More than a decade after a bicycle was retired from duties in the University of Otago's property services department, two new bicycles have appeared.
While impractical for carrying ladders and other large pieces of equipment, the bikes were a quick and efficient way for staff to carry out tasks such as attending meetings, measuring up jobs and carrying out small repairs throughout the campus, property services director Barry MacKay said.
‘‘We're trying to wean them away from using vehicles or walking.'' About eight staff were using the bikes regularly since their introduction last month and if they received plenty of use, more might be bought.
Mr MacKay, a keen cyclist, said he was thinking of introducing a tricycle after he saw one in operation at Melbourne University. It had a sizeable steel tool box on the back, which would be used as a work bench.
‘‘The beauty of the trike was it was narrow enough to fit through doorways. Staff could cycle right into buildings and do whatever they had to do.''
The Dunedin property services staff were riding mainly on public roads as the university's cycling policy banned cycling from most parts of the campus, Mr MacKay said.
The ban was introduced some years ago after a ‘‘very nasty accident'' when a student on a bicycle and a staff member collided, which resulted in the staff member being seriously injured and later dying.
However, the cycle policy was being reviewed, he said. ‘‘At the moment, cycling is prohibited from much of the campus for safety reasons.
"That is quite an anomaly, as cars and pedestrians are allowed in the same areas at the same time. We are looking at establishing vehicle zones, pedestrian zones and cycling zones, as well as areas where all three can co-exist.''