Never too old to go electric

Just days after celebrating his 78th birthday, Mohan Ori was trying out an e-bike for the first time with friends at the Auckland Domain. He was on an Auckland Transport cycle training day late last year for the over 60s on the Never2old programme.

“It was just terrific. I can’t stop talking to my friends about it,” says Mohan who is keen to encourage other people his age to try it.

“I suggest people should go somewhere like the Domain and practice with no traffic before going out on the roads. Just give it a go,” he says.

While it was the first time Mohan has used an e-bike, he already spends a lot of time on a bike. “I ride down by the waterfront and there are so many things I see that I wouldn’t have seen if I was driving. I usually stop and have a chat to the guys fishing off the rocks down by Wynyard Quarter.”

Mohan and the rest of the group started with a bike and helmet fitting at Bikes and Barbers in Newmarket, then walked their bikes along Parnell Rd. They then got on their bikes in groups of three and rode to the Domain. After a couple of trial loops around the fountain using the electric power of the bike, they continued onto the roads with other traffic.

An e-bike typically has a throttle on the handlebars which controls a small motor attached to the wheel making pedalling a lot easier.

The Never2old programme is an AUT University and YMCA initiative to encourage over 60s to be more active in a social setting. The programme has groups all over the city doing a range of activities like gym work outs, yoga, games, dancing and group walks.

Auckland Transport partnered with Never2old and bike hire firm nextbike to provide e-bikes for Mohan’s group.

Encouraging over 60s to ride a bike more often will help us achieve our goal of a 30% increase in the number of bike journeys by 2019 says AT’s Walking and Cycling Manager, Kathryn King.

“For some people who have not been on a bike since they were a child, our free cycle training courses give them the skills and confidence to try it again. We get so much great feedback from people who tell us they not only learned a lot, but they also enjoyed meeting new people while getting some exercise.

“Riding a bike is very liberating. People tell us that when they start riding more often, they are more likely to travel in their local community for shopping, visiting friends and going to cafes.”

For more on cycling and walking: https://at.govt.nz/cycling-walking/

ENDS

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