Outgoing councillor cycling the talk

It is not everyone's cup of tea, but an outgoing Dunedin city councillor says the 116km journey from Middlemarch to Dunedin with the wind on her back is the perfect way to celebrate the end of her fourth term.

Kate Wilson, a councillor of 12 years who sits on both the Otago Central Rail Trail and Dunedin Tunnels Trail trusts, said she only really got into cycling while in local government.

She was still "very non-competitive'', preferring gravel roads and tracks.

She began her journey yesterday, riding via Ramrock Rd, and expects to get into Dunedin "just after lunch'' today - in good time for her final council meeting at 3pm.

The ride so far had featured some "amazingly gorgeous'' scenery, including a panoramic view from the top of Ramrock Rd.

Dunedin city councillor Kate Wilson travels along Ramrock Rd towards Dunedin yesterday afternoon....
Dunedin city councillor Kate Wilson travels along Ramrock Rd towards Dunedin yesterday afternoon. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON

"It's nice to feel the wind on your back. It's pretty awesome''

She stayed overnight at Karitane, north of Dunedin, last night.

For a city to be truly "liveable'', you had to be able to get around it on a bike, and while Dunedin was already a great city for cycling, the existing cycleways and tracks should be linked up, she said.

"We actually have an amazing city for biking.

"We just need to be able to connect it all up. I'm very proud of what we've done with the Otago Rail Trail.''

Cr Wilson is stepping down as a city councillor this year, but is standing for the Otago Regional Council in the local body elections.

elena.mcphee@odt.co.nz

Comments

A pipe-dream of $100-200m. No sweet for rate/tax-payers? Are Greenies leeching off the rest of us?

Are you out of context?

OCRT was also a pipe-dream. Look what it's done for the region. This isn't leeching, this is pro-active planning for future transportation requirements. Not just 'Greenies', but for future generations as well. The Victorians had a similar idea when they built the railway network and tunnels - huge initial costs but they were looking long-term, not just to the annual budget horizon.

 

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