Tour De Hoods: Final mass bike ride planned for Sunday in East Auckland
The organiser of the final mass bike ride in Auckland is expecting it to be the biggest yet after more than 200 showed up to last Sunday’s event.
Bikelife advocate and YouTuber, Kimami Ngaluafe, told the Herald he aimed to make the last of the Auckland Tour De Hoods rides the largest.
Ngaluafe expects anywhere between 250 and 500 riders to take to the East Auckland streets for this Sunday’s ride, which starts in Glen Innes at 10.30am.
“[It’s] definitely going to be our biggest ride out.”
The consecutive weekly bicycle rides occurred across different sections of the city, South, West and Central.
Police said around 250 riders took part in last Sunday’s central event, which began in Onehunga.
The behaviour was “generally okay”, but seven tickets were issued for not wearing helmets and the manner of riding. No arrests were made.
On May 10, a ride across West Auckland led to police making four arrests, issuing 53 infringments and impounding a bike.
Police said some of the around 120 riders “showed a complete disregard for others on the road”.
Ngaluafe said the improved behaviour at last Sunday’s event was the result of a lot of work talking to the group and changing their mindset.
He said it was “definitely a good outcome”.
Police confirmed to the Herald that officers would be in attendance at this weekend’s East Auckland ride.
“It will be staffed accordingly to ensure safety to all.”
Ngaluafe said they plan to ride from the Auckland Transport (AT) Bike Hub in Glen Innes and finish at Queens Wharf in the central city.
“We have a location there set up for BBQ, live DJ, live performances, graffiti, pretty much like a fun day out for the family.”
Overall, the Auckland rides, which attracted hundreds, The rides had been a success, Ngaluafe said.
“The main goal with going to these different neighbourhoods was to bring these neighbourhoods together and these communities together just through riding bikes.
“So I’m pretty happy with what we have achieved so far.”
Inspector Wayne Kitcher said last week that some individual behaviour was the problem at the rides.
“We don’t consider them to be a gang ... The rides themselves are not illegal. What’s illegal are the activities of some of the individuals who take part in the rides,” Kitcher said.
A ride across New Zealand, beginning in Northland, is in the works. Ngaluafe said more information would become available at a later date.