Be our tailwind - support bike action

Patrick Morgan here. I'm the project manager at CAN - Cycling Action Network – New Zealand's national charity for people who ride bikes.

I believe riding a bike is one of the best things in the world, for sport, fun or getting around town. Although this is a challenging time, we've seen more people riding bikes for fun, convenience and exercise.

I know we share a love of biking. More and more people are buying and riding bikes. But we're facing headwinds and bikelash, and I want to know if you will help us get more people on bikes. Our campaigns are effective in persuading Councils and the Government to invest in cycling.

Will you contribute $50 today to help us fight for better biking? We rely on your help. Thank you.

A complete bike network in 10 years for Wellington

2021 has been a huge year for cycling in Wellington. An ambitious bike plan was voted in, securing $226M to fund a 147km cycling network across Wellington in 10 years. Cycle Wellington teamed up with Generation Zero, A City for People, and others to show the Council there's a strong mandate for getting on with it. Volunteers tagged bikes with leaflets and asked people to speak up for the planned network.

Wellington City Council ran a special feedback section for children. Here's what they said:
"I find it fun to bike with my dad because it is fun to spend time with him."
"I don't have to rely on my parents to take me places. I really like biking to the shops without them! I like that I don't get stuck in traffic like we do in the car! I like the freedom."
"It makes me happy."
By the time these children are a few years older, they will be zipping around Wellington's mew cycling network of connected paths and lanes.

Invercargill man gives $90,000 to fund bike park

Make Riverlink awesome for biking

Cycling advocates in the Hutt Valley are fighting to make sure that cycling doesn't miss out in a huge urban development project. :

Hutt resident, Dr David Tripp says, "The project will cost over $700 million, but biking has been side-lined in current plans. The consent process forces us to fight this in court, and we need to ask for donations to pay expert witnesses." 

Kapiti people fight for a proper road crossing at popular bike trail

A cycleway that is not safe for an eight-year-old is not safe for anybody, is the message presented to the Kāpiti Coast District Council by residents petitioning for a safe crossing in Poplar Ave, Raumati.

The petition, asking for a safer crossing to be established at the end of Te Ara o Whareroa, the shared pathway through Queen Elizabeth Park, has been placed into the hands of councillor Sophie Handford after being signed by more than 720 people.

This is in order to protect children regularly crossing there, and prioritise the welfare of walkers and cyclists so as to encourage transport emissions to decline. As a result of the petition, the Council will commission a review in 2022.  Source: NZ Herald

The transport agency could be headed to court unless it backpedals on a decision to scrap the idea of repurposing an Auckland Harbour Bridge lane for walking and cycling.

During a transport select committee at Parliament in December, Waka Kotahi – NZ Transport Agency chairman Brian Roche confirmed the idea had been “ruled out” because it was “not a practical option”.

GetAcross chairwoman Christine Rose, who was formerly part of the original Skypath campaign, said the cycling advocacy group it wanted Waka Kotahi to “urgently revisit” its decision.

“If NZTA continues to stand in the way of walking and cycling on the [Auckland Harbour Bridge], then we will be compelled to take further action, including an application to the High Court for a judicial review,” she said.  Source: Stuff

Like birds of a feather, kids and bikes go together

  By Matt Lawrey
There are certain things in life that just go together. The list includes: cheese and crackers, tables and chairs, Batman and Robin, fish and chips, Homer and Marge, gin and tonic, the Mapua Wharf and ice-creams, and the Boulder Bank and the lighthouse.

Right near the top of the list is kids and bikes. Get a kid confident on a bike and you give them a lot, including fun, the sense of achievement that comes with mastering a new skill, better balance, fitness and, over time, independence, which leads to pride. More here.

CAN speaks up for cycling

A vital part of CAN's work is to voice your concerns to Government. Recent work includes:

CAN responds to Climate Change Commission report
While it's inevitable to see the Commission tackle transport emissions, they could have given stronger advice on the value of investing in cycling as a way to cut emissions.
Follow us on Twitter @CyclingActionNZ @PatrickMorgan