Walk2Work morning event - gathering in the Dunedin Octagon for those who walked to work. A special train brought walkers in from the East Coast. Breakfast vouchers for those who registered for local cafes. A series of guided lunchtime walks throughout W2W week were held and revamped walking maps to include range of energy consumption per 5 mins of walkin were launched.
See press release below:
Back on your feet for Walk2Work
FREE breakfast and entertainment will be a strong drawcard on Walk2Work day in Dunedin.
Next Wednesday is Walk-2Work day — a national event that is part of a campaign to encourage people to walk more in their daily lives.
In Dunedin, the day features a fun, public event before work in the Octagon for people who have walked all or part of the way to work.
From 7am to 9am, the Octagon will be buzzing with entertainment, guest speakers, information stalls and free breakfast treats for those who have made the effort to find some means other than their cars to get to work.
The day is organised by Living Streets Aotearoa and, in Dunedin, is run in conjunction with the Dunedin City Council, NZ Transport Agenncy, Public Health South and Sport Otago.
‘‘We want to develop a walking-friendly city and to promote the social, environmental, health and economic benefits of walking as a means of transport and recreation,’’ Dunedin Walk-2Work organiser Charlotte Flaherty said.
Dovetailing with Walk-2Work day is Get the Train group’s annual Waitati to Dunedin return commuter train. The train will leave Waitati at 7.40am and pick up passengers at Michies Crossing (7.45am), Osborne (7.55am), Purakaunui (8am), Mihiwaka (8.05am), Port Chalmers Upper (8.10am), Sawyers Bay (8.15am) and Maia (8.25am) before arriving in Dunedin at 8.40am.
The return leg leaves Dunedin at 5.30pm and arrives at Waitati at 6.30pm.
Tickets cost $5 each way. Bookings are not required and a bike compartment is available. Last year, about 170 people caught the train to town.
Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin will greet train commuters at the city station and will also lead lunchtime walks on Wednesday and Thursday. The 30-minute walks are free and open to the public. Meet at the bottom of the Municipal Chambers steps in the Octagon at noon. On Wednesday evening, there will be a one or two-hour-long walk, starting from the DCC Filleul St car park at 6pm, exploring routes from Anthony Hamel’s book Dunedin Tracks and Trails.