- New Zealand cycling history
The
bicycle reachedNew Zealand in the1860s in the form of thevelocipede , also known as the 'boneshaker'. These bikes, as elsewhere, soon evolved into the elegant 'high wheelers', known today aspenny-farthing s. Popular among wealthy young men, they offered adventure and speed ("Colonials like to get along fast", onenewspaper wrote Fact|date=March 2007), but were also dangerous, due to the lack of modern features like efficient brakes. This, and the fact that they were useless on the rough and hilly roads of most of the country, ensured that they were seldom used for more than sport and recreation.It was the 'safety bicycle', with its chain,
sprocket s and similar sizedwheel s that catapulted the bike into the public arena. Sales boomed, prices dropped and, for half a century, the bicycle became a transport of the masses, at least in the somewhat more level and developed areas of the country.In the
1950s and 60s, however, New Zealanders turned away from most other transport methods to become one of the countries with the highest car ownership ratios of the world. This led to cycling being relegated back to itsrecreation al andsport ing roots.The
oil shock s of the1970s triggered the first of several bicycle resurgences. New bicycles, first road racing bikes, thenBMX s and finallymountain bike s became popular. By1990 , a survey showedcycling to be the second most popular participation sport. Since then, cycle sales have remained high, averaging over 150,000 per annum.From January
1994 the wearing ofbicycle helmet s became mandatory, therefore the number of cyclists dropped considerably.ee also
*
Bicycle helmets in New Zealand
*Cycling Advocates' Network References
*Some content copied with permission from "RIDE - the story of cycling in New Zealand". Published by The Kennett Brothers, 2004, ISBN 0-9583490-7-X
External links
* [http://www.kennett.co.nz/bikehistory/ RIDE - the story of cycling in New Zealand]
* [http://www.lincoln.ac.nz/esdd/profiles/simpres.htm Research on New Zealand Cycling History]
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