“I like how it looks exactly like a road for a bike.”

Tauranga Primary School student Max Sievwright, his cousin Angus Sievwright and schoolmate Harry Preston are huge fans of the Cameron Rd cycle lanes outside their school gates, using them to ride their bikes to school.

They are among about 50 students – more than 10% of the school roll – who regularly ride their bikes to school and principal Fiona Hawes is stoked.

She said there has been an increase in the number of students walking, cycling, and scootering to school so far this year, helped by the roading improvements that were part of Tauranga City Council’s upgrade of Cameron Rd.

“Cameron Rd is definitely safer than it was – safety is our first priority – and this is a really healthy lifestyle option. We’ve got entire families riding in together, with parents dropping their children off and carrying on to work.”

One of the things Angus likes about the cycles lanes is not having to navigate around pedestrians on the footpath.

“You don’t have to go in the walk lane and the bike lane helps so you don’t crash into anyone.”

Parents are loving the cycle lanes too, with one mum taking to social media platform LinkedIn recently to share a photo of her children riding to school along Cameron Rd with their mates.

“These kids are learning independence, responsibility and road awareness. They’re getting fresh air and exercise instead of sitting in a car. And where are Mum and Dad? Still at work actually. No more rushing out early to compete for a car park – more time for productivity and contributing to the economy,” said Libby Gosling.

The council’s head of transport, Mike Seabourne, said more than 1000 people are regularly cycling, walking and scootering along Cameron Rd after the completion of the upgrade.

A recent count of people using these modes of transport between 7.30am and 8.30am found more than 200 people walking, riding bikes or scooters, or using mobility devices.

“This is a great result and since the cycleway construction began in 2021, we’ve had no reported crashes involving cyclists using the cycle lanes. That compares to 19 crashes involving cyclists between 2017 and 2021,” said Seaboure.

As well as improved facilities on the road outside, Tauranga Primary School was also the recipient of an $18,000 Tauranga City Council Community Grant that funded an upgrade of their old bike shed.

“The old one was rusty and at the end of its life. Along with the grant, we gave it a facelift with the help of contractors who were either ex-students of the school or have children attending the school,” said Hawes.

The Community Grant Fund is open to community organisations, schools, kura, not-for-profit early childhood education providers, and organisations delivering kaupapa Māori outcomes.

It builds on and supports community-led initiatives that help create positive change and enhance the community’s ability to meet its own needs and develop local community leadership.

For more information visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/funding