Welcome to Biketober!
Biketober (a fusion of bike + October), is a month-long celebration of cycling in Christchurch. We’re bringing together all things bike-related this spring, for anyone interested in cycling. You might be a commuter, cycling family, sports cyclist, or someone who’d just like to meet others who enjoy being out and about by bike.
Over 50 events and activities are planned, including social bike rides, go-by-bike breakfasts, a pedal-powered cinema, bike maintenance workshops, a cargo bike rally, and more. Many events are organised by the amazing volunteer groups we have in town. Some happen anyway, some of them are Biketober ‘specials’ and others are bigger events that we’re linking up with, like Avon Otakaro’s family event ‘Meet in the Middle’, BECA Heritage week and New Zealand’s first ever Bike Expo.
The NZ Bike Expo at the Air Force Museum at Wigram on 28-29 October is a consumer show with a community heart. It’s for everyone interested in bicycles, from sports cyclists to recreational riders, kids, commuters, cycle tourers, and those interested in e-bikes. If you’re looking to buy a new bicycle or bike-related gear, keen to try out e-bikes, planning an adventure or holiday on cycle trails or want to enter an event, the Expo will get you on your journey. See nzbikeexpo.nz.
During the month, make sure you also pick up your Biketober passport! The Biketober passport will take you to 16 bike-friendly venues throughout October along the new major cycleways. Hand your stamped passport in at the NZ Bike Expo, your final destination, where there’s a chance to win some fabulous prizes.
More details about Biketober, including a full programme of events, can be found at www.biketober.nz.... Or look us up on Facebook and Twitter at @biketoberchch.
Best way to use leftovers?
I'm sure you've got some excess ham at home or cold roast potatoes.
What are some of your favourite ways to use leftover food from Christmas day? Share below.
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️