Central Otago District Council (CODC) has launched a new campaign called ‘Wheels Up’, designed to make the Central Otago community more road-safety savvy.

CODC road safety advisor Chirs Foggin (Foggie) has taken up a new part time role to develop the programme of local activities. 

He is interviewed on The Outlet today, talking about how the campaign is being funded, the implementation of school and community bike ambassadors, the future of cycling in Central and where his favourite places are to ride his bike.

“If we can create safer riders on our roads at a young age, [then] they become better drivers . . . when they get to the point of passing a test.

“The other part of that is the community, in terms of being able to build better etiquette . . . build more resilience within the community in terms of bike education and pathways to development.”

Foggie said along with bike ambassadors he wants to make sure Central as a whole is a friendly and courteous community to welcome cyclists.

“Central is developing into being one of the key places on the planet to ride bikes [and] we want to avoid some of the bike lash stuff that happens in other parts of New Zealand and the world where people become a bit grumpy about it.”

As for where you’ll find Foggie riding, he said it’s up the Crawford Hills and into the Ida Valley, “away from the crowds” on the “huge network of back country gravel roads” that are an “underused resource”.

Along with working for CODC Foggie runs charitable trust Upcycles, which gets pre-loved bikes to those in need, including diverse learners, or other vulnerable people or groups in the community in need of transport.

“I’m passionate about the education piece around cycling.

"It never goes away for me, the joy and freedom of riding a bike.”

Foggie in his shed fixing up a bike. PHOTO: Supplied 

To hear more about Wheels Up, listen to Foggie's interview on The Outlet.

If you want to donate a bike or parts to Upcycles email [email protected].

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