Council bulk buys electric bikes

Tauranga City Council staff with Keith Silkstone, Managing Director electrify.nz Tauranga.

A chance to bulk buy electric bikes has seen more than 50 Tauranga City Council staff take up the offer to pay for their own brand new electric bike.

"At the beginning we thought 10 to 15 staff might take up the offer, and we got 52,” says transportation manager Martin Parkes.

'Most of those are relatively new to biking. It's been a thrill to see so many people get genuinely enthusiastic about making a change to the way they travel. It's a win-win for staff, for the council's fleet and for the city.”

The council negotiated the purchase deal on behalf of 52 staff as part of a bulk order from electrify.nz, along with seven e-bikes that will be added to the organisation's vehicle fleet. The initiative was facilitated by Tauranga City Council to make it easier for staff to get to work without bringing single-occupant cars into the city each day.

Most of the staff who bought the e-bikes usually drove to work but are now planning to leave their cars at home and ride whenever practical. There is already a very strong biking culture at the council, says Martin.

'Between 40 – 60 staff ride to work regularly. E-bikes open up the possibility of biking to even more people. electrify.nz worked with our procurement team to make this deal possible and then engaged with our staff, helping them test ride and learn about e-biking options.

'We're a large organisation and we need to lead the way in our individual travel habits. Every person on a bike, e-bike, or bus represents a tangible savings in car parks and it helps relieve the traffic flow. 'Riding to work can be a lot of fun. I've been commuting from Ohauiti since last year on an e-bike. I love it and I wish I'd started doing it a lot earlier.”

Tauranga City Council has facilitated a deal with national e-bike distributor/retailer electrify.nz that has seen more than 50 council staff become the proud new owners of electric bikes.

'Tauranga City Council recognised this fact and the obvious benefits for staff, the council and the community. Their leadership in showing how a large employer can improve the transport mix of our cities is awesome,” says Michael.

'Hats off to Tauranga City Council and to all the e-biking staff that we have had the pleasure of meeting and riding with over the last couple of months.”

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7 comments

Taniwha82

Posted on 19-02-2018 16:51 | By Taniwha0

The best bikes $7000 less the deal ,hope they weren't ratepayer subsidised ,sound a bit to good to be true ????


Do the staff pay for their bike

Posted on 19-02-2018 17:29 | By lpm67

So the council buys the bikes, do the staff buy them from the council? Hate to think rate payers money is being used for private transport....or have I misunderstood?


its never ending money pot

Posted on 19-02-2018 17:39 | By Darth Vader NZ

so the rate payer wasn't offered the exact same opportunity, many rate payers would gladly like the chance to purchase an electric bike but that offer wasn't provided to any rate payer ... why ? it appears its all about the councillors isn't it and the days its raining will said councillors take the bus ? yeah didn't think so they'll still use their vehicles


for everyone

Posted on 19-02-2018 17:45 | By hapukafin

All rate payers are part of the TCC.Why wasnt the offer made to all the rate payers?


Wow

Posted on 20-02-2018 10:31 | By Calm down

You guys just see the word council and have to complain. Imagine the expense of getting the word out to every single rate payer to offer them this deal, then the admin costs getting everyone's money together etc. Then you'd all be complaining about the council spending loads of money getting everyone bikes..!


Hope

Posted on 20-02-2018 11:21 | By Accountable

The Council boys and girls on these bikes stick to the road rules and ride on the road and cycle lanes and not on the footpaths as the majority of them do at present. Watch Red Square in the morning and evenings and you will see exactly what I mean. If they are caught not wearing helmits or breaking the laws I suggest their e-bikes be confiscted and the law to be upheld by the never present police. I can also invisage Councils ACC charges increasing because of these unsafe contraptions they are expecting their employees to use. All very P.C but also very dangerous for our Council staff.


Taniwha82

Posted on 20-02-2018 21:08 | By Taniwha0

The bikes were financed by the council (rate payers)


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