Oh, how this glorious summer rolls on and on. It may be back to work and back to school – and bike to work, and bike to school! – but February is also packed to the gills with special events. Starting with…
Go By Bike Day, next Wednesday 10 February. There’s a roving ambassador wearing this year’s theme colour, sunflower yellow, and on the day itself there’ll be free coffee + muffins at “pit stops” in 3 central locations:
- at the Nelson St end of the Pink Path;
- Karanga Plaza at Wynyard Quarter;
- and at the Carrington Rd/ Unitec side of the NW cycleway.
Can’t make it to one of the welcome tents? Go by bike anyway and – if you’re on Instagram – post a photo of you and your bike with the hashtag #AKLBikeLife, to go in the draw for a bespoke yellow bicycle.
NB updated info: photos should be taken between 1am and 11pm on Wednesday 10 February, to be eligible. Full details of the competition are on the Go By Bike Day page.
And if you’re a member of a bike burb group, keep an eye out for ultra-local pop-up events in your neighborhood.
Then on Friday 12 February, come and watch ET on the big screen at Silo Park in Wynyard Quarter – a classic film about (among other things) free-roaming kids on bikes, sure to delight and inspire. The movie starts at 9, with markets and food and such from 5pm onwards. Frocks on Bikes & friends will be running a bike love-in on the night, with prizes and giveaways, so be sure to swing by and ring your bell…
And this just in: the Bike Rave is back, for Valentine’s Day. Expect extra tandems for this one!
Some of the summer’s biggest events will have bike-friendly valet parking, too! See below for currently confirmed events. The Big Gay Out and Pasifika are both super-handy to the NW cycleway, as is the Te Atatu Sculpture Trail.
And note that the Lantern Festival is in the Domain this year – tell us your best suggestions for how to bike there from various angles.
Want to bike to any of the Movies in Parks or Music in Parks? Go for it!
Other local bike events coming up (full details over at the bottom of the AT cycle events page, which is a good place to find out about these things):
- Family bike evenings in Sunnynook – at Greville Reserveon two consecutive Wednesdays, Feb 10 and 17, from 6pm-7:15pm. Bike fun, bike skills for those on two wheelers, and info galore. There will be loan bikes available; advance registration is essential. (Contact Marion or Bronwyn on 410 4902 or email them at snook.com.cen@xtra.co.nz )
- Ride your bike to Fly-a-Kite Day on the Te Atatu Peninsula, Harbourview People’s Park, Sunday 21 February, 11-3. There’ll be free bike maintenance check-ups and friendly info. A good chance to ride through the artsy new bike underpass on the way, if you haven’t already.
- Papakura/Takanini Family Bike Day at Bruce Pulman Park, Sunday 28 February, 10am – 2pm. Bike skills training, a skills track, a treasure hunt and more. BYO bike, but there will be loan bikes as well.
And lastly, a few more long-range “save the dates” for this lovely long summer… anything we’ve missed?
- 28 February, 12-6: Remember Cycle Style? It’s back, bigger and more beautiful than ever as BeSpoke Bike Style. A day of fashion, bicycles, accessories and entertainment at Silo Park as part of Fashion Week.
- 12 March is White Night as part of the Auckland Arts Festival. There’ll be an art installation on Lightpath, and a bike trail linking various White Night locations around the city – details to come, so keep an eye on the website.
- 12 March – 10 April is the month-long Ecowest Fest, Waitakere’s celebration of all things sustainable. The program is still being created, but keep an eye on the website.
- The weekend of March 19-20 is Neighbors Day Aotearoa – the annual festival that invites you to transform your street into a neighbourhood. It’s freeform and very DIY – just come up with an activity that suits you, and brings neighbours together. A bike street party? A progressive dinner on bikes? A bike skills adventure for kids? A bike fix-and-swap meet? We’d love to hear what you’re planning.
- And on April 3, Open Streets is back. Details to come!
