Wellington cyclists are cleaning up their act with a courtesy campaign aimed at curbing bad biking behaviour on the waterfront.
Video: https://youtu.be/eY8FSTlH5C8
News release from Cycle Aware Wellington
Cyclists call for courtesy on the waterfront
8 May 2010
Wellington cyclists are cleaning up their act with a courtesy campaign aimed at curbing bad biking behaviour on the waterfront.
Cycle Aware Wellington starts a campaign on 11 May to encourage people who ride bikes along the waterfront to cruise with courtesy.
“The waterfront is a lovely place to walk, meet your friends, or ride a bike, “ says CAW member Claire Pascoe. “But riding too fast or too close annoys people.”
“Just as cyclists ask motorists to slow down and give them space, we need to make sure we’re doing the same in areas we share with walkers.”
“We want people using the waterfront to make sure they’re in cruise mode.”
In their Cruise the Waterfront courtesy code, CAW recommends four simple tips: travel at a leisurely pace, be heard using a friendly bell or calling out, give walkers a wide berth, and be well lit at night.
Claire Pascoe calls it reducing the whoosh factor.
“We all know what it’s like when a car whooshes past too fast and close. It’s an intimidating feeling and the same thing goes for cyclists passing walkers. We want to reduce that whoosh factor.”
The Cruise the Waterfront campaign will feature three waterfront events next week.
CAW volunteers will hand out the courtesy code, free bicycle bells and lights from On Yer Bike.
Riders who cruise at a leisurely pace can enter a competition to win a cruise and overnight stay for two with Kapiti Island Alive.
“We are also producing a short film to demonstrate the cruising techniques,” says Claire Pascoe.
“While it’s an important message we’re delivering, riding a bike is a lot of fun and a great way to get around, so we want to keep the campaign light hearted.”
Claire Pascoe, Cycle Aware Wellington
tel 027 306 1853
Cycle Aware Wellington is the local cycle advocacy group, working to improve conditions for cyclists in Wellington.
Cruise the Waterfront is run by Cycle Aware Wellington volunteers, and supported by Wellington Waterfront Ltd, Kapiti Island Alive, On Yer Bike and The Costume Company.
Waterfront courtesy code
Pedestrians:
Cruise with an ear out for other cruisers (one earphone out or low volume)
Keep kids and pets in close proximity
Bikers:
Cruise at a leisurely pace
Give pedestrians a wide berth
Make yourself heard (a friendly bell or call out)
Be well lit at night
Photos from the launch on 11 May and bell give-away on 12 May here.
Campaign feedback, 31 May 2010
Dear Waterfront cruisers,
thanks for your support for Cycle Aware Wellington's Cruise the Waterfront campaign. It was loads of fun meeting bikers, giving away free stuff, and raising our game.
Lots of you said this campaign was well worth the effort.
Our goal is to promote courteous behaviour, reducing any conflict between people who cycle and people who walk. We also aimed to foster more positive attitudes towards people who ride bikes.
We handed out more than 300 bells and 500 copies of the Cruise the Waterfront courtesy code.
We've had encouraging feedback from people who use the waterfront to bike and walk.
Thanks to Kapiti Island Alive and Kapiti Tours for donating our awesome prize of an overnight stay on Kapiti Island. Sherman Smith is our lucky winner. He's a regular bike commuter from Hataitai and says he's looking forward to the trip.
Our Cruise the Waterfront campaign happened thanks to the generosity of CAW volunteers and donors. Thanks all!
So what's next?
At a workshop tomorrow, CAW members will take Valley Flyer bus drivers out for a ride. We want to understand the view from the driver's seat, while helping them understand the cyclist's point of view.
If you'd like to lend a hand in our mission to make Wellington a more bike-friendly place, please consider:
• coming along and volunteering to help out. Our next meeting is at Thistle Hall, 293 Cuba St, 6-7:30pm on Tuesday 1 June.
• Joining CAW either as a free e-member or a paid-up full member)
• donating
Cruise the Waterfront was run by Cycle Aware Wellington volunteers, and supported by Wellington Waterfront Ltd, Kapiti Island Alive, On Yer Bike and The Costume Company.
Wishing you a cruisey journey, wherever you are bound,
Claire Pascoe and Captain Aaron
Cycle Aware Wellington
Report attached below.Cruise the Waterfront
_____________
Letter in The Wellingtonian 27 Oct 2011
Unsafe speeds or inconsiderate behaviour on Wellington's waterfront is not acceptable, whether by drivers, people on bikes, or dare I say it - gangs of speedy joggers (letters 20 Oct).
That's why Cycle Aware Wellington and Wellington Waterfront Ltd launched a Cruise the Waterfront campaign in 2010.
It aims to promote courteous biking and walking on Wellington's waterfront.
Tips for pedestrians:
Cruise with an ear out for other cruisers (one earphone out or low volume)
Keep kids and pets in close proximity
Tips for bikers:
Cruise at a leisurely pace
Give pedestrians a wide berth
Make yourself heard (a friendly bell or call out)
Be well lit at night
Check out can.org.nz/cruise for the campaign video.
But a better way to fix this problem would be to build a convenient and attractive bike lane along this route. With 6 lanes along Jervois Quay, why not reallocate road space for the thousands of people on bikes in Wellington?
In the meantimes, let's dial back the speed and enjoy cruising the waterfront.
Patrick Morgan
Cycle Aware Wellington
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 courtesy-code-inside.pdf | 996.88 KB |
| courtesy-code-outside.pdf | 4.11 MB |
| cruise-the-waterfront-report.pdf | 157.04 KB |
Comments
Some behaviors
Two days in a row, I experienced a driver exceeding the 20K speed limit from the Railway station to where the police launch usually is (at the old barber shop). I told him and he answered rudely. 2nd time he almost run me over.
Also last week a fast cyclist (man yes) was in the wrong side at shed 5 ie in the wrong side for the direction he was travelling in. This is the worst way that cyclists travel there. Another cyclist yesterday, was weaving - really weaving very fast in and out and in front of pedestrians.
I travel there 3 times a week. I actually go behind Shed 5 and then behind the Meridian building, much easier and safer for pedestrians and faster.
Cruise the Waterfront campaign launch 11 May 7-9am
We're launching this on Tue 11th 7-9am on the waterfront, by Frank Kitts Park.
The crew of the SS Loveboat will be handing out bells, lollipops and copies of the courtesy code.
And on Wed 12th 7-9am look out for our 'speed trap' on the waterfront.
Come on down and enter our competition to win a cruise and overnight stay on Kapiti.
And coming soon: YouTube video with thrills and spills.
200 free bells
This morning volunteers from Cycle Aware Wellington handed out free bells to 200 bikers on the Waterfront.
Make yourself heard; either ting your bell or call out a friendly 'good morning!'
yes, neat campaign. I saw the
yes, neat campaign. I saw the "Captain Aaron" video at CAN's Saturday meeting. This photo - with another Love Boat crew member, love those flares Claire - and a Mamachari bike, shows there's even more thought and creative talent gone into the campaign. well done all.
I haven't seen a cape like that for many many years - cool.
Choice Campaign!
Showed my Office the U-tube clip. Very memorable. Very funny. Actors were superb, thanks Patrick for putting your body on the line to provide even more drama. Woosh!
When I visit Wellington I walk around the Waterfront. And courtesy sure helps make it more enjoyable for me. Wondered about adding in another courtesy factor re standing to one side when you meet someone to talk, so you are out of the main through way.
Well done Cycle Aware Wellington.
Cruise the Waterfront competition announced
355 people entered the Cruise the Waterfront competition. The winner is Sherman Smith His prize is an overnight stay for two with Kapiti Island Alive, with transport provided by Kapiti Tours.
Kapiti cruise prize winner Sherman Smith
Cyclists cause headaches in Oriental Bay
Speeding cyclists hitting Oriental Bay pedestrians have spurred residents to call for a 40kmh road speed limit, and they have the backing of deputy mayor Ian McKinnon.
Oriental Bay Residents' Association president Colin Blair said residents were concerned that cyclists had been hitting pedestrians, and they hoped lowering the Oriental Pde speed limit would encourage cyclists on to the road.
Regular walker John Walls said cyclists were a real hazard.
"Cyclists on the footpath brass us off. You don't know if they're coming. You need rear vision mirrors," he said.
A proposal by a group of Oriental Bay residents to reduce the speed limit is part of a larger list of speed change priorities to be discussed by Wellington City Council's strategy and policy committee in August.
Mr McKinnon said he thought the council would consider the proposal as a priority. "I can certainly appreciate the concerns of those who use Oriental Bay."
He thought there needed to be an emphasis on educating cyclists about pedestrians.
Cycling Advocates Network project co-ordinator Patrick Morgan said lowering the speed limit along Oriental Pde was a good idea for general safety, but would not get many cyclists off the footpath.
"I'll tell you what would make much more of a difference – removing the angle parking along Oriental Bay. It's particularly hazardous for people on bikes because ... it's really hard to see.
"If the residents want to attract more cyclists on to the road they should be lobbying for parallel parks."
Freyberg Facility staff member Hayden McCawe said lowering the speed limit would create more traffic problems. He said the footpath was wide enough to accommodate less confident cyclists.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/the-wellingtonian/3740839/Cyc...
Suspicious move
Although I have nothing against pedestrians, I must point here that pedestrians are partly to blame as well. They walk around as if there is nothing else around them. Its the same when they cross roads as well. I hate to say this but pedestrians also need to learn some pedestrian etiquittees.
I am a bit suspicious of Ian McKinnon's support to get cyclists off footpaths and on to roads. He has never been supportive of cyclists. This might be his idea to get cyclists off the foot path and then off the roads as well since, as Patrick says, lowering speed limits will still not make it safe for cyclists. General speeds of cars in Oriental Pde are anyway between 30 and 40.
I would prefer parallel car parks, that give enough room for a segregated contra-flow cycle way between the footpath and car parks. So,it should be footpath, contra-flow cycle way, car park and then carriageway.
Measuring success of cruise campaign?
At the submissions on 10 June for the Waterfront Development Plan, Ray Ahipene-Mercer asked if CAW has plans to evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign. Do we have any plans? Might be worth thinking about if we do it again - e.g. poll users about how comfortable they feel before/after
Report attached
I have uploaded the 5 page report, which includes feedback and an evaluation of key outcomes.
cycle friendly award nomination
I nominated Cruise the Waterfront for a Cycle Friendly Award
Cruise wins Golden Foot Award
Am delighted to report that Cruise the Waterfront won a Golden Foot Award from Living Streets Aotearoa for Best New Zealand Walking Promotion.
http://www.livingstreets.org.nz/walking_awards2010