TRANSPORT
J U N E 2022 F Y I
Beat the bike thieves: love it, lock it, log it BETWEEN 500 AND 1,000 bikes are reported stolen in Auckland every year. However, according to Bike Auckland, the actual number of thefts could be as high as 5,000. The organisation’s website says: “This is because many people do not report it when their bike is stolen, and sometimes bike theft is listed more generally as ‘theft’ or ‘burglary’ in the police database.” It continues: “With such a high incidence [of] bike theft, insurers are reconsidering their coverage of bikes.” 529 Garage is a free bike registration system that helps to get bikes that are stolen back to their owners. Widespread 529 Garage use has the power to make bike theft inconvenient and unprofitable, dampening the stolen bike market. In Vancouver, where it originated, 529 Garage has been very successful, with a 20 per cent year on year decrease in bike theft once it was launched. Once registered, if your bike is stolen, you can use 529 Garage to alert the police and nearby community. People can contact you anonymously through the app if they see your bike, or you can choose to release your contact information publicly for updates. For more information about how to get involved with 529 Garage, tips about bike locks, and ideas for employers who want to support their cycling employees, go to bikeauckland.org.nz/beat-the-bike-thieveslove-it-lock-it-log-it
Half-price public transport until 31 August IN JUNE, TWO long weekends for Queen’s Birthday and Matariki could be the perfect time to get out and about, taking advantage of reduced fares on public transport. Around Auckland, this means 50 per cent off bus, train, and ferry services. Even better, there’s an extra 10 per cent off during off-peak times, which include all weekends and public holidays! All you need is your AT HOP card. To find out more and plan your journey, visit at.govt.nz/bus-train-ferry/ fares-discounts/halfprice-discount-on-publictransport-fares
Clean Car rebate scheme ‘exceeds expectations’ in first nine months “THE CLEAN CAR discount scheme is off to an electric start, helping to get more Kiwis behind the wheel of cheaper electric vehicles,” said Transport Minister Michael Wood in April, adding that the scheme had “exceeded expectations”, having already reached 12,000 approved rebates. The Clean Car rebate provides a maximum of $8,625 for low and zero-emission new and used imports. 20
The Ministry of Transport’s tracker reports that there are now 38,000 EVs in the country’s fleet, having grown by nearly half in just eight months. “[This] milestone means that electric and hybrid vehicles now make up around 1 per cent of Aotearoa’s light-vehicle fleet. This is a promising start, but we need to keep building on this momentum. As demand for electric and hybrid vehi-
cles grows worldwide, Aotearoa needs to be an active participant in this market, and avoid being in a position where we are the dumping ground for high-emitting vehicles from other countries moving ahead in the decarbonisation of their fleet,” said Minister Wood. As of 1 April, clean car rebates have applied to a wider range of used and new fuel-efficient, hybrid, and electric vehicles.
