Re: Norm Mayo's letter ‘The Western Bay's cycleway spend up is madness' (The Weekend Sun, May 1), regarding the proposed cycleway to be built by Western Bay and others.

For a start look at twww.tcdc.govt.nz/Your-Council/Council-Projects/Current-Projects/Hauraki-Rail-Trail/

It would appear that even though Thames Coromandel District Council has kept their rates increases to zero for three years, but they are still willing to invest in the Hauraki Rail Trail.

Perhaps the rates increases by various councils have nothing to do with their investment in cycleways?

Furthermore, consider the following facts from the NZ Cycle Trail Evaluation report:

1. The majority of users were visitors to the region, and in some cases up to two-thirds of those visitors were drawn to the region by the trails.

2. One in seven businesses surveyed had expanded their operations due to the trails, and half of them believed the cycle trail initiative would be good for their business in the future.

3. Health, community and social impacts are harder to quantify, but the report quotes benefits of providing a recreational asset and strengthening community engagement. Wouldn't every mother in Tauranga rather have their children out on their bikes having fun safely than sitting in front of a big-screen TV, or texting on a cellphone?

The list goes on and on! Readers can google ‘NZ cycle trail evaluation report' and read it for themselves.

In the case of the Hauraki Rail Trail, the extra economic benefit to the region is somewhere between $1.2-$1.8 million per month according to a Waikato Univeristy study.

The expected number of users is projected at about 6000 per month, but has in fact exceeded more than 12,000 per month during summer.

How many people from Tauranga alone have travelled up there to enjoy a weekend of cycling on off-road trails? Casual surveys by members of our team suggest quite a large number.

Tauranga and the greater BOP region is simply missing out from the benefit enjoyed by other regions throughout NZ. Tourism BOP is engaged in a marketing campaign costing several $100,000 to promote the central North Island as a cycling mecca, and we don't have a bean to draw any of those visitors to our region!

I suggest the building of this cycle trail is long overdue, and we should applaud Western Bay of Plenty District Council for taking the initiative and exercising some vision and leadership to make this trail a reality.

Jan Booysen,Chairman,
BOP Community Trails Trust.