And with construction on the South Dunedin cycle network to start in the next few months, the southern part of the city could soon be ''cycle central'', Dunedin City Council Safe and Sustainable Transport co-ordinator Charlotte Flaherty says.
''It's exciting to see the interest in cycling among the community - it shows that we are moving in the right direction with the cycleways plans,'' she said.
Plans to establish a Dunedin Bike Library are being overseen by a Bike Library Management Group, which involves representatives of the Dunedin City Council, Pact, the Department of Corrections, and local Maori. Earlier this year, the group commissioned a ''South Dunedin needs analysis survey'' to gauge community support for the bike library concept.
Of the 392 responses, most from residents of southern Dunedin, an overwhelming 76% believed a bike library would be successful.
''The survey results show that there is obviously a hidden demand for cycling out there in the community - it shows that more people will be interested in riding once the infrastructure is in,'' Mrs Flaherty said.
The response was encouraging for the Bike Library Management Group, which was moving ahead with plans to establish a bike library in the South Dunedin area. Work on a suitable location was ongoing, and a bike library should be up and running by early next year.
Contacted by The Star, Christchurch-based consultant Axel Wilkie, of Via Strada, who has been working closely with the council on planning a Strategic Cycle Network for South Dunedin, said the area was ''a top priority''.
First in line in the $4.5 million plan are routes such as Victoria Rd/Tahuna Rd, and Royal Cres.
The plan was to establish a ''continuous corridor'', allowing cyclists to make a journey of a reasonable distance in safety, Mr Wilkie said.
These changes, with a shift in attitude towards normalising cycling as a mode of transport, would make a huge difference to rates of cycling, he said.
''At present, South Dunedin is a difficult environment for cyclists - if we can do something useful for them, that has got to be great,'' Mr Wilkie said.
BIKE LIBRARY SURVEY
Results of the Bike Library Management Group's survey (only the main answers are listed):
Most common transport method:
Car = 54%
Walk = 18%
Bike = 7%
Bus = 7%
Preferred transport method:
Car = 36%
Walk = 23%
Bike = 17%
Bus = 4%
Access to a bike:
Bike owners = 193 people
No access = 148 people
How often do you ride?
Never = 164 people
Regularly = 85 people
Reasons for not riding a bike:
Don't own a bike = 59 people
Concerns over safety or infrastructure = 90 people
Interest in borrowing a bike:
Interested = 42%
Not interested = 58%
What would it be used for?
Transport = 88 people
Leisure/recreation = 119 people
Exercise = 113 people
Would a bike library be successful?
Yes = 76%
No = 24%
(392 people were surveyed, 69% female, 31% male. About 70% were residents of southern Dunedin.)
