NZTA Safer Cycling Programme
Since early 2011, the Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN) and BikeNZ have been working with the New Zealand Transport Agency on three projects, aimed at creating a safer environment for cycling.
 
The projects are:

• Cycling Skills Instructor Training: Led by BikeNZ, this project is developing training resources for Grade 1/2/3 Instructors of Cycle Skills to children and other groups. A series of training courses are providing the necessary skills and NZQA certification for Instructors to deliver this cycle training around the country (based on the NZTA-supported national guidelines) and this will be supported by ongoing mentoring of Instructors. The training resources are based on BikeNZ's "Learn to Ride" and CAN's "Bikeability" programmes.
  NB: actual Cycle Instruction to riders is separate from this project - see this overview diagram of how it all works.
• Road User Workshops: Led by CAN, this project is running workshops putting cyclists alongside truck and bus drivers in a practical setting, so that all groups can understand how to safely co-exist on our roads. This is based on CAN's highly successful "Being Cycle Aware" bus driver workshops. A series of workshop facilitators are also being trained to deliver these workshops nationwide. 
• "Share the Road" campaigns: Led by CAN, this project is aimed at developing nationwide "share the road" campaigns and resources for all road users to better interact together on our roads. This exercise includes research on previous Share the Road campaigns and workshops/engagement with key road user groups. A pilot project, "The Good Bunch" has been happening along Auckland's Tamaki Drive. It is aimed at producing initiatives that depart from traditional advertising methods for promoting better behaviour and instead aim to get road users to empathise and engage with their fellow road users and modify their behaviour accordingly. 

The funding for this project has enabled the employment of several contract/staff members for both CAN and BikeNZ, supported by volunteer efforts from both groups. CAN's project work has been led by Jena Niquidet of Auckland.

CAN and BikeNZ are working together on all three projects, overseen by a Joint Steering Group comprising Graeme Lindup (CAN), Glen Koorey (CAN), Richard Leggat (BikeNZ) and Barb Insull (BikeNZ). This group meets on a regular basis to review project progress and ensure ongoing co-operation and collaboration between the two organisations.

Both CAN and BikeNZ welcome this opportunity to further work with the New Zealand Transport Agency in getting more New Zealanders safely cycling more often.

Stop Press! In Dec 2012 the Road Safety Trust approved $1.2million of funding for continuing the programme over the next 3 years!

For more information, contact Jena (CAN Safer Cycling Project Manager), Graeme or Glen.

CAN, BikeNZ and NZTA members of the Safer Cycling project