Contents:
- National cycleway good economic sense, say cyclists
- Economic crisis an opportunity to invest in cycling, says US congressman
- Cash for cycling in U.S. economic stimulus package
- The wake-up call for drivers that rumbles
- New resources for bikers, councils and advocates on CAN website
- Eco-plan unveiled for Melbourne suburb
- Brisbane gets Paris-style hire bikes
- And bike rental schemes go to India
- Weblinks
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NATIONAL CYCLEWAY GOOD ECONOMIC SENSE, SAY CYCLISTS
27 February 2008- A $50 million national cycleway the length of the country, under consideration at today's Jobs Summit in Auckland, makes great economic sense, according to the Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN).
"Major cycling infrastructure projects overseas have brought significant long-term benefits in terms of tourism. Here in New Zealand the success of the Otago Central Rail Trail has shown how a traffic-free route for cycling and walking can have big benefits for the local economy, creating jobs and new business opportunities," says Glen Koorey, CAN's Co-Chairperson.
CAN, New Zealand's national organisation for transport, recreational and touring cyclists, is already involved in a new project to kick-start a national cycling and walking network. Planning has already started on this project, financially supported by the Hikurangi Foundation, and involving the national pedestrian advocacy organisation Living Streets Aotearoa.
It is also one of the initiatives included in the implementation plan for the national walking and cycling strategy, Getting There - on foot, by cycle.
Hear CAN co-chair Axel Wilke being interviewed about the cycleway proposal on Newstalk ZB here:
and Rod Oram interviewed about it on National Radio here:
http://can.org.nz/article/national-cycleway-rod-oram-on-national-radio
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ECONOMIC CRISIS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN CYCLING, SAYS US CONGRESSMAN
23 February 2009- America's current economic crisis has given Congress and the Obama administration an unprecedented opportunity to stimulate and strengthen local communities through investment in a critical, increasingly important form of transportation: bicycles.
Read the full article here:
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CASH FOR CYCLING IN U.S. ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE
17 February 2009- U.S. President Obama signed into law an economic recovery package that contains $800 million in funding for Transportation Enhancements. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) applauds Congress for its foresight in recognizing the job creation benefits of building bicycling and walking infrastructure, including trails. While representing less than two percent of transportation funding in the bill, this investment could create tens of thousands of jobs and critical active transportation connections that communities need.
Transportation Enhancements (TE) is the nation's largest federal funding source for trails, walking and bicycling and a long-standing program that has historically enjoyed bi-partisan support. Its place within the stimulus package, however, heralds a transition in thinking among elected leaders who once viewed active transportation projects as niceties and now know them to be necessities for a balanced transportation system and a robust economy.
Read more here:
http://www.railstotrails.org/newsandpubs/news/press/pressreleases/20090217_DC_Stimulus.html
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THE WAKE-UP CALL FOR DRIVERS THAT RUMBLES
3 March 2009- Every year lives are lost in New Zealand when vehicles run off the side of roads or stray across the centrelines and hit oncoming traffic.
Many factors can cause this type of crash to occur, such as driver fatigue and inattention, but the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is about to ramp up the usage of something which helps prevent them - namely 'rumble strips'.
These raised plastic ribs provide a 'wake up call' for drivers that they are veering out of their lane. Placed along road edgelines or centrelines, a rumbling effect can be felt and heard as car wheels cross over them. While they have been used on New Zealand roads for many years now, recent research has pointed strongly to their effectiveness in reducing crashes. It was estimated by KiwiRAP that rumble strips have the potential to reduce injury crashes by 20-45% in the locations where they are installed
In response, the NZTA has developed a national strategy to increase their usage which will see installation of around 600 road kilometres of rumble strips across the state highway network in 2009, targeting first the most high risk areas.
In designing this installation programme the NZTA has considered the effect of rumble strips on all road users, including cyclists. A research report prepared for the NZTA by Transport Engineering Research New Zealand, 'The Usability and Safety of Audio Tactile Profiled Road Markings' (rumble strips), included a section specifically relating to cyclists. The report found that cyclists would benefit from the improved separation between motorists and cyclists that rumble strips provide, but other factors also needed to be taken into account. As a result the NZTA has undertaken to do the following:
- Wherever possible attempts will be made to keep a 1m sealed shoulder outside of rumble strips for cyclists to ride on. Efforts will be made to ensure this clean, clear and well maintained so that cyclists do not have to frequently cross over the line of rumble strips.
- On stretches of road where this is not possible, but where rumble strips would provide significant safety benefits, cyclists will be taken into account before installation. The extent of cycle use on the road will be considered and local cycle groups will be consulted.
- On very narrow roads, where there are effectively no shoulders, but where rumble strips would provide significant safety benefits, they will be placed hard up against the edge of seal, in a location cyclists are unlikely to ride.
- To enable cyclists to easily cross over the edgeline at key junctures, gaps in rumble strips will be provided. These will appear 20m in advance of locations where cyclists are required to crossover, such as before bridges or at intersections where cyclist numbers are high.
- Rumble strips will be clearly visible as they will generally protrude outside of the continuous painted centreline or edgeline, creating a tooth-like effect. They will feature the same skid-resistant properties as edgelines/centrelines.
The NZTA will advise regional cycling groups of installation plans in their area. Alternatively, cyclists may contact the NZTA's regional safety engineers directly for this information (visit http://www.nzta.govt.nz for contact details of regional offices).
For any general enquiries cyclists may have around rumble strips, please contact: Colin Brodie, National Safety Engineer - email: colin.brodie@nzta.govt.nz, phone: 07 927 6005.
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NEW RESOURCES FOR BIKERS, COUNCILS AND ADVOCATES ON CAN WEBSITE
Keep an eye on the CAN website (http://www.can.org.nz)- there's new material being added all the time. Recent additions include:
Cycling Code: good behaviour on shared use paths, roads, and in the countryside:
http://can.org.nz/article/cycling-code
What Councils can do to encourage cycling:
http://can.org.nz/article/what-councils-can-do-to-encourage-cycling
A simple guide to Campaigning for Cycling Advocates:
http://can.org.nz/article/a-simple-guide-to-campaigning-for-cycling-advocates
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ECO-PLAN UNVEILED FOR MELBOURNE SUBURB
25 February 2009- A vision for a suburb of the future with no cars, an 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions and the ability to grow its own food has been unveiled by a State Government-funded thinktank. And it could happen on a site just two kilometres from the centre of Melbourne.
The lab's director Professor Chris Ryan said a new sustainable suburb could be created at a site known as E-Gate (just off Footscray Road), including a ban on cars.
"No cars on the site- the site is made for walking, cycling and we are going to provide on the site free, small, electric vehicles that can be picked up by any resident on the site and roamed around on the site," he said.
Read more here:
http://www.theage.com.au/national/eco-suburb-plan-unveiled-for-city-20090224-8gw7.html
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BRISBANE GETS PARIS-STYLE HIRE BIKES
23 January 2009- Brisbane has adopted a Paris-style bicycle hire scheme in a bid to lead a revolution in the way Australians move around cities to cut traffic congestion and pollution.
Canary-yellow coloured two-wheelers will be stationed at 150 hire points throughout the CBD next year, after Lord Mayor Campbell Newman yesterday formalised a contract with the company behind Paris' bicycle revolution, JCDecaux.
Read more here:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/on-your-bikes-brisbane/2009/01/22/1232471476891.html
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AND BIKE RENTAL SCHEMES GO TO INDIA
6 February 2009- An "overwhelming" public response to their scheme of offering bicycles to passengers on rent at the Vishwavidyayala station has encouraged the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to replicate the model at three other stations in the Capital.
The scheme is aimed mainly at office-goers, tourists and students who use the metro rail.
Read more here:
http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/06/stories/2009020653350400.htm
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WEBLINKS
- The benefits of cycling: a comprehensive summary from the Australian Bicycle Council:
http://www.austroads.com.au/abc/index.php?type=sep&id=33
- Velo-City 2009: the theme for this year's international cycling conference in Brussels is 're-cycling cities':
http://www.velo-city2009.com/homepage-en.html
- Ockers go bare: the World Naked Bike Ride goes to Australia on March 14:
http://nakedwiki.org/index.php?title=Category:Australia
- DIY streets: a UK Sustrans project helping residents re-design their own streets affordably, making them safer and more attractive places to live:
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1165320622046
- How to create an eco-metropolis: an interview with Copenhagen's 'bicycle mayor', Klaus Bondam:
- Byrne bike racks: David Byrne also does bike rack design:
http://www.davidbyrne.com/art/bike_racks/about/nyt_8_8_08.php
- MonkeyLectric: an interesting innovation in bike lighting:
http://www.monkeylectric.com/m132s.htm
- Dashing tweeds: fancy a luminous tweed cycling outfit?
http://www.dashingtweeds.co.uk/dt/tailoredoutfits/tailored-outfits-sub1/
- How to cycle to work and look chic when you get there:
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/fashion/article5839358.ece
- 2009 commuter bike round-up: the latest commuter bikes:
http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/best-commuter-bikes.html
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ABOUT CAN
Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN) is New Zealand's voice for cyclists. We want to see cycling become an everyday activity in NZ. CAN's membership includes experienced cyclists, advocates, engineers, planners, local and regional councils, bike shops, and local advocacy groups throughout the country.
To find out more about CAN, go to our website, http://www.can.org.nz.
Sign up to CAN online via credit card at http://www.can.org.nz/join-can/. Join us!
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