Spokes Canterbury
  • ABOUT
    • OUR MISSION
    • OUR BACKGROUND
    • OUR TEAM
    • IN THE MEDIA
  • GET INVOLVED
  • SUBMISSIONS
  • BLOG
  • RESOURCES
    • GETTING ON A BIKE
    • MAPS AND RIDES
    • BIKE SHOPS
    • REPORT AN ISSUE
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • ABOUT
    • OUR MISSION
    • OUR BACKGROUND
    • OUR TEAM
    • IN THE MEDIA
  • GET INVOLVED
  • SUBMISSIONS
  • BLOG
  • RESOURCES
    • GETTING ON A BIKE
    • MAPS AND RIDES
    • BIKE SHOPS
    • REPORT AN ISSUE
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
5 August 2017  |  By admin@spokes In Media Items

Moving on from the almighty car: A change up for Christchurch’s transport mix

STACY SQUIRES/STUFF
STACY SQUIRES/STUFF

The Press, Christchurch, 5 Aug 2017

In car-centric Christchurch, it still feels a brave call. Charlotte Bebbington and Ken Ching have opened a shop in the central city selling chic urban commuter bikes.

Bebbington is a young graphic designer returned after eight years in Shanghai. Ching is a Singaporean whose family developed the eZee Kinetic electric-bike range.

And their store – Action Bicycle Club – is certainly something different.

The usual Christchurch cycle shop is a shrine to sweat and testosterone. All fluro go-faster gear and grunty mountain bikes or spindly road racers.

Action Bicycles sells step-throughs with full fenders, chain guards, bike stands and sturdy carrier racks.

Bebbington says not only are these traditional push-bikes practical, they are meant to spell out that life is not a perpetual race with cars. It is OK to pedal the roads at a gentle pace in the clothes you want to be wearing wherever it is you are going, a real psychological shift for Christchurch cycling.

Bebbington shows off the fashion-forward range of helmets for women. You can have a lid in fake crocodile skin or faux leopard pelt. There are special handbags with hidden clips that click on the back rack.

For rain, you want these simple ponchos, she says. Again wrong for speed, but right for urban cycling.

“The customers are young professional women in their 30s. They’ve seen the fashion ads of a girl on a step-through with a wicker basket, riding down to her local cafe,” Bebbington says.

Ching shows off the more functional looking e-bike range. Battery assisted, this is another way of getting around in ordinary work clothes without a sense of battle and sweat.

Read the full article

Previous StoryCathedral Square draft sub
Next StoryHospital Corner HELP KEEP IT OPEN

Related Articles

  • Almost everyone surveyed says they think the separated cycleways have improved their safety and comfort.  (Joseph Johnson / Stuff)
    Christchurch City Council survey suggests commuter behaviour changing because of cycleways
  • A cyclist was spat at after being nearly run off the road in central Christchurch last week. (Kirk Hargreaves)
    Driver spat in cyclist's face during central Christchurch road rage tirade

Leave your comment Cancel Reply

(will not be shared)

Latest Posts

  • test3 – Chris Abbott Monday, 15, Feb
  • Test message Monday, 15, Feb
  • Wheels to Wings – Papanui ki Waiwhetū Major Cycleway Sunday, 14, Feb
  • Bicycle_Accident
    CCC Colombo to Papanui Thursday, 22, Oct
  • Image via Christchurch City Council
    Annual General Meeting 2020 Friday, 15, May

Recent Comments

    Categories

    Tags

    Accessible City Adventure Park Advocacy Burwood business CBD CCC CDHB central government CERA cnc Council cycle design guidelines democracy ECan Ilam infrastructure intersections major cycle routes MCR neighbourhoods New Brighton Northern Corridor NZTA on street parking Otakaro parking Parks plans policy PT public transport Quiet Streets recreation regional safety schools colleges speed speed limits Submissions surburban tram university urban planning water

    Archives

    • February 2021
    • October 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • November 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • December 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • May 2017
    • March 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016

    About

    Spokes is a non-profit organisation run by volunteers that create ways for the people of Canterbury get more out of their bike rides.
     

    Follow Spokes on Facebook:

    WHO WE ARE

    • OUR TEAM
    • MEDIA
    • CONTACT
    • SUBMISSIONS

    SPOKES NEWSLETTER

    WHAT WE DO

    • OUR MISSION
    • GET INVOLVED
    • EVENTS
    • GALLERY

    ABOUT US

    A member organisation of CAN (Cycle Action Network) NZ. We're a non-profit, all-volunteer organisation dedicated to making cycling work for the Christchurch community.

    FOLLOW SPOKES

    OUR SPONSORS