Unconventional Movement

New Zealander Grant Harrison, 44, Hutt Valley High School old boy and owner of American health benefits company Humana, one of the largest in the United States, is the man behind bike-share programme Freewheelin which has seen Democrat and Republican delegates getting about Denver and Minneapolis on bicycles during the latest conventions. The New York Times lists Freewheelin as one of the ten things to do in Denver on a 36-hour visit. “You’ll be hearing a lot about this convention’s efforts to be environmentally sustainable, so do your part to offset all that hot air and borrow one,” the Times recommends. Harrison was in Denver for the August convention where he heard former president Bill Clinton, vice-presidential nominee Joseph Biden and Obama speak. “It’s pretty exciting,” he said. “It’s about changing things for the future and really impacting how people live their lives. It really is a social movement.” Freewheelin is currently in discussions to expand the program to other cities, and plans to leave behind about 70 bicycles in both Denver and Minneapolis-St Paul for public use after the conventions.