CENTENNIAL BIKE HIKE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 21, 17 November 1939, Page 48

CENTENNIAL BIKE HIKE

Christchurch Takes To Wheels

N its charity efforts at Christchurch, the Commercial Broadcasting Service has lately been establishing a series of records. The last concert run by 3ZB netted a profit of £80 for the Plunket Society and set a record for a Sunday evening entertainment. However, this is completely eclipsed by the Centennial Bike Hike which enabled the Organising Committee to hand over £364/8/10 to the St. John Ambulance Brigade for the purchase of very necessary uniforms and equipment. The whole of Christchurch was awheel on October 29, and at least 12,000 were present at the New Brighton Racecourse, which was the destination to which the picnickers were taken. The law of New Zealand requires that cyclists shall ride not more than two abreast, and the traffic control of these cyclists was an astounding piece of efficient organisation. They maintained order throughout the 13 miles of their journey and no serious accident occurred. Line 13 Miles Long Of course the line of cyclists extended more than the distance of the routein actual fact the last cyclist did not leave the point of assembly — Carlton

Terrace-until three-quarters of an hour after the leader, " Jacko" of 3ZB, had entered the grounds 13 miles away. 3ZB was there in full force — the Station Director, Harry Bell, being chairman of the Bike Hike Committee, and " Jacko" and " Chiv." were among the 20 members of the executive. which also comprised Mr. Bennett, Manager of Hope Gibbons, Ltd., as Chief Marshal; J. K. Maloney, president of the Canterbury Rugby Union; Mr. King, president of the Cricket Association; and representatives of the cycle dealers and other sports organisations, Hot and Thirsty The formal presentation of the proceeds was made at the final Community Sing on Wednesday night, and some rather interesting statistics were revealed by the Apex Ice Cream Company which handed over its profit of £59 on the day. Actually 6,880 ice creams were sold at the rate of 47 to the minute during the whole of the time the stall was open, This meant that one out of every two people present consumed an ice cream. In addition, cycling was proven to be thirsty work, because 5,000 bottles of cordial were purchased on the ground. The Bike Hike Committee provided free sweets for the children, and this did not stop 1,850 people from purchasing choco- —

late tablets. Keeping these details in mind, it could be suggested that on the occasion of the next bicycle picnic in Christchurch the standard ration should be one ice cream, one cake of chocolate, and one bottle of drink-soft drink of course. It is stated by some New Zealand traffic experts that on no other occasion has there ever been such an accumulation is

of cyclists anywhere in the world. Christchurch, and particularly 3ZB, have reason to be proud of this. It is understood that a suggestion has already been made for a repetition of this outing in February next, with the definite idea of purchasing an ambulance for the St. John Ambulance Association. From past indications success is assured.