Health Hero Paul McArdle of Bike On NZ has proved again how much he deserves the title of health hero: he has been centrally involved in the successful Hastings District Council bid for $4 million to become a model community for walking and cycling. From the HDC media release:

"Hastings will be making walking and cycling “simply irresistible” after winning a national bid to be a New Zealand Transport Agency walking and cycling model community.  Hastings and New Plymouth went up against 22 other cities to win the bid and Hastings will get $4.1m - $3.57m to invest in walking and cycling infrastructure and $518,000 for education. The cities will then be “how to” models for the rest of New Zealand."

Paul says everybody wins when more people are walking and cycling:

"There will be less traffic congestion, people will be healthier and Hawke’s Bay businesses will benefit from more cycling tourism."

Initiatives coming out of the project include:

• Working with Hastings employers to encourage staff to walk and cycle to work.

• Improving facilities for people cycling into the CBD, to bus stops, to work and school.
• Encouraging young people to learn to ride safely to school.
• Promoting safe cycling routes.
• Improving road networks for cycle safety.

Congratulations Paul and the team at HDC!  Click for more information.