PEDDLING CYCLES IN A PANDEMIC

It’s becoming obvious coronavirus is going to hang around for a while. Covid-19 has significant health implications for society, but arguably the more insidious effects aren’t directly health-related. Pausing nearly 40% of New Zealand’s economic activity (according to a Reserve Bank of New Zealand report) to stop the spread of the virus threw many stable businesses into turmoil, and continues to have widespread and indiscriminate effects. The tourism, retail, accommodation and hospitality sectors were disproportionately affected by the lockdown, with estimated economic activity levels just 19%-39% of that pre-coronavirus.

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