Among many celebrating the 10th birthday of Hawke’s Bay’s quintessential bike trails last week was Vicki Butterworth, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Cycle Network Coordinator.
Vicki is a powerhouse behind the HB Trails. She was working for Cycling NZ as a regional development officer when the trails’ job came up and she has been with it ever since. She is the first point of contact when something goes wrong; liaises with the Napier and Hastings Councils and Ministry of Tourism, who all fund the trails, and she is involved in planning for the future.
A long time cyclist herself and once a NZ rep in the world single-speed champs in Durango, Colorado, Vicki e-bikes from her Napier Hill home to work, and is passionate about the benefits to health and well-being of cycling.
“You smell things, feel things, you’re just way more connected.
“One of the most beautiful rides on a sunrise, is along Marine Parade. You can hear the ocean crashing and smell the water – you don’t get that in a car.”
Hawke’s Bay Trails opened as one of 23 iconic ‘Great Rides’ in New Zealand in 2012. Today the network of 200 kilometres of mostly off-road scenic trails is the most popular as it winds through the region, passes through vineyards, and beside winding rivers, orchards, mountains and the Pacific coastline.
To mark the 10-year milestone, trail partners, and council staff jumped on their bikes last week to ride the Puketapu Loop, as it was done to open the trails in 2012.
In a speech Regional Council Chair Hinewai Ormsby acknowledged former Mayor Barbara Arnott’s work in the trail’s initial development. “We are really grateful to Barbara for her warriorship as she was instrumental in the early days.”
The majority of the trails are being used by locals, followed by visitors to the region, according to research from New Zealand Cycle Trail and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. People enjoy cycling the trails as well as soaking up the hospitality on offer, stopping at the range of cafes, country pubs and wineries.
Before the trails opened, there were no dedicated cycle tour or bike hire operators in Hawke’s Bay. Now, there are 12 bike hire and tour companies employing local people across the region, says Vicki Butterworth.
“The trails contribute economically to our region, and they’re also leading the way in sustainable tourism.
“Where trails have been developed, we’ve seen wetlands restored, which sequester carbon, and attract wetland and coastal birdlife and enhance the biodiversity of the area.”
Hawke’s Bay Trails is a local collaboration led by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. Working with key stakeholders including Rotary Pathway Trust, Hastings District Council, Napier City Council, Hawke’s Bay Tourism, NZ Transport Agency and many other landowners including Department of Conservation, Hawke’s Bay Airport, Landcorp Pamu Farm and others, to create Hawke’s Bay Trails ‘Water’, ‘Winery’ and ‘Landscape’ rides.
Don’t miss BayBuzz’s feature on all aspects of biking in Hawke’s Bay, glorious and inglorious, coming out in our January/February magazine.
Go Vicki! Such a pleasure to work with on the trails. Might look like a fun & glamorous job on the outside but on the inside it’s tough and we’re very fortunate to have her. The work is full of challenges, dealing with a constrained budget, the impact of various weather events on the trails and the challenges of working with funders & a large number of landowners to further build the trail network. And managing those pesky magpies!