The city's 10-year plan process focused community attention, yet again on the urgent need for safe cycleways in our city.

Council has proposed to spend small change on city cycleways during the next 10 years.
That is funding for a few signs, a bit more white paint on the roads, and maybe a map that directs cyclists towards the best places to be squashed.

Due to enormous community pressure, council now supports the national cycleway link through Bethlehem. Bouquets for that, but it is not enough.

In this climate, children should cycle to school and commuters could cycle to work.
Every person on a bike is one less car adding to global warming.

Sadly, the priority is millions of borrowed dollars for another parking building for those rare students that can afford daily parking charges.

The debate about why drivers do not see cyclists is easily resolved. Get all of those drivers onto a bike once a week.

If they bike themselves, then they're more likely to see and tolerate cyclists.
Many drivers have a bike in the shed, but they don't dare use it in Tauranga.

Safe cycleways are a win-win-win, and we should be investing in them.

Dr Ian G. McLean,
Tauranga City