News

13
Mar

Statement on Reductions in Government Expenditure on Cycling
from Doctors for Active, Safe Transport


Every day as a doctor I see the urgent health need that is putting intense and increasing pressure on our
health system. It’s cancer, it’s heart disease, it’s diabetes and all their awful complications.

Unless we do much more to keep people well we will be overwhelmed.

There is a huge amount of evidence that one of the very best ways to keep people well is get more
people cycling and walking.

And it’s also...

March 13, 2024 Patrick READ MORE
8
Mar

Let's save public transport, walking and cycling.
Join us at Parliament at 5-6 pm on Tuesday 19 March to demand transport for life.

The Government's draft transport plan locks us into car dependency. That means more traffic jams, higher costs, pollution, and more traffic deaths. You can't build your way out of congestion.

We deserve modern transport that makes it easy and affordable to get around by walking, cycling, public transport, and driving. Transport that keeps people safe, supports wellbeing, and doesn't cost the earth.

We'll have...

March 8, 2024 Patrick READ MORE
6
Mar

Each region of New Zealand is required to maintain a 10-year transport plan, called the Regional Land Transport Plan or RLTP. These cover all aspects of transport planning and spending – walking, cycling, public transport – and oh yes, road construction and maintencance (nearly forgot).

Most councils undertake a lot of public engagement and consulting, although the way they do this varies around the country. In one extreme, you’re just dumped into a baffling 100+ page document and have to do your best; in the other, there’s a friendly questionaire with simple options to...

March 6, 2024 robertm READ MORE
4
Mar

Cycling advocates are deeply concerned about the Government's draft transport plans, released today.

"Instead of getting New Zealand back on track, they are taking us on a road to nowhere," said Cycling Action Network spokesman, Patrick Morgan.

“Cutting investment in cycling, walking and public transport is unacceptable. That would cost lives, damage health, deepen the climate crisis, and harm our communities.”

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that you can't build you way out of congestion. Wasting billions on highways means that urgently needed transport...

March 4, 2024 Patrick READ MORE
5
Feb

A Wellington classic: around the bays
By Patrick Morgan
Enjoy a relaxing guided bike tour from Tākina to Evans Bay. Return on new bike lanes in Kilbirnie, Newtown, and Cambridge Tce.
This tour is designed for people attending the To Walk and Cycle conference. in March 2024. We'll cover around 15km over two hours. It's a flat ride suitable for manual and e-bikes, with one 60 metre hill to Newtown.

We'll start at BikeSpace by Te Papa at 1pm on 19 March. We'll experience parts of Wellington's fast-build bike network, Waka Kotahi's Cobham...

February 5, 2024 Patrick READ MORE
26
Jan

Government must do more to protect school children from traffic danger, say cycling advocates


As children head back to school next week, cycling advocates are calling on the Government to protect them from traffic danger.


“To protect our children, traffic speeds near schools must come down,” said Cycling Action Network spokesman Patrick Morgan.


“The new school year is the perfect time for the Government to put safety first....

January 26, 2024 Patrick READ MORE
21
Dec

Cycling action is essential to our climate goals

Robert McLachlan


The heart of Aotearoa’s climate action is the system of carbon budgets and emission reduction plans. We are now halfway through the first budget period, which runs from 2022 to 2025. Planning is well underway for the second (2026-2030) and third (2031-2035) budgets. Decisions about the kinds of infrastructure to build...

December 21, 2023 Patrick READ MORE
21
Dec

Trans rights are human rights, say cycling advocates
Cycling Action Network (CAN) has issued a statement in support of trans women.
"Everyone has the right to participate in cycling and to be treated with respect and empathy," says CAN project manager Patrick Morgan. "Transgender people can take part in sports in the gender they identify with."
In New Zealand it is unlawful to discriminate against someone because of their sexual orientation or sex, including their gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics.
(https://tikatangata.org.nz/...

December 21, 2023 Patrick READ MORE
7
Dec

Let's organise and mobilise

The change of Government means we will likely face some extra challenging headwinds. The coalition agreement signed by National and New Zealand First includes "reduce expenditure on cycleways."

That's unacceptable. As we all face serious public health, safety, climate, and transport problems, we know that cycling offers compelling benefits in these areas.

If there is in fact less going to be spent on cycleways, I am curious how else this Government intends to deliver a truly safe and inclusive active travel environment on New Zealand...

December 7, 2023 Patrick READ MORE
6
Nov

'Outrageous' stalling on sustainable transport projects
(source, RNZ News, 5 November 2023)

More cycleways, like this one in Wellington, are urgently needed, says Cycling Action Network spokesperson Patrick Morgan. Photo: RNZ / Bill Hickman

Cycling and walking advocates are dismayed the transport agency has stopped funding projects to encourage walking, cycling and using public transport.

Waka Kotahi said it was pressing pause on projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars,...

November 6, 2023 Patrick READ MORE
4
Oct

 

Here's my abstract for a workshop at 2WalkAndCycle conference, 19 March 2024

Patrick Morgan, Cycling Action Network


We face huge opportunities to build a better world, where everyone gets a fair go, and our communities are strong and resilient. Better transport choices are an essential tool as we race to decarbonise our towns and cities, enable affordable mobility, and tackle inequality....

October 4, 2023 Patrick READ MORE
26
Sep

From CAN Chair, Alex Dyer

It is amazing to me that we have a situation in politics where some parties - who like to promote values of individual responsibility, personal freedom, local decision making, market-based economics, trading schemes, and other hands-off, government-lite strategies - are also suggesting the nation needs to defend against an ‘anti-car ideology’. 

This frames cars as some kind of universally desired, intrinsically essential component of every New Zealander’s life. An item that needs to be heavily subsidised by our collective behaviour,...

September 26, 2023 Patrick READ MORE
20
Sep

On Car-free Day, 22 September, cycling advocates call for an end to car dependency

News release from Cycling Action Network, September 2023

As record fuel prices put pressure on household budgets, cycling advocates are calling for better solutions.

We must end car dependency, said Cycling Action Network spokesperson, Patrick Morgan.

“Decades of poor transport and...

September 20, 2023 Patrick READ MORE
8
Aug

Do you want safe and attractive cycling in New Zealand? Vote bike.

No matter what kind of riding you are into, now is the time to take action.

The General Election is coming. Election Day is Saturday 14 October. You can vote early if you prefer. Advance voting starts on Monday 2 October.
More than 1.5 million people in NZ ride bikes. Let's demand safe and attractive streets.

How you can help


Vote
Check your enrolment. 
Vote for the party and candidate who best reflects your views on biking....

August 8, 2023 Patrick READ MORE
13
Jul

The bicycle as climate hope

by Robert McLachlan, CAN Board member

What role can cycling play in Aotearoa’s climate action? This question tends to prompt two extreme responses that are so far apart as to seem contradictory. On one hand, a bicycle is so obviously a simple, durable, and ultra-low emission technology, that to compare it with a car is almost ridiculous. The bicycle is a role model for what sustainable technology can be. On the other hand, our cities and transport systems are built around cars, and the mode share for cycling is...

July 13, 2023 Patrick READ MORE
14
Jun

Submission to MDC - Lansdowne to Kuripuni Cycleway
https://www.mstn.govt.nz/council/have-your-say/consultations?item=id:2m803f0he17q9sefp2bv

To: submissions@mstn.govt.nz

14 June 2023

1. CAN supports the planned Lansdowne to Kuripuni Cycleway.
It's good to see the Council planning to build protected bike lanes. These are necessary to enable people to make more trips by bike and scooter. Paint is not...

June 14, 2023 Patrick READ MORE
30
May

Upper Hutt transport strategy

Submission guide from Cycling Action Network
May 2023

Upper Hutt City Council is creating a new transport strategy. This will guide spending and decisions on cycling and other transport projects for the next 10 years. We don’t think it goes far enough to prioritise sustainable transport, or consider land use.
Please have your say. Here’s our submission guide.

Visit Getting into gear: Improving Upper Hutt's transport network

Have a look at Information Sheets - Vision,...

May 30, 2023 Patrick READ MORE
28
Mar

Lots of people from Cycle Wellington and Wellington City Council have contributed to making Go By Bike Day in Wellington a success over the years.

Here's a partial list of organisers.

Christina Van Dam
Marilyn Northcotte
Annemarie Delaney
Ash Peters
Christina Bellis
Claire P
Hugh Young
Kim Young
Shalee F
Georgia Halley
2023: Trish Given

March 28, 2023 Patrick READ MORE
31
Jan

Patrick Morgan, Project Manager, Cycling Action Network

Another challenging and rewarding year. While Covid has forced us all to adapt, I'm proud of what CAN has achieved


Thanks to everyone at CAN for your time, energy and passion. I'm impressed with your commitment to serve your community by fighting for better biking. You inspire me. Together, we're stronger and more effective.


As CAN's project manager, it's my job to
- support your advocacy,
-...

January 31, 2023 Patrick READ MORE
16
Jan

"An urban myth has taken hold in some parts of Wellington that bike lanes are bad for business. It happened in Island Bay and it’s happening again in Newtown." - source Dominion Post, 2022.

The opposite is true.

An analysis of more than a dozen studies looking at the impact of improved cycling and pedestrian infrastructure on business shows a largely positive impact on earnings.

In some cases, there was no impact on business...

January 16, 2023 Patrick READ MORE