e.CAN 175 - The email bulletin of Cycling Advocates' Network, NZ

e.CAN

Contents:
- NZTA cyclist instructor survey
- CAN launches new cycling safety vest
- Auckland: the new Copenhagen?
- Time for NZTA to take walking & cycling seriously, say bridge riders
- ANA conference: accessibility planning for walking and cycling
- Over a million use UK National Cycle Network daily
- EC commits to 're-cycling cities'
- London is seeing a 'bicycle boom'
- Thefts puncture Paris bike scheme
- Weblinks

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NZTA CYCLIST INSTRUCTOR SURVEY

As a member of the Cycle Training Advisory Group (CTAG), CAN encourages all those people planning or undertaking cyclist training to complete a 10 minute online survey for cyclist skills. NZTA are collating the survey and will enable us to assess the 'state of the nation' with regard to cyclist training.

Below is a link to the survey which asks a range of questions relating to you or your organisation's involvement in cyclist training. Only one survey should be completed per organisation. The survey is aimed at those organisations planning or currently undertaking cyclist training.

Please click on the link below to complete the survey. The survey should take approximately 10 minutes.

http://www.opus.co.nz/ha/Cyclist-Instructor-Survey/Cyclist-Instructor-Intro.htm

The survey comments will remain anonymous. A summary report of the results will be published on the NZTA website. However, your contact details will be retained to keep you informed of progress on NZ cyclist training. If you do not wish to have your contact details on the database just let them know.

The survey closes at noon on Monday 29th June 2009.

For any queries please contact Rachel Algar (Opus Project Manager - Cyclist Skills Training) on phone (07) 834 1827 or rachel.algar@opus.co.nz.

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CAN LAUNCHES NEW CYCLING SAFETY VEST

8 June 2009- The Cycling Advocates Network (CAN) is pleased to announce the launch of a new cycling safety vest.

"Our safety vest is bright orange, with a reflective strip to the rear. You can be sure that other road users will see you a mile away!" says CAN spokes person Stephen McKernon.

"You can also be sure to be the most stylish rider around, whether you are riding to work or on a long weekend ride. The vest has been specially designed for CAN by Ultimo Clothing. It is in the CAN orange, and features a CAN logo on the front. The car-repelling message on the back reads 'Think globally, cycle locally' ", says McKernon.

"With this vest, you can't be on the road and not be noticed! This is a sure way to be safe and stylish while also promoting CAN."

The first official trial of the vest was at the great Auckland Harbour Bridge crossing, where a number of riders tested the vest in extreme protest conditions.

"It worked like a dream", says McKernon "people were coming up to me and asking where they could get it. It's a total success."

The vest comes in XS, S, M, and L sizes and has three rear pockets. Members can purchase one for $100 and non-Members for $120 (prices include GST). The new vest can be viewed and ordered on the Shop page of CAN's website (http://can.org.nz/shop).

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AUCKLAND: THE NEW COPENHAGEN?

25 May 2009- Auckland drivers may be forced to navigate already-congested inner city streets without signs, kerbs, road markings, crossing signals and traffic lights when a council plan to make the city more "European" and pedestrian friendly is completed.

In a $60 million scheme to be rolled out during 2009-2014 with funding from rates and development contributions as part of the Ten Year Plan, Auckland's side streets will be transformed to resemble European lanes, eliminating signs, road markings, crossing signals and traffic lights.

Read the full story here:

http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/auckland-new-copenhagen-102761

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TIME FOR NZTA TO TAKE WALKING & CYCLING SERIOUSLY, SAY BRIDGE RIDERS

25 May 2009- After watching more than 5,000 people stream across the Auckland Harbour Bridge, GetAcross spokesperson Bevan Woodward says: "This is an incredible outcome. We are blown away by the high turn out of Aucklanders and their determination to get walking and cycling access on our Harbour Bridge.

"As organisers, we were very clear in our instructions that supporters mustn't force their way onto the Bridge, but 'people power' took over today. People of all ages and from all walks of life decided that they'd had enough of the Transport Agency's inaction and wanted to show how strongly they felt."

"I do apologise to motorists caught up in the traffic congestion. It was never our intention to cause disruption to the traffic, however the Transport Agency needs to review how it handled the situation. The Transport Agency refused our requests to meet or even discuss the event in the months leading up. We had requested two traffic lanes to provide safe access without disrupting the traffic, the same way the Auckland marathon does each year. Yet the Transport Agency decided today to close all 4 north-bound lanes."

"We hope that the Transport Agency now decides to take the Auckland Harbour Bridge walk/cycleway seriously. We have had enough of their weak excuses as to why it cannot be provided. In fact the Transport Agency's conduct has been so poor, that last week we lodged a complaint with the Auditor-General's office."

"Moving forward, we are prepared to work with the Transport Agency in a productive and positive manner. Today we have asked the NZTA's CEO and Chair for a meeting to discuss how we can do this."

Update: GetAcross has has lodged a complaint with the auditor-general over what it calls the New Zealand Transport Agency's "unprofessional and misleading conduct":

http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-shore-times/2507714/GetAcross-goes-to-auditor-with-complaint

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ANA CONFERENCE: ACCESSIBILITY PLANNING FOR WALKING AND CYCLING

At the end of May, physical activity and nutrition experts from all over the country, as well as overseas experts, gathered at the Agencies for Nutrition Action conference in Wellington.

The focus of the conference was on promoting nutrition and physical activity in sustainable ways. It also highlighted that many sectors - such as conservation, education, transport, recreation, social development and local government - are well placed to influence nutrition and physical activity.

New Zealand Transport Agency's Pania Elliot discussed the potential for how healthy and happy communities could be assisted via the application of accessibility planning.

"Accessibility planning is used in the UK as a mandatory part of the local transport planning process. The approach systematically identifies targets and addresses the barriers that prevent people from accessing places or services they need.

"For example, people in rural areas might have limited access to healthcare services due to their geographical location. To make these services more accessible we might look at improving the availability of transport and the location and scheduling of services, and increased information provision to better suit their needs."

Ms Elliot believes that a partnered approach between different sectors is an essential part of effective accessibility planning.

Active transport, such as walking and cycling, is another area Ms Elliot highlighted as crucial to community access.

"Walking and cycling have the potential to play a key role in getting people to where they need to go and have the advantage of being cost effective and healthy. Walking trips are the glue that holds the transport system together, for example walking is a part of every car and public transport journey, although it's easy to forget that sometimes!"

For more information on the ANA, go to:

http://www.ana.org.nz/

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OVER A MILLION USE UK NATIONAL CYCLE NETWORK DAILY

13 June 2009- 386 million trips were made on the UK National Cycle Network in 2008, Sustrans has revealed on the first day of Bike Week.

The sustainable transport charity said that it was the first time in the 14-year long history of the Network that it had seen more than one million journeys every day. Half were made by bike and half on foot, according to the charity.

Of the 386 million journeys, 17 million trips to school were made, while 96 million were made to workplaces. 134 million journeys were made by people that could have used a car, but instead chose to use the 12,000-mile long network.

"It is gratifying to see this increasing and sustained use of the National Cycle Network," enthused Sustrans CEO Malcolm Shepherd.

But the charity chief criticised the lack of consistent funding allocated from the Government: "It is also frustrating because, in spite of the increasingly vital role it plays in the environmental and physical health of the UK, the Network remains the only nationally important travel network for which there is no obligation or consistent level of financial support for its maintenance or development.

"Yet we face a low carbon future, escalating fuel costs, and an obesity time-bomb that is set to devastate not just our health but also our economy. While the National Cycle Network is not the only solution to these issues, these figures surely prove it should sit high on the list.

"When we read that the National Cycle Network's value for money far outweighs all other transport schemes, perhaps the Network and cycling and walking in general have earned the right to benefit from proper and consistent investment and promotion," Shepherd added.

[http://www.bikebiz.com]

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EC COMMITS TO 'RE-CYCLING CITIES'

27 May 2009- The European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee and several mayors from EU cities have signed the Charter of Brussels - a commitment to promoting and investing in infrastructure for cycling.

The pledge came at the end of the Belgium-based Velo City conference in May which focused on 're-cycling cities' - the role of the bicycle in urban transport. 52 countries and 800 participants debated how cycling can be better integrated in urban planning, culminating with the signing of the Charter.

Those present included leading industry figures, cyclist associations, urban planners and institutes including the World Health Organisation and the United Nations.

The Charter saw the creation of a parliamentary intergroup for cycling in the European parliament, and also confirmed that a European Bicycle Officer would be appointed in the EC.