Re: Norm Mayo's letter ‘The Western Bay's cycleway spend up is madness' (The Weekend Sun, May 1).

I must pick up my quill and seriously challenge him on part of his destructive criticism to the proposed Tauranga/Omokoroa cycleway.

Firstly, I wholeheartedly agree with his comments about the museum and Memorial Hall.
But on the proposed cycleway, Norm is wide of the mark.

Having just taken part in last Sunday's pedal protest in support of the Tauranga section of the proposed cycleway, to witness in excess of a 1000-plus riders of all ages inclusive of family groups spread over 1km gives some indication of the overwhelming degree of support.

Oh yeah, he's right when he mentions the neighbouring Hauraki District Council, which several years ago took the initiative and grabbed John Key's money with both hands and built the magnificent Waihi, Paeroa, Te Aroha, Thames and Waikino cycleway four times the length of the proposed track and received a sought-after award, hardly a fiasco.

I've had the pleasure of riding some of NZ's finest world class cycle tracks, namely Central Otago Rail Trail, New Plymouth's Coastal Walkway and marvelled at the million-dollar bridge, the little ‘back water' Opotiki's Motu Trail, Bennydale's Forest Trail - all attracting a wide variety of money-spending cyclists.

It's noted by a recent survey 60 per cent of cyclists are tourists. It's also noted the Hauraki Rail Trail numbers, a short time since completion, have now passed the world-renowned Otago Rail Trail. So, I'd hardly call this proposal 'spending madness”.

With all due respect, I suggest Norm should climb out of his rocking chair, forget about being a fifth-generation Katikati resident and look beyond the horizon at the opportunities available to truly put his town on the international stage with the associated spending.

M Twist, Katikati.