NZ’s largest bus company winner at Cycle Friendly Awards

NZ’s largest bus company winner at Cycle Friendly Awards

NZ Bus picked up the gong for Cycle Friendly Commitment by a Business at last night’s ‘2walk and cycle’ conference and awards in Nelson.

Nominated by CAN (Cycle Action Network) the driver and cycle workshops that have been run over the past three years between NZ Bus, CAN and BikeNZ are a collaborative part of our health and safety training.

The road user workshop programme gives both professional drivers and cyclists the opportunity to see the road from the other’s point of view. By swapping seats, drivers get to experience the vulnerability of being a cyclist while cyclists sit in a bus driver’s seat to see what they can and can’t see with their mirrors.

National Training Manager Semo Asa and Chief Operations Officer southern Tonia Haskell were on hand to accept the award that show a distinctive partnership between two usually opposing road user groups.

“The award is sound recognition of our strategy that safety comes first by being involved and committed to reducing risk to our drivers and other road users.

“The workshops have been run as an innovative, hands-on part of our training. Showing respect for each other on the road and humanising both drivers and cyclists has been the key,” says Ms Haskell.

NZ Bus is the leader among transport companies committed to making our shared road spaces safe and inviting for all road users.

Since 2011, nearly 300 NZ Bus employees (drivers and management) have taken part in workshops in Wellington and Auckland. By reducing hostility urban streets have become more enjoyable to ride.

NZ Bus has also supported drivers who have participated in the workshops and then shown interest in cycling to work.

To find out how to participate as a cyclist please visit the CAN website.

ENDS

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