Part of the reason we decided to move halfway across the world was to shake up our lives a bit. So, we decided that part of our new Kiwi lifestyle would involve forgoing purchase of a car and instead getting around on bikes.
Christchurch is reasonably flat and they recently created a fairly extensive network of bike lanes and paths throughout the central city so it’s actually fairly easy to get around on bikes.
Why we decided to cycle
We decided to make the switch to cycling for 3 main reasons (in addition to just wanting to shake up how we live our lives):
1. Cycling is a lot cheaper than driving. Aside from being a less expensive vehicle and not requiring payments for a license and insurance, bikes don’t require gas, and petrol (gas) in New Zealand is really expensive – over $2 NZD/litre (more than $9 NZD/gallon)!
2. Cycling forces us to be more active. We’re not exactly the types to hit the gym regularly so having to bike everywhere forces us to get some exercise and live a healthier lifestyle.
3. Cycling is so much better for the environment. Regular bikes are completely clean to run and have a tiny carbon footprint that is essentially limited to the manufacture of the bike. The electric bike requires electricity to charge it of course, but you can bike for around 60 km on one charge so the environmental impact is still negligible compared to a car.
Electric bikes
Electric bikes are fantastic if you’re planning to replace driving a car with cycling since they allow you to travel much farther distances and much faster. Biking is obviously easiest if the city you live in is flat, but even if you live somewhere with a fair number of hills, an electric bike may be a good option since it gives you that extra boost when you need it.
Electric bikes are a lot heavier than regular bikes, which can take some getting used to. Our is a cargo bike, which means it’s a bit longer to allow for pannier bags on either side as well as space for items at the back. There’s also room for a kid seat for Phoenix – we got him one with a safety belt but there are basic seats without belts for older kids or even a second adult too.
You’d be surprised just how much stuff you can fit on a bike between the front basket, panniers, and the flat area at the back. Just carry some rope and/or bungee cords with you and you’ll be good to go! Even with just my basic bike, I can easily fit a few days’ worth of groceries in my basket and a backpack. We just shop a bit more frequently!
What if it rains?
I’m not going to lie, cycling in the rain is not fun. But it’s also doable, you just have to be prepared. Ponchos or a waterproof jacket is essential, and waterproof pants are a huge help too. You can buy covers for your backpack but I usually just put my poncho on to cover both me and my backpack. It’s really the wind that is worse than the rain!
What if you really need a car?
If we want to go camping or need to get somewhere too far to bike, we just take an Uber or a taxi or rent a car, depending on where we need to go. Some cities even have car share programs that would work well for anyone who just needs a car now and then.
So what’s the final verdict?
We’ve now been exclusively biking through both a summer and a winter and we honestly love it! It feels really good to use your own body to get you places, and the confidence we’ve gained has given us so much more independence and inspiration to explore. I highly recommend ditching your car if you can and giving cycling a try!
How do you get around your city?
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