Be Bright, Be Safe, Be Seen – It's Your Time To Shine This Winter!
The pop-ups are part of the 'Be Bright, Be Safe, Be Seen' campaign led by Travel Safe — a joint initiative between Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.
Commuters travelling by bike, foot or scooter are encouraged to stop for a chat and check they're properly kitted out to be safe and seen from dusk till dawn this winter.
Arataki Ward Councillor Rick Curach says people cycling, walking, running or scootering are some of our most vulnerable road users and should ensure they can be seen by other path or road users, especially during times of low light and poor visibility.
'Whether you're commuting to work, study or school, being active for fun or fitness, or popping down to the local shops, we want to encourage people to take extra care and keep safe by being fully visible on the roads,' says Rick.
'Being seen is essential to keeping safe. Using front and rear bike lights and wearing bright, reflective and high-visibility clothing are simple ways for people being active to improve their visibility. I always make sure I'm easily visible when I am using my electric scooter.'
When cycling at night or in low-visibility conditions, bikes must have a red rear light (steady or flashing) and a white or yellow front light (only one may flash), both visible from at least 200 metres. Pedal reflectors are also required on the front and back of each pedal; if these are not fitted, the rider must wear reflective material.
For more information on road safety, visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/travel-safe.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
21-07-2025
- RNZ News
'Great Rides' need double the money to keep running smoothly
The country's Great Rides attract about a million cyclists and walkers each year. File photo. Photo: RNZ / Chris Bramwell Maintenance funding for the country's 'Great Rides' trails will need to double in the next decade, or some will degrade so much they will lose that status. The trails generate just under $1b annually in benefits to regional economies, drawing about a million cyclists and walkers each year. The government puts $8m a year towards the trails through the International Visitor and Conservation Levy, with contributions totalling $129m since 2009. Councils have co-invested at least $60m into the rides in that time. But an Official Information Act response from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, released to RNZ, shows an estimated $160 million will be needed to maintain and enhance the Great Rides over the next 10 years. Per year, it is double the amount currently allocated for the network. "Without additional funding, there is a risk the Great Rides will gradually decline over time, potentially resulting in the removal of Great Ride status from some underperforming trails," the briefing to Tourism Minister Louise Upston says. NZ Cycle Journeys runs cycle hire and luggage transfer services across five of the trails and owner Geoff Gabites told Nine to Noon the trails were "perfectly usable" at the moment, but would need resurfacing soon - the maintenance largely done by local councils, with three trails covered by the Department of Conservation (DOC). He compared that to the 'Great Walks' tramping tracks fully managed by DOC - which owns and manages the huts, thereby collecting an income stream. "On the [Great Rides] trails, there is no mechanism whereby riders themselves can be levied or generate money for the trusts or councils that own the trails," Gabites said. When set up in 2009 under the John Key government, the Great Rides were intended to eventually become self-funding, but the OIA response showed this "has not eventuated as the economic benefits have not flowed back to the trails to allow them to maintain and grow to be a world-class asset". There are no direct revenue-gathering options for the trusts that operate the trails. The problem is exacerbated by trails that have been impacted by severe weather, like the Great Taste Trail in Nelson which will need rebuilding following the recent Tasman floods . "It's that sort of siphoning of money out of the $8m which the government currently fund per annum which is I think causing a significant decline in the ongoing funding available for maintenance," Gabites said. He said given the benefits, it should be on the government to support the maintenance of the trails. "It's hard to actually find a government initiative that has delivered that sort of degree of return, and so you would have to be saying to the government 'this is your investment, and it's really going to be upon you, I believe, to maintain and protect that investment'." They were considerably cheaper than urban-based cycleways to maintain, he said. "In terms of numbers, 48 percent of the riders travel specifically to ride these trails so they're not just 'happen to be there and then go and and do something', it's actually a driver into the region... the $8m that have been granted is the same degree of funding that was in place from, I think, 2018." The government has launched a "programme refresh to respond to this funding pressure", and also has a "full impact evaluation" for the 2024/25 fiscal year under way, scheduled for completion in September. Gabites said tourism operators benefiting from the trail where also were aware they should contribute, and that was being done on a voluntary basis - but it was currently the only way those operators were helping fund the trails. "So Cycle Journeys has had a luggage levy of 15 percent in there, and we've donated something like $126,000 over the last four years - but when the trail maintenance numbers are as high as they are, that's not sufficient to stay ahead of the game." Part of the problem was the lack of any way to charge the users of the trails, and the government's contracts with councils - many of which had a low rating base - left ratepayers to fund the maintenance. "There's multiple entry/exit points, so it's it's just never been set up to do this - and also legislatively as well, there's no mechanism," Gabites said. The MBIE briefing notes the government is exploring differential funding from councils "based on a local government deprivation index similar to that used by the New Zealand Transport Agency to fund roads". James Bell from ski and bike hireage company TCB Ohakune is heavily involved in the town's business community and said everyone including DOC and iwi seemed to be "pitching in where they can and where is necessary", but the trails themselves needed to be completed to make the whole system run smoother. "The biggest challenge right now - and this might sound a bit harsh - is we're currently driving a three-wheeled cart, because that cart isn't complete and therefore working on maintaining a three-wheeled cart is a lot tougher. Makes more sense, at least, for our community, to add that fourth wheel." As an example, many of the trails have been at least partly on-road since the scheme was launched, and the MBIE briefing notes that a $7.9m bid to have 120km of the Alps 2 Ocean ride shifted to off-road was rejected. Bell said there were also other ways to get the maintenance done, like new levies or commissions or through concession agreements. Minister Upston in a statement to RNZ said she was aware of the maintenance issues and cost pressures. "An ongoing challenge is how to generate revenue to reinvest into the trails to ensure they continue to offer a world-class experience. MBIE is currently working with sector partners to refresh the broader Great Rides programme. I'm committed to finding solutions to ensure the future of the Great Rides for Kiwis and international visitors alike," she said. The government has also confirmed plans to spend $3m on adding e-bike charging stations to the trails, with a second round of funding launched in June - however the MBIE briefing noted there was a "low level of support for installing e-charging stations" from stakeholders. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
20-07-2025
- RNZ News
Great rides cycle trails' funding needs to double in a decade
The amount of funding required to keep the country's 23 Great Rides up to scratch will need to double in the next ten years, or some trails will degrade to the point they face losing their 'great ride' status. The rides - which are used equally by cyclists and walkers - were set up in 2009 by Government with the intent of eventually being self-funding. And while the trails' economic benefits to the regions they are in, are exceptional, these benefits do not flow back directly into track maintenance and upgrades. There are no direct revenue-gathering options for the trusts that operate the trails - and earlier this year officials from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment warned Tourism Minister Louise Upston that the status quo had become unsustainable. An estimated $160 million is required to maintain and enhance the rides, over the next ten years - that's double the amount NZ Cycle Trust is currently allocated from the Government. Geoff Gabites owns NZ Cycle Journeys - a company that runs cycle hire and luggage transfer services across five of the trails, and James Bell who works in Ohakune at the ski and bike hire firm TCB. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Scoop
18-07-2025
- Scoop
EVES Open Returns To Pāpāmoa For Its Fourth Year
Professional tennis returns to the Bay of Plenty this summer, with the World Tennis Tour once again taking place at the Pāpāmoa Tennis Club. Scheduled for 15-21 December 2025, the EVES Open will bring together some of the world's best up-and-coming players, competing for official WTA and ATP ranking points and over $60,000 in prize money. Now in its fourth year, the tournament has become a fixture on the local Tauranga events calendar, marking the start of the summer and Christmas season. Pāpāmoa Ward Councillor Steve Morris says it's great to see the event return. 'Bringing world-class sport to Pāpāmoa is a real win for the city – and the fact it's free to attend makes it even better for our community. We're big fans of tennis here, with Tauranga leading the country in growth for both memberships and casual play.' 'Tauranga City Council is proud to support this event through the Tauranga Event Fund, which helps bring more arts, culture, and sporting experiences to life, making our city an even better place to live and visit.' 'The event's gone from strength to strength over the past few years, and it's fantastic to welcome an event of this calibre back to Pāpāmoa.' Players have often praised the EVES Open for its atmosphere and hospitality, with many calling it their favourite tournament at this level. Gareth Archer, Commercial and Marketing Manager for Tennis New Zealand, says the event is also vital for local athletes. 'Kiwi players have to travel far and wide to earn prize money and ranking points. Events like the EVES Open are crucial. They offer players the chance to compete on home soil, with the backing of a local crowd.' Last year, more than 40 New Zealanders competed in the men's and women's singles draws, alongside players from over 15 countries. This year's tournament will offer plenty for fans and families, including a junior school holiday programme and the NZ Wheelchair Tennis Championships, which will be held alongside the main draw. The popular courtside hospitality tables will return, offering food and wine just metres from the action. Public entry is free all week, with great vantage points from the grass banks around the courts. Naming rights partner EVES Real Estate is again backing the event. 'This tournament is always a highlight of the summer, and EVES is thrilled to be back on board,' says Gabriella Troutbeck, GM Marketing & Communications at EVES. 'The level of tennis on display is incredible up close. Make sure you get along to check it out!' Along with EVES, the event is proudly supported by Tauranga City Council and TECT through their event funds, ensuring the tournament remains free for spectators.
