News: September 2008

The Gemini Cycle-Friendly Awards 2008 will be presented by the Minister of Commerce, Hon. Lianne Dalziel. The award finalists have now been announced. All finalists receive a certificate, while the category winners also receive a custom-designed “bicycle-bell” trophy. Gemini Cycle-Friendly Award Trophy The Award ceremony will commence at 5 pm on Friday, 3 October 2008. The Award ceremony will be followed by a drinks and nibbles function in the adjacent Belgian Café Torenhof, on 88 Armagh Street [part of the Provincial Buildings]. The venue is the Canterbury Provincial Buildings Stone Chamber, Durham Street, Christchurch [see map below] If you plan to attend please RSVP to awards@can.org.nz.  Canterbury Provincial Buildings Stone Chamber Map

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To report road hazards (potholes, glass etc.), parking infringements, broken traffic lights, contact: HUTT CITY: 570 6666 (567 2003 a/h), cycle.fault@huttcity.govt.nz KAPITI COAST: 04 2964 700 (hazards etc.); Police (parking enforcement) PORIRUA: For all enquiries ring Porirua City Council call centre 04 237 5089 (24hrs), or email enquiries@pcc.govt.nz SOUTH WAIRARAPA DISTRICT: Ravi Mangar, 06-306 9611, ravi@swdc.govt.nz UPPER HUTT: 527 2169 (Technical Support Unit) tsu@uhcc.govt.nz WELLINGTON: 499 4444; for reporting motorists parking on footpaths and cycletracks ring Parkwise on 801 3555 For cycling comments, contact: HUTT CITY: Wayne King, Senior Traffic Engineer, 04 5706944, wayne.king@huttcity.govt.nz, or cycle.fault@huttcity.govt.nz KAPITI COAST: Stuart Kilmister stuart.kilmister@kapiticoast.govt.nz 04 2964 631 Porirua: Geoff Marshall, phone 04 237 1479 SOUTH WAIRARAPA...

“Being Cycle Aware” is a half-day road safety workshop, which aims to give participants an understanding of the issues that face cyclists every day. It has classroom and practical aspects. The workshop consists of the experience of cycling in “real” road conditions guided by an experienced cyclist, and follow up discussion/feedback to review those experiences. We strongly believe that what we have developed to date is an effective vehicle for presenting cycling road-safety issues. We have packaged the Workshop into a kit, and encourage other groups to use the material either as is, or develop it further to suit their needs. The resource kit includes a template for an agenda, facilitator’s notes, slides and other support material. Please let us know how you are using it, and let us know of any modifications you make, so that we can incorporate your ideas into future...

CAW's survey of Wellington City Council and Wellington Regional Council candidates

Seen some dodgy driving behaviour? Fill in this form and let the Police take care of it. This report will be used by the New Zealand Police to advise the owner of a motor vehicle about the driving behaviour you have observed and reported. The Police will regard your report as confidential; in accordance with the provisions of the law as it relates to privacy and disclosure of information.

Cycle Aware Wellington has been concerned about the hazards posed by sump gratings on Wellington roads. The standard pattern parallel grating is liable to trap bicycle tires and cause accidents. Some sump gratings are sunken below the road surface, creating a hazardous hole. Many gratings are located at points where traffic forces cyclists into the edge of the road and it is difficult to avoid riding into the sump. In addition, there are gratings which are broken, and pose a hazard to small cars and children, let alone bicycles! In September and October CAW canvassed Wellington cyclists for the gratings that they considered most hazardous. These are documented in the attached report (440 KB pdf). While CAW considers that all these gratings should be changed to make them more cyclist-friendly, five have been identified as being a high priority for attention...

Check out these bike buses leaving from various parts of Wellington each morning.