Vote Cycling! 

Cyclists are a significant voter group. Every voting cyclist also votes for a cyclist too young to vote. And every vote for cycling is also a vote for a better life for all – for better transport, health and neighbourhoods. So when we ‘vote cycling’, everybody gains.  

Talk to your candidates!

Ask your candidates to take a pro-cycling stance. As for voters, every party and candidate that supports cycling is supporting a better life for all – for better transport, health and neighbourhoods. So when they support cycling, everyone gains. It’s a politically ‘safe’ policy platform. 

Why should candidates listen to us?

• We are a large voting group. Many will think “there’s not many cyclists” so a few facts will help (see below).
  
• Cycling benefits everyone. Cyclists and non-cyclists, voters and non-voters all gain from the improved roading and community services that result when cycling is supported. We support the same things as many others, such as healthier communities. We want things valued by the mainstream – we’re not at all eccentric or marginal.
  
• We are positive. We are presenting a case for change based on the benefits of cycling. Please avoid complaining (e.g. “we cyclists are really hard-done-by”), lecturing (e.g. “it’s about time your party got its act together”) or appearing extreme (e.g. “let’s give up our cars”).
  
• We are constructive. We want to win candidates over and support them with facts and information, not place their campaign at risk or alienate them.
  

 How to approach candidates

• Candidates like issues of widespread interest. Tell them cycling is popular and about 1/5 of voters are cyclists. Tell them cycling benefits everybody. Tell them cycling is thus a safe policy platform.
  
• Pick a single cycling-related issue relevant to the candidate or party in the area. Think of the event, the party’s stances, and the particular candidate’s interests and track record.
  
• Use questions to bring out a candidate’s position, and hopefully a commitment. Or maybe a change of stance, if one is needed.
  
• Refer to the facts of cycling (below) and CAN’s 9-point plan (below) where possible.
  
• Make sure you finish by asking them to give public support to cycling.
  

Some questions you could ask

• What proportion of the National Land Transport Fund should be devoted to walking and cycling, bearing in mind that in combination they make up about 18% of all trips?
  
• Would you agree that more cycling in city centres at night would help deter crime, through more ‘eyes on the street’? If so, how would you achieve this?
  
• Since a fitter workforce reduces sickness and absenteeism, how would you encourage employers and employees to cycle to work more?
  
• Which is the more cost-effective way to cut traffic congestion: building more roads (which are already expensive and set to rise further as oil and material costs rise), or allowing people to realistically choose to walk, cycle or use public transport? If the latter, how would you widen people’s transport choices?
  
• Since the most health spending goes on tackling problems after they have occurred, would it not make sense to encourage regular exercise as part of day-to-day lifestyles? Since cycling can often be fitted into lifestyles, are there ways you would seek to provide a ‘cycle-friendly’ environment?
  
• Since cities thrive (in fact, exist) because people meet face-to-face to do business (whether social or economic), shouldn’t we devote more public space to people on foot, and less to moving and parked cars? Bearing in mind that people want to drive to, rather than around, city centres, how would you achieve a more vibrant, ‘people-space’ urban environment?
  
• Are they committed to publicly supporting cycling?

 To return to the CAN Election Campaign homepage, click here

http://can.org.nz/elections