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Story: Bicycles

Christchurch, the cycling city

Christchurch, the cycling city

Commuters pedal down Manchester Street on their way to work in 1954. In the early 20th century Christchurch, with its wide flat streets, was nicknamed ‘Cyclopolis’ because so many people in the city rode bikes.

Using this item

Canterbury Museum

Reference: 2755 1/4

by F. E. McGregor

Permission of Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Jamie Mackay, Bicycles – Types of bicycles, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/23420/christchurch-the-cycling-city (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jamie Mackay, published 6 April 2010.

Comments

Farleigh Quinlivan
27 October 2015
What a wonderful photo! The gentleman on the bicycle on the far left is my grandfather Sylvester Francis Muschamp.
Spinning Fanatic
19 April 2012
It's amazing how far bikes have come! I don't fancy those penny farthings as being much good offroad! The Charlie the chimp film wouldn't be too politically correct these days!