendly changes to the Factories Act. He sold his bicycle business in 1919 and bought the Ford agency. Had he succeeded New Zealanders and others would be driving Woods, not Fords.
Every generation looks to improving the lot of their parents. Cars are a good example of this. But now it's time to let those vehicles go. Time for the future!!
We have a local E-Bike business with great pedigree - Sinch (out of Avanti) - they could be our 'Fletchers' https://www.sinchbikes.co.nz/