e.CAN 186 - The email bulletin of Cycling Advocates' Network, NZ

e.CAN 186 - The email bulletin of Cycling Advocates' Network, NZ

Contents:

Get your Cycle Friendly Awards nominations in

The Cycling Advocates Network is inviting entries for the ASB Cycle Friendly Awards 2010. Awards will be offered in the following categories:

  • Best Cycle Facility Project
  • Best Cycling Promotion Project
  • Cycle Friendly Commitment by a Business
  • Cycle Friendly Commitment by a Public Organisation
  • Cycling Champion of the Year

Entries may cover an 18 month period, from January 2009 until June 2010.

Cycle Friendly Awards coordinator Dirk De Lu says, "For many organisations, the Awards are an opportunity to showcase their efforts and vision through well developed sustainable travel options for their operations and communities.

"The Bicycle Bell trophy is highly sought after and placed prominently with pride by previous winners."

This year's ASB Cycle Friendly Awards ceremony will be held in Wellington on Friday 29 October, with sponsorship from Wellington City Council.

The ceremony initiates a weekend of cycling action with the annual meeting of cycling advocates, the CAN Do, also held in Wellington.

The closing date for entries is Friday 3 September 2010. Entry forms are at: http://can.org.nz/asb-cycle-friendly-awards-2010

Contact Dirk De Lu on 03 337 1790 or awards@can.org.nz.

CAN Do 2010 is coming

The CAN Do, our annual get-together of cycling advocates from around NZ, will be held in Petone (Lower Hutt), over the weekend of 30-31 October.

As well as the usual workshops and other sessions for advocates to share experiences and skills, there will also be the ASB Cycle Friendly Awards ceremony on the Friday night beforehand for those already in town.

Mark your diaries now- more details to follow soon!

Helmets: to be, or not to be compulsory?

A recent Canadian study, from the Universities of Manitoba and Ottawa, says helmet use is highest in provinces with mandatory legislation and that such legislation does not affect recreational or commuting cycling among children and adults:

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/helmet-law-needed-here-prof-100418244.html

Meanwhile, two Sydney University researchers say Australian helmet laws have not worked and they'd be better off without them:

http://www.smh.com.au/national/call-to-repeal-law-on-bicycle-helmets-20100815-12573.html

And Irish politicians are looking at bringing in a helmet law there:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/bid-to-make-bike-helmets-compulsory-14913087.html

London launches cycle hire scheme

31 July 2010- London launched a major cycle hire scheme on Friday which aims to make transport in the city greener ahead of the 2012 Olympics, following in the tracks of cities like Paris and Shanghai.

Mayor Boris Johnson, himself a keen cyclist, said the scheme was a "new dawn" for pedal power in London, adding he hoped the bikes will become as common a sight on its streets as black cabs and red double-decker buses.

A total of 5,000 bicycles are currently available from 315 docking stations across the capital, many of them near landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London.

Read more here:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hJqwmJJNMm8vtxnEUjHQnaXHH1aQ

What do cyclists make of London's new cycle superhighways?

19 July 2010- Cycle lanes have become a familiar feature of city streets in the UK but from Monday, London is raising its game - opening bright blue "superhighways" for those putting toe to pedal. But is this a shade of things to come, or just a route to nowhere?

Read more here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10648330

Cycling is an evil United Nations plot, says US politician

4 August 2010- Colorado Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes knows you might think bicycles and bicycle riding are harmless, but beware: "That's exactly the attitude they want you to have."

"This is all very well-disguised, but it will be exposed," Maes said at a small campaign rally last week, according to the Post. "These aren't just warm, fuzzy ideas from the mayor. These are very specific strategies that are dictated to us by this United Nations program that mayors have signed on to."

Read more here:

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/co-gov-goper-maes-hickenloopers-bike-love-is-a-un-plot.php

Weblinks

Cycle Style Auckland: couldn't make it on the night? Don't worry, the video is here:

http://can.org.nz/article/cycle-style-auckland

Andrew goes to Copenhagen: CAN member Andrew Macbeth relates his experiences from the Velo-City 2010 conference and other adventures in Copenhagen:

http://viastrada.co.nz/Velo-City_2010

Model Communities: NZTA's web page on making walking and cycling the easiest transport choice in New Plymouth and Hastings:

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/planning/process/model-communities.html

BikeWise: check out the newly revamped BikeWise website, incorporating the Bike Wise Challenge and other handy resources:

http://www.bikewise.co.nz/

Amsterdam loves bikes: a Dutch rap song on the joys of cycling in Amsterdam:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOkqTDdtlc4

Shanghai back in the saddle: bike paths and cycle tours are coming back in China:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/fast_track/8879176.stm

Sit on it: bike theft deterrent, 1899 style:

http://www.bikehacks.com/bikehacks/2010/08/classic-bike-crime-and-punishment-hack.html

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!

We also welcome donations to support our work. You can donate online at: http://can.org.nz/donate

About e.CAN

e.CAN is distributed approximately every 4 weeks 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.