Kiwi kids on bikes

A DigitalNZ Story by Jolisa Gracewood

A chronological collection of kids, their bikes, school bike sheds, and youngsters biking around and doing bikey stuff in Aotearoa New Zealand

children, bicycles, cycling, fun

Image: Jack Scott, George Chapman and Bob Scott on tricycles

1894: "Bro, you know I can't ride your ghost trike"

Jack Scott, George Chapman and Bob Scott on tricycles

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago

Image: Randal Woodhouse with a bicycle

1890s: young Randal looking natty on a bike

Randal Woodhouse with a bicycle

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago

Image: Kohu sitting on a bicycle

Circa 1900: could Kohu be any cooler?

Kohu sitting on a bicycle

Wairarapa Archive

Image: Kapua School students with bicycles and horses

Early 1900s(?): When kids rode horses AND iron horses to school

Kapua School students with bicycles and horses

Waimate Museum and Archives

Image: Maori girl and boy alongside a whariki, peddle-cart and tricycle

1910: what'll it be, four wheels or three?

Maori girl and boy alongside a whariki, peddle-cart and tricycle

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Man and woman with three children holding onto bicycles

1916: just a regular Wellington family and their bikes

Man and woman with three children holding onto bicycles

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Cuthbert and Rex Wilkins

1925: an early kid-cargo-trike combo

Cuthbert and Rex Wilkins

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Connie Macefield on a bicycle

1935: rad little miss on a rad little mixte – check out that rear carrier

Connie Macefield on a bicycle

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Bicycle

1930s bike, now a museum piece

Bicycle

Puke Ariki

Image: Alister McLellan, Edgar Williams and Alan Broad, with bicycles

1936: future scientist and friends on bikes

Alister McLellan, Edgar Williams and Alan Broad, with bicycles

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Advertisement, 'Put This Twinkle Of Health In Every Child's Eyes'

1938: "Put this twinkle of health in every child's eyes"

Advertisement, 'Put This Twinkle Of Health In Every Child's Eyes'

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Bicycles en masse at Hamilton Safety Week demonstration

1938: kids ride on bicycles en masse through Hamilton, demonstrating safety in numbers?

Bicycles en masse at Hamilton Safety Week demonstration

Auckland Libraries

Image: Cycling to music

1939: the exceedingly cool Ron Slater from Dunedin High School "who built a radio-receiving set for his bicycle"

Cycling to music

Auckland Libraries

Image: Young Alan on a bicycle

1939: a future scientist, Alan MacDiarmid, on a bike

Young Alan on a bicycle

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Safe Cycling (1947)

1947: "This is what happens if you don't obey the rules of the road." (Content warning for victim-blaming!)

Safe Cycling (1947)

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: Students with bicycles at Waikakahi Golden Jubilee Celebrations.

1949: bling your ride for the town's golden jubilee

Students with bicycles at Waikakahi Golden Jubilee Celebrations.

Waimate Museum and Archives

Image: Schofield, gp 3

1940s (?): cool dad, or coolest dad?

Schofield, gp 3

Nelson Provincial Museum

Image: Primary school children (unidentified) learning traffic safety

1940s(?): children learning about traffic safety on the netball court

Primary school children (unidentified) learning traffic safety

Kete Horowhenua

Image: Cycle safety film

1952: a film warning children about the risks of monkeying about on bikes

Cycle safety film

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Pupils of Palmerston North Intermediate Normal with their bicycles

1953: Grinning gals and their bike baskets

Pupils of Palmerston North Intermediate Normal with their bicycles

Palmerston North City Library

Image: Norma, Glenys and Helen off to Linwood High School, February, 1954

1954: "The three thirteen-year-old girls remained friends until old age"

Norma, Glenys and Helen off to Linwood High School, February, 1954

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Photograph: Masterton Central School playground

1955: spot the bike shed (and dental clinic) in this classic school layout.

Photograph: Masterton Central School playground

Wairarapa Archive

Image: Boys and Bikes

1956: hundreds of schoolboys on bikes descend on a Disney movie

Boys and Bikes

Gisborne Photo News

Image: Child in costume in Carterton Centennial Parade : Photograph

1957: "bring me my chariot of fire..."

Child in costume in Carterton Centennial Parade : Photograph

Wairarapa Archive

Image: Traffic training, Karori School

1957: kids learning to ride (and drive)

Traffic training, Karori School

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: "Hurray! School is Finished" Students Leaving Intermediate Normal School on Their Bikes

1958: a timeless scene, a timeless sentiment

"Hurray! School is Finished" Students Leaving Intermediate Normal School on Their Bikes

Palmerston North City Library

Image: "Hungry Pupils Race Home For Lunch"

1959: bikes make it easy to dash home and back again for lunch

"Hungry Pupils Race Home For Lunch"

Palmerston North City Library

Image: "What Children Do in the Holidays" Visiting a Local Theatre

1960: in the school holidays, "many children have to find their own entertainment"

"What Children Do in the Holidays" Visiting a Local Theatre

Palmerston North City Library

Image: A cycling adventure, around 1960

1960: free-range kids bike to the beach

A cycling adventure, around 1960

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: "Bikes by the Yard" Outside Boys' High School

1960: quite the line-up of bikes for an after-school event at Freyberg High School

"Bikes by the Yard" Outside Boys' High School

Palmerston North City Library

Image: Decorated Bikes

1960s: decorate your bikes for a school bike parade

Decorated Bikes

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Reckitt & Colman (N.Z.) Ltd: Reckitt & Colman (N.Z.) Ltd present "Highway to health" safety game; reminds you to play safely, walk safely, cycle safely [ca 1960?]

1960s: the "Highway to Health" safety game, in which "observable dangers include ... cycling past parked cars."

Reckitt & Colman (N.Z.) Ltd: Reckitt & Colman (N.Z.) Ltd present "Highway to health" safety game; reminds you to play safely, walk safely, cycle sa...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Young man and child on a bicycle

1960s: a classic "dub", riding on the crossbar

Young man and child on a bicycle

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Children playing with bicycle, possibly at Huntly

1961: a lovely shot by Ans Westra

Children playing with bicycle, possibly at Huntly

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: School children on bikes

1962: somewhere in the Bay of Plenty

School children on bikes

Tauranga City Libraries

Image: "Rongotea Children Learn Road Safety"

1963: "Not for one moment did the children's interest flag as they completed the various safety drills."

"Rongotea Children Learn Road Safety"

Palmerston North City Library

Image: Children At Hokowhitu Kindergarten

1963: sturdy lads on their sturdy trikes

Children At Hokowhitu Kindergarten

Palmerston North City Library

Image: Prize bicycle, Ōtāhuhu, 1963

1963: Gal wins Roadster bicycle in a six day cycle race! Love to know more

Prize bicycle, Ōtāhuhu, 1963

Auckland Libraries

Image: Lions help check school bicycles at Te Puke

1966: Lions helpfully checking bikes (NB not real lions)

Lions help check school bicycles at Te Puke

Tauranga City Libraries

Image: Lions help check school bicycles at Te Puke

1966: see, not real lions

Lions help check school bicycles at Te Puke

Tauranga City Libraries

Image: Glen and John Slaughter on bicycles

1966: a classic backyard scene - check out the trunk on that tricycle

Glen and John Slaughter on bicycles

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: School children crossing Riccarton Road

1968: school kids making a run for it, in what passed for "busy traffic"

School children crossing Riccarton Road

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Burnside High School pupils in Colombo Street, at Gloucester Street corner, Christchurch

1969: Chch kids on bikes take the lanes, as is right and proper

Burnside High School pupils in Colombo Street, at Gloucester Street corner, Christchurch

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: Bicycles at school

1970s pic showing the normal number of bikes at any old school in Aotearoa

Bicycles at school

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Upper Hutt College Bicycle Racks

It's 1970, and this high school in the Hutt Valley is busy with bikes.

Upper Hutt College Bicycle Racks

Upper Hutt City Library

Image: Stolen wheel, Papatoetoe, 1971

1971: help solve the crime of the century

Stolen wheel, Papatoetoe, 1971

Auckland Libraries

Image: Three children at a family party (?) in the driveway with new (?) bicycles.

1972: shiny faces and shiny new bikes (are they triplets?)

Three children at a family party (?) in the driveway with new (?) bicycles.

Tauranga City Libraries

Image: Gleniti Playcentre Trike Trek

1972: a teeny tiny trike trek!

Gleniti Playcentre Trike Trek

South Canterbury Museum

Image: Boys on bikes, Māngere, 1972

1972: a slow bicycle race

Boys on bikes, Māngere, 1972

Auckland Libraries

Image: Cycling to school

1970s (?): vintage vibes, spot the saddlebags

Cycling to school

Auckland Libraries

Image: Rutherford High School, Te Atatu Peninsula.

It's 1973, and this high school in West Auckland is busy with bikes.

Rutherford High School, Te Atatu Peninsula.

Auckland Libraries

Image: Michelle Baker with new bicycle

1973: the outfits are as excellent as the bike

Michelle Baker with new bicycle

Tauranga City Libraries

Image: Paul Gruppelaar fixing a bicycle

1973: you can do it, Paul!

Paul Gruppelaar fixing a bicycle

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Children in mystery bike hike

1973: Chch kids on a mystery bike hike (these mass rides were all the rage from at least the 1940s on)

Children in mystery bike hike

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Girls with bicycles

1973: honestly, bring back the mystery bike hikes, they look rad!

Girls with bicycles

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: School teachers cycling to QEII Park

1974: when teachers and bikes were groovy

School teachers cycling to QEII Park

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: School crossing, Cambridge Primary School, 8 October 1974

1974: in five decades, this spot in Cambridge will have beautiful dedicated cycleways. Go Waipa District Council!

School crossing, Cambridge Primary School, 8 October 1974

Cambridge Museum

Image: High school students on bicycles

1976: Chch school kids rolling out en masse, heck yeah!

High school students on bicycles

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: The new Christmas bike

1976: Love the new bike, Dad – but cripes, put a shirt on! (Before "slip, slop, slap" was a thing)

The new Christmas bike

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Double seated bike with trailer

1978: cool dad, or coolest dad?

Double seated bike with trailer

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Kids and choppers, Kaiaua, 1978

1978: cool kids, absolutely mint Choppers

Kids and choppers, Kaiaua, 1978

Auckland Libraries

Image: Girls with Sprint bicycle

1978: long hair, longer handlebars

Girls with Sprint bicycle

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: New Zealand Recreation: Traffic Safety School

Early 1980s: spot the ten-speed, a popular new choice

New Zealand Recreation: Traffic Safety School

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Bikes

1980: spot the classic Choppers, Healings, Raleigh 20s and Lo-lines

Bikes

NZEI Te Riu Roa (New Zealand Educational Institute)

Image: Children preparing to take part in "Bike for Fun."

1983: "Bike for Fun" is clearly a serious business

Children preparing to take part in "Bike for Fun."

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: BMX bikes and 10-speeds

1983: Wellington kids owning the road as is right and proper

BMX bikes and 10-speeds

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: The bike report, Pakuranga, 1984

1984: a bike safety film for schools, just before compulsory helmets entered the picture

The bike report, Pakuranga, 1984

Auckland Libraries

Image: Children playing in the floodwater on Breezes Road

1986: we won't melt: kids getting amphibious on bikes

Children playing in the floodwater on Breezes Road

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Children on bicycles, Northland, 1986

1986: pure freedom while Mum and Dad unpack the Valiant

Children on bicycles, Northland, 1986

Auckland Libraries

Image: Pupil at Burnside High School with bicycles

1986: a normal scene at any big school - Where's Wally, but with bikes

Pupil at Burnside High School with bicycles

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Ministry of Transport cycle competition winners and new bikes.

1989: when the Ministry of Transport ran cycle competitions

Ministry of Transport cycle competition winners and new bikes.

Upper Hutt City Library

Image: Children outside the Hendon Dairy, Mount Albert, 1989

1989: get your skates on, let's roll to the dairy

Children outside the Hendon Dairy, Mount Albert, 1989

Auckland Libraries

Image: Sign painting, Sandringham, 1989

1989: another classic "dub", riding on the front rack

Sign painting, Sandringham, 1989

Auckland Libraries

Image: Upper Hutt Primary School; bike skills week, 1999

1999: the nation has opted for polystyrene hats instead of kid-friendly streets and all ages bike networks

Upper Hutt Primary School; bike skills week, 1999

Upper Hutt City Library

Image: Upper Hutt Primary School; Bike Day, 2003

2003: breaking news, kids still love bikes

Upper Hutt Primary School; Bike Day, 2003

Upper Hutt City Library

Image: Upper Hutt Primary School; Bike Day, 2003

2003: yet another generation brushes up on bike skills

Upper Hutt Primary School; Bike Day, 2003

Upper Hutt City Library

Image: Henderson, Waitakere City, Auckland, New Zealand

2009: Auckland kids enjoying off-road bike paths

Henderson, Waitakere City, Auckland, New Zealand

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: BeckerFraserPhotos September 2011 photograph 112

2011: Chch kids being Chch kids (on bikes)

BeckerFraserPhotos September 2011 photograph 112

UC QuakeStudies

Image: Child rides bike around Aidanfield subdivision, Halswell

2015: why are we still building streets and cities as if kids aren't keen to bike anywhere and everywhere?

Child rides bike around Aidanfield subdivision, Halswell

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Child riding a bike on Wigram Road, Halswell

2015: "STOP or you will be squished" - a grim warning, from kids, to kids using the footpath for safer travels

Child riding a bike on Wigram Road, Halswell

Christchurch City Libraries

2019: all aboard the Pt Chev Bike Train

Auckland primary students board 'bike train'

Radio New Zealand

2019: read about the Pt Chev Bike Train

School bike train: 'It's good exercise and it's fun'

Radio New Zealand

Image: The Point Chevalier Bike Train

2019: see the Pt Chev Bike Train in action

The Point Chevalier Bike Train

Radio New Zealand

Image: Getting kids on their bikes and off to school

2023: the rise of school bike trains, featuring Pt Chev and Mt Roskill

Getting kids on their bikes and off to school

The Spinoff

Image: Tandem bicycle at Culture Galore

2023: a side-by-side bicycle built for two

Tandem bicycle at Culture Galore

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: Bikes by school wall

21st Century: kids will always want to bike to school (and everywhere they can), so let's make it easy and safe

Bikes by school wall

NZEI Te Riu Roa (New Zealand Educational Institute)