Council puts purchasing power behind e-bikes
27 November 2018
Waipa District Council has flexed its buying power in a bid to get staff onto bikes and out of car parks.
Council has done a deal with local bike shop Evolution Cycles which allows its staff to get discounts on push-bikes, including e-bikes. The initiative is part of an internal wellness programme - "Let's Move It, Waipā - being driven by staff.
Chief executive Garry Dyet said he was happy to see Waipā promoting alternative transport while encouraging staff to consider issues like fossil fuel use. He said the initiative would help ease parking congestion issues at Council offices in both Te Awamutu and Cambridge.
Council is anticipating around 20 people may take up the offer which involves Council providing interest-free loans over two years to those buying a bike. Based on 20 people taking up the offer, the cost to Council would be around $1,850, met from an existing budget. If fewer people take up the offer, the cost will drop.
Dyet was hoping staff would pick up on the initiative, espeically given the cost of fuel and the coming summer.
The Christmas shopping season is here, so anything we can do to reduce pressure on carparks for our retailers has to be good, he said. We're already actively encouraging car-pooling but this is a cost-effective way of us making more parks available while encouraging healthly life-styles for our staff. It's a win-win and at a very modest cost.
Council is also encouraging a range of other initiatives including car-pooling and walking as part of its wellness push.
Council signed off on the biking inititative today with Mayor Jim Mylchreest saying it was great to see Waipā following on from a similar successful programme at Tauranga City Council.
It's all very well to talk about promoting alternative transport - which is what we're being encouraged to do by central government - but it's not as easy to do. Well, here it is in action and I commend Garry and the staff for their initiative.
Councillor Vern Wilson abstained from the vote.