A proposal to build a cycle way connecting the Harbour Bridge to Matapihi via airport land is going to be explored further.

Chris Ingram was among a number of speakers making presentations to the Tauranga City Council's Transportation Committee earlier this week.

Next step is a workshop where committee members get to discuss the proposals and decide the next steps, says committee chair Rick Curach.

'I think it would be highly utilised,” says Rick of Chris's idea.

'They also offered to pitch in and help build it.”

Chris proposes a cycle track from the Aerodrome ramp through Taiaho Place, and across the back of the airport using paper road extensions, and existing roads, skirting the golf course and linking with Matapihi Road.

The suggestion of a 3m gravel track was warmly received by the golf course manager, says Chris.

It will begin at the bottom end of the golf course and join up with the new gravel track between the railway and the golf course.

'It's primarily a commuter trail avoiding roads by crossing the road bridge, through the airport, through the golf course, down to Matapihi Road, and then to Bayfair and beyond,” says Chris.

Cyclists can turn left at Matapihi to go under the Bayfair underpass or right to loop back to the city via Matapihi and the rail bridge.

'There's two functions, the commuter function which is the main one. You can also get to it from the Mount down Totara Street and it cuts out Hewletts Road.

'At the weekend it has a social purpose, families, runners and bikers can leave from The Strand, go around the airport and back across the rail bridge.”

A more strategic purpose is in linking the Omokoroa-Wairoa cycle track with the cycle track alongside the Tauranga Eastern Link across the Kaituna River and to Maketu.

'The purpose of the link is to join these two trails together to make a 60km cycling trail with an overnight stop at Papamoa or Maketu,” says Chris.

'And that gets it into the AA cycle trails book and the publicity that has, and we get the international bike travellers, and that's what you want.”

Bay of Plenty tourism operators don't attract international cycle travellers at present because there is nothing here for them, says Chris.

But a 60km linked up bike track from Omokoroa to Paengaroa will do that, and be a boost for tourism shuttle operators, bike servicing businesses and accommodation providers.

'We need to get it done by 2018 or 2019,” says Chris.

'It's one of the cheapest ones to do. It would cost under $100,000 and they would get a huge bang for their buck.”

The transport committee will hold a workshop where councillors will talk through the ideas with the presenters, and make recommendations to council from there.

Chris's presentation could be fast tracked if there is already funding available for cycle tracks, says Rick.