bicycle

Insta-Park!

Our friend Clarence at StreetFilms sent us his latest cinematic masterpiece (I suck at keeping expectations low, don't I?). It's about a section of street in Jackson Heights, in Queens, that was closed to cars for the "time-to-play-outside" months and converted into a much-needed park/public space. As you can see in the video, it was a resounding success! It's a good model to follow for other cities.

The days are progressively getting shorter, and so more and more cyclists will be biking in light conditions that definitely aren't optimal. Most cyclists are good about trying to wear clothing and accessories that are highly reflective and easy to see in the dark, but according to a new peer-reviewed study (page 56), cyclists might not actually be as visible as they think they are, which can increase danger.

Here's the abstract of the paper:

The nation's transport ministers have acknowledged there's been a lack of investment when it comes to encouraging people to get out of their cars and onto their bicycles.

Federal and state transport ministers on Friday signed off on the third National Cycling Strategy, which aims to double the number of people cycling during the next five years.

The strategy acknowledges that while there have been many initiatives to get more people riding in the past 10 years cycling had not been supported by a high level of investment.

Cycle Action Auckland have launched their new site at caa.org.nz

Upcoming events include the AGM and a presentation by Ludo Campbell-Reid on urban design for a Super City. Tonight (Thursday Sep 30th) 6.30pm. See website for more details

Education Advisor – Bike Wise

(Fixed term – Parental leave cover October 2010 to 5 April 2011)

• Are you passionate about cycle safety?
• Do you have a can-do attitude?
• Are you calm under pressure?

NZTA is currently looking for a fixed term employee to cover a parental leave situation, to manage our national Bike Wise programme that promotes safe cycling as a fun and healthy transport option.

In debates all candidates profess support for cycling and the incumbent says “and we will be spending more on cycling”. Don’t let the rhetoric stand in the way of examining a voting record that shows less commitment!

Share the Road is a campaign, started in London in 2008, that speaks to all road users as people. We advocate simply that we all respect each other’s equal right to use the road.

What does it all mean?

We all use the roads. Some of us prefer to drive, some ride, others walk.

But it’s easy to forget that road users are all the same people; they just chose to travel in a particular way on a particular day.

Bike industry reacts to Daily Telegraph report on potential Government cuts

Over the weekend the national press has reported on an 'uncertain future' for Cycling England and the Bikeability project.

THE Dutch have long been known as a free-wheeling nation, open to foreigners, cool about sex and drugs and wedded to a relaxed and healthy lifestyle.

Now Amsterdam's citizens have managed the unthinkable for a major Western city: they do more two-wheeling than driving, abandoning their cars for bikes.