Tanto de la GRAE-1870 como del documento firmado por la Comisión de Gramática

A selection of case studies from within New Zealand and from overseas were chosen to explore the keys to success and lessons learned.

Examining these destinations will assist New Zealand regions in designing, building and ultimately marketing their cycleway experiences. The table below summarises the key themes from the case studies.

Summary of Cycling Case Studies and Lessons Learned

Table 9: Cycling Case Studies

Otago Central Rail Trail Rotorua Hutt River Trail Murray to Mountains, NSW Munda Biddi, WA Whistler, Canada 7stanes, Scotland

Case

Studies

Cycling visits >40,000 >120,000 >160,000 22,000 17,000 >300,000 >276,000 Partnerships 33 33 33 33 333 333 333 New business 333 333 3 33 33 333 333 Use of existing infrastructure 33 333 33 333 3 33 33 Total experience 333 333 3 333 33 333 333 Economic impact 33 333 3 33 33 333 333 Broader market appeal 333 33 33 33 3 333 33

3 Somewhat applicable 33 Applicable 333 Very applicable Lessons Learned

The New Zealand and international case studies highlight a number of key themes to consider as New Zealand develops cycleway initiatives around the country.

The whole experience is important

The whole experience is greater than the sum of its parts. Although there are some market segments, such as mountain bikers, for whom the trail has a greater emphasis, for the broader market where cycling is not the primary motivator it is the other activities, services and components that make the experience more appealing.

For a large portion of the market the social and cultural aspect of a cycling holiday is important. Itineraries that allow for frequent stops to enjoy a coffee and explore local heritage and cultural attractions and overnight in comfortable lodgings are ideal.

A local champion to drive initiatives

The majority of trails projects succeed on the back of one or two dedicated individuals, who often volunteer huge amounts of time. Often these trail initiatives would not succeed without the passion and commitment of these individuals who keep others engaged and on track.

Integration with existing infrastructure and services

While it is possible to build the infrastructure and amenities needed to develop a cycle tourism experience, the costs can be prohibitive. Furthermore, more immediate economic returns and a higher quality product can often be achieved through using existing tourism businesses and supporting infrastructure.

When projects like road deviations, bridge construction and real estate development occur, it is desirable to address cycling needs via the Resource Management Act (RMA) to create successful, integrated cycle initiatives.

Tweaking existing products and services (e.g. secure bike storage at accommodations) to cater to a cycling market can also greatly enhance the experience, particularly for the markets where cycling is the primary motivator.

Incorporating complementary products and services will also enhance the overall experience, broaden the market and lead to a greater range of economic benefits.

Land ownership issues – the need for a shared vision

Getting land owners involved in the process early on is important for establishing a sound working relationship and ensuring there is legal clarity over public use of the cycleway.

It is essential that prior to any cycle trail developments, land owners provide legal consent to the use of their land, be it private or public land.

Private walking tracks have also been successful in New Zealand and this model could also be applied to cycling.

Financial sustainability

Successful projects need financial strategies in place to support the costs of maintenance, upgrades, infrastructure such as signage, water provision etc. There are many different models for this e.g. user-pays, trust-based models, sponsorship, local government funding etc.

Creating new business opportunities

The opportunity to stimulate new business through cycle tourism can be a key motivation for private and public sector collaboration on cycling initiatives. Government often provides the funding to develop the trail, while private enterprise provides the services to enhance the experience and also contributes to the trail maintenance and ongoing management.

Appealing to the broader market

Creating a product that appeals to a broad range of users, particularly those at the entry level, is important. The case studies suggest that initially some destinations focused solely on building trails and did not consider the potential markets and end users they hoped to attract.

In some cases this has resulted in trail networks that are often a reflection of the trail builder’s preferences and cater to a more experienced rider and smaller market segment.

Much of the new trail development in mountain bike parks and trail networks now considers the needs of entry level riders from the outset and this will help to broaden the appeal of the product and attract more cyclists.

High demand for off-road easy trails

The success of off-road cycle trails depends mainly on their ability to offer users a safe, traffic-free environment in which to enjoy cycling. The easier the trail, the broader the appeal to cyclists, in particular the larger beginner and family markets.

Events can be an important driver

Events can be a key driver for both cycle tourism and recreational cycling. Many locations have established highly successful events that play a key role in attracting cyclists to the local trails.

Smaller market for adventurous rides

Although a smaller market, it is important to acknowledge the demand for inspirational and challenging adventure experiences such as the Heaphy Track and Bridge to Nowhere.

The US Adventure Cycling Association has over 44,500 members that seek new cycling adventures both on and off-road (www.adventurecycling.org).

In document Las "Gramáticas" de la Real Academia Española: teoría gramatical, sintaxis y subordinación (1854-1924) (página 146-154)