Questions For Our Council Candidates Have Been Answered

It is local body election time again and a few weeks ago, Bike Taupo put together the following questions to all those standing for council and/or Mayor.

Our questions are below.

1. Do you ride a bike and if so where is your favorite place to ride in the Taupō District?

2. How do you see cycling fitting into Taupō’s transport and recreation future, and what role should council play in supporting it?

3. What is your position on investing in safe cycling infrastructure (e.g. bike lanes, shared paths, trail networks), and how would you prioritise it compared to other (transport) projects?

4. Cycling and mountain biking are significant for local tourism and our economy ($20M a year in visitor spend and 173 jobs created and sustained), how would you support their continued development as attractions for visitors?

5. How do you see cycling (and/or BT's activity) contributing to Taupo’s environmental and sustainability goals, and what council actions would you champion to encourage more people to choose bikes over cars?

6. If elected, how would you engage with groups like Bike Taupō to ensure cyclists’ voices are represented in council planning and decision-making?

7. The Kids Bike Taupō programme teaches children how to ride safely and confidently, and it’s been hugely successful in building lifelong skills and confidence. In the last 12 months we put 8,531 tamariki on bikes. How would you support initiatives like this that improve confidence and encourage healthy, active lifestyles for our tamariki?

Read the answers from all those who took the time to respond.

The answers have been collated and you can read them by clicking below

Thanks Bike Taupo