I'm probably your newest member and as such, am way off the pace. What an impressive organisation. I'd just like to say, I've cycled for more than 30 years in London, Bristol and New York. I cycle because I enjoy it, it keeps me fit and in London particularly, it's the quickest way to get around... but mostly ... I drive. However, I have never experienced such appalling driving as in Auckland, particularly where the 'cyclist' is concerned (Metre and a half!!!!). In 3 months, I've been knocked off twice (motorists didn't stop, no injuires to speak of) ... and lept off for my life twice, to avoid being crushed by trucks towing trailers. Cycling is improving however, since I adopted a habit I picked up in London ... the whistle. Can I recommend to all cyclists when commuting in the city, to buy a $3 plastic whistle, keep it between the teeth and don't be afraid to use it. It could save your life! And ... if the truckers can do it and boobs on bikes ... why can't we cyclists bring the city to a temporary halt with an 'cyclists awareness parade' ... Auckland needs something! Mike Drew
Barb Insull welcome Mike to
Barb Insull
welcome Mike to CAA and Auckland.
thanks for taking time to get in touch.
Good tip - louder than a bell!
Come along and meet us sometime. Bike to breakfast 18 Feb.
Workshop for people wanting to use bike for transport at our Feb 25 CAA meeting -perhaps you would like to help out with sharing your cycling 'how to stay alive on auckland roads' experience.
Barb Insull
Co chair CAA
0274 731 831 binsull@xnet.co.nz
Hi Mike - many Auckland
Hi Mike - many Auckland cyclists share your concern, as well as many latent cyclists - those too scared to get on their bikes for fear of motorist attitudes. It's sad that many Aucklanders have a Jekyll and Hyde personality - incredibly nice around the BBQ, but a murderous intent takes over when they get behind the wheel, where intolerance and impatience come to the fore.
It's interesting to speculate on why this might be. If we look back to the 50s we see a Harbour Bridge design that included light rail, walking and cycling lanes. But the powers that be saw the ascendency of the private motor vehicle, and gave us vehicle lanes only. We're still fighting that battle.
But the rot set in at that point. Robbie, one of our more inspired mayors of the 70s, pushed a great light rail scheme, but it was trashed by the government at the last minute. Since then Auckland has suffered a huge under-investment in public transport, leaving residents with little choice but to drive their cars, to the point where Auckland rivals LA in vehicle density. With increasing congestion and few alternatives, drivers attitudes have hardened accordingly.
But all's not doom and gloom. Petrol prices are on their way up again, there's increasing concern about climate change, pollution, obesity and sustainability, and we're seeing a slight movement away from the "car is king" mentality.
CAA's lobbying on a number of fronts in Auckland to improve infrastructure, improve driver attitudes, and educating cyclists to help themselves. I like your idea of a whistle - it's also possible to get air horns fed by a battery in a drink cage. Anything that makes us visible, loud and assertive - but what we want most of all is an increase in cyclist numbers. When we reach critical mass we'll be a force to be reckoned with, rather than a minority to be marginalised.
As Barb says, get involved in February Bikewise month and come along to our CAA meetings. We'd love to see you there.
Cheers
Steve
Cycle Action Auckland Committee Member
www.caa.org.nz
Hi there, Mike. If you want
Hi there, Mike.
If you want a 'cycle awareness demonstration' then check out Critical Mass (http://www.criticalmass.org.nz) which rides at 6pm on the last Friday of every month.
Just to let you know, its
Just to let you know, its not just Auckland,
in Christchurch too we have crap car and truck drivers that will, at any given chance, try to kill you on your bike.
It also looks like Chch and Invercargill are the worst places in the country for road accidents, according to a survey just released....
...no surprise when you see it from a cyclists viewpoint.
Actually what it said was
Actually what it said was those towns had the highest rates of *intersection* crashes per capita. But that doesn't necessarily surprise me, as both places would be amongst the highest for having intersections (and particularly four-way intersections), given the grid network nature of both places.
Not that all of the drivers in Chch are perfect, either...