Pedalling over the harbour bridge dressed in a frock is what Cara Phillips thinks can be part of our everyday life.

She leads the Frocks on Bikes Tauranga initiative which was set up to help get people up on bikes. No fuss, no stress, no need for lycra, just freedom, convenience and fun – in your own style.

Frocks on Bikes Tauranga organises rides, workshops and other cycle related events to get more women out on their bikes and enjoying cycling. On Thursday evening, the group organised a ride from the Hairy Maclary statues to Pilot Bay for a ‘ship-nic' watching as the two cruise ships Pacific Princess and Emerald Princess left port.

Cara's bike is a green aqua Hybrid cruiser that she rides to work from Bayfair over the Matapihi Railway Bridge into the Tauranga CBD.

'I carry myself to work,” says Cara. 'Overseas, in Europe, it's just a part of everyday life, you ride in your normal clothes. You don't have to get into lycra or hi-viz. You just jump on your bike to get around.”

'Mine is Mum's bike that I borrowed about two or three years ago,” says Lillybeth Melmoth, dressed in polka dots.

Lillybeth, who lives in Matapihi, also makes use of the Railway Bridge.

The biggest ride Frocks on Bikes have had so far was 22 people last year on a ride from The Strand to Papamoa. On March 18, leaving from OBR in Ocean Beach Road, they plan a ride along the Papamoa waterways to go check out the newly refurbished Papamoa Tavern.

Frock on bikes can be contacted through their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/frocksonbikestauranga