e.CAN 183 - The email bulletin of Cycling Advocates' Network, NZ

e.CAN 183 - The email bulletin of Cycling Advocates' Network, NZ

e.CAN

Contents:

Be bright, be safe, be seen

30 March 2010- The end of daylight saving means it is time for cyclists to dust off their lights and add a bit of fluorescence to their riding wardrobe.

Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN) spokesperson Bevan Woodward said as the days get shorter, cyclists need to get brighter.

"Lights and high-visibility riding gear make you easier to see," said Mr Woodward.

Cycling fatalities have declined over recent years despite bike sales on the increase. Mr Woodward said it could have something to do with cyclists embracing the culture of being seen.

"The great thing about being well-lit is that drivers have plenty of time to give room to the cyclist when overtaking. A clearance of a metre and a half is recommended by the Road Code," he adds.

He advises people to check their batteries as they may need charging or replacing.

"Be bright, be safe, be seen," is Mr Woodward's key message.

The NZ Road Code says that bikes and cyclists out at night must have:

  • a steady or flashing rear-facing red light
  • a steady or flashing forward-facing white or orange light
  • a rear reflector on the bike
  • reflectors on pedals, or reflective clothing.

Cyclist death highlights need to pay full attention while cycling

21 April 2010- The Cycling Advocates Network (CAN) says cyclists, like all road users, need to pay full attention while on the road.

A woman cyclist killed yesterday after being struck by a train near Tauranga is believed to have been listening to an iPod-style music player.

CAN spokesman Bevan Woodward recommends that people shouldn't use headphones while cycling.

"The Road Code is clear. All drivers- and this includes cyclists- must not allow themselves to be distracted.

"We support the Road Code: don't play music so loudly that you can't hear emergency sirens, or the sound of warning bells when you're coming up to a railway level crossing.

"Any person cycling, like anyone walking or driving, needs to pay attention to traffic," said Mr Woodward.

"That means turning down the volume of your music player so that you can still detect important audio cues."

Assistance needed for new CAN working groups

CAN is progressing the restructuring proposed last year (see http://tinyurl.com/canrestruc), and setting up working groups for a range of portfolio areas. At present we are looking for assistance in the following portfolios:

  • Policy & Technical
  • Volunteer and Group Development & Support
  • IT support
  • Activities & Events areas

If you can help, please check our website for more information or contact our portfolio coordinator, Liz Mikkelsen (phone: 06-364-8187 email: liz@can.org.nz). CAN is planning a day in Wellington on May 8th where the CAN committee, CAN staff and leaders or representatives of new portfolio groups will meet and discuss progress on the restructuring.

NZ- still a safe cycle touring destination?

21 April 2010- Overseas cycle tourists visiting NZ continue to report mixed experiences of cycling in New Zealand, and some are thinking twice before recommending NZ as a cycle touring destination:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/3574165/Road-risks-unsettling-cycle-tourists

However, Cycle Tour Operators NZ, a group representing commercial cycle touring ventures, disputes this and says safe cycle touring is still possible in NZ- if it's done properly. While acknowledging that there is a very small sector of NZ drivers who are inconsiderate, CTONZ members believes that the vast majority of motorists are courteous & respectful towards cycle tourists.

CTONZ members stress cycle safety and sharing the road to their clients, with a strong emphasis on bright clothing and the need to be visible at all times. Clients are instructed to cycle on the hard left, ride in single file on narrow roads and pull over if holding up traffic. Protocols have been set between CTONZ, the Bus & Coach Association & the Road Transport Forum outlining behaviours for sharing the road. The introduction of these protocols has dramatically reduced the number of incidents between buses, trucks and organised cycle tours.

CTONZ is concerned at the number of cycle tourists who wear dark clothing and ride on busy highways when there are quiet alternative routes.

First the walking bus, now the cycling train?

22 March 2010- New research out of the University of Waikato suggests one way to keep children safe but active on their way to school is to introduce supervised 'cycling trains' like the successful 'walking bus' initiatives already in place in several Hamilton schools.

The research, "Pedalling to safety: schoolchildren and safe active transport" by social sciences honours student Kylie Fisher, identifies hazards and barriers to children biking to school and suggests initiatives (local, national and international) that might provide solutions to some of those problems- or at least make active transport a safer option.

"Even though many children tell us that they would like to walk or cycle to school, a chauffeuring culture has increasingly come to dominate our transport choices," says Fisher. "There are many negative consequences of this choice, such as health problems, traffic congestion, and air pollution. More cars on the road also make it more dangerous for children who do walk or cycle to school."

Read more here:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED1003/S00095.htm

New Google cycle maps in Auckland

16 April 2010- Online cycling maps for Auckland are now available on the region's transport information website http://www.maxx.co.nz.

Google Cycle Maps are the perfect way to plan your cycle route on-line using the latest information. You can locate facilities such as cycle shops, link your journey to public transport services or identify hazards and choose the safest route for your journey. Google Cycle Maps are continually updated using feedback from Auckland cyclists, local councils and the Ministry of Transport.

Check them out here:

http://www.maxx.co.nz/cycling-walking/cycling/google-maps.html

Rail link back to bike link

24 March 2010- A Taranaki man has come up with an innovative plan to transform the region's eastern rail link into a unique tourist attraction.

Former Shell Todd Oil Services Ltd chief executive Chris Beath says the Stratford to Okahukura line, at 143 kilometres, could be turned into the world's longest Rail Bike Trail, which tourists would cycle along on specially modified bicycles called rail bikes.

And, to prove his point, he's built his own rail bike, which last week he used to travel along a section of the line between the settlements of Tangarakau and Whangamomona - with representatives of line owner KiwiRail in attendance.

"It worked great," he said yesterday.

Read more here:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/3498293/Rail-link-back-to-bike-link

Tyred old technology recruited for a more carbon-friendly cause

29 March 2010- Wellington firm Bikerakk is using old car tyres to try to entice Kiwis on to bikes, but says there is money to be made from the venture too.

Duncan Forbes and Matt Hammond have created the Bikerakk- a cycle stand with a steel frame and a softer outer made of four recycled car tyres.

The stand's rear wheel is a glass disc that lights up at night, in which organisations can place advertising and signage.

Read more here:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/3519684/Tyred-old-technology-recruited-for-a-more-carbon-friendly-cause

Cyclists, don't be gutter-bunnies, urges motoring org

18 March 2010- The UK Institute of Advanced Motorists is urging cyclists to make themselves seen and to "claim their lane", moving out into the middle of the lane when approaching a junction or parked cars.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has 100,000+ members and runs the advanced driving test.

Duncan Pickering, IAM Cycling Development Manager, said: "There has been some debate as to whether cyclists should stick to the kerb or push out into the road when riding in built-up areas. Our advice to cyclists, based on a comprehensive study, is to stay near to the kerb on long even stretches, but to assert yourself when approaching a junction, pushing out into the road and putting yourself in the direct view of drivers."

Read more here:

http://www.bikeforall.net/news.php?articleshow=801

Hotel guests offered bicycle to pedal for their supper

15 April 2010- Energetic guests at a hotel in Copenhagen who generate electricity using an adapted exercise bike are to be rewarded with a free meal.

The Crowne Plaza Hotel, which already sports solar panels on its facade, aims to reduce its carbon footprint and help its guests to keep fit. Guests wanting the meal voucher will have to produce at least 10 watt-hours of electricity- an amount of energy that would power a light bulb for roughly 15 minutes.

Read more here:

http://www.eta.co.uk/2010/04/15/hotel-guests-offered-bicycle-pedal-their-supper

Weblinks

Hawkes Bay Rotary Pathway survey: have your say on these pathways here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/hbpathwaysurvey

Hurunui Trails: a new project to construct walking and cycling trails in the Hurunui district:

http://www.hurunuitrails.co.nz

Fancy a bicycle study tour of the Netherlands in 2011?

http://www.gazellebicycles.com.au/component/content/article/248.html

Blue Dragon bicycle tour: a bike tour through NZ raising funds for child poverty relief in Vietnam:

http://www.bluedragonbicycletour.org/

Bicycle policies in European towns: a survey from the Dutch Fietsberaad:

http://www.fietsberaad.nl/library/repository/bestanden/Fietsberaad_publicatie7_Engels.pdf

Turn signal biking jacket:

http://www.popwuping.com/apparel/turn-signal-biking-jacket.php

Share bikes to hit Brisbane and Melbourne:

http://www.bv.com.au/bikes-&-riding/42222/

Bike lanes in the sky?

http://kolelinia.com/en/

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!

ABOUT e.CAN

e.CAN is distributed approximately every month to CAN members and other interested people. CAN members also get our bi-monthly magazine, ChainLinks.

To check back issues of e.CAN, go to http://www.can.org.nz/ecan .

To subscribe or unsubscribe from e.CAN, go to http://www.can.org.nz/joinfriend .

If you're getting e.CAN via a local 'Friends' Yahoo group (e.g. Friends of Cycle Aware Wellington, Bike Taupo), and you want to unsubscribe, use the 'unsubscribe' link at the bottom of this email.

--
Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN)
PO Box 6491, Auckland
email: secretary@can.org.nz
CAN website: http://www.can.org.nz