A $50 million national cycleway the length of the country, under consideration at today's Jobs Summit in Auckland, makes great economic sense, according to the Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN). "Major cycling infrastructure projects overseas have brought significant long-term benefits in terms of tourism. Here in New Zealand the success of the Otago Central Rail Trail has shown how a traffic-free route for cycling and walking can have big benefits for the local economy, creating jobs and new business opportunities," says Glen Koorey, CAN's Co-Chairperson. CAN, New Zealand's national organisation for transport, recreational and touring cyclists, is already involved in a new project to kick-start a national cycling and walking network. Planning has already started on this project, financially supported by the Hikurangi Foundation, and involving the national pedestrian advocacy...
News: February 2009
Feb
At Jobs Summit the Government proposes a $50 million cycleway the length of NZ.Nine-day fortnight, cycleway main job ideas http://www.stuff.co.nz/4862152a13.html "Another idea on the table is a $50 million cycleway built the length of the country. It would provide 3700 jobs and would take two years to build. The government is keen on it for its tourist potential." "High level sources say Prime Minister John Key is particularly enthusiastic about the cycleway, saying it will create jobs and boost tourism." Exciting times! CAN is seeking a meeting with the PM to discuss this idea, and how it fits with the Freeway Zero national cycling & walking network project that we are involved with.
Feb
Weekends Meet on Thorndon Quay just before junction with Tinakori Road. Each Saturday (autumn/winter) 8:00 am, higher tempo, up to 80km. Each Sunday 9:00 am, lower tempo, up to 80km. Box Hill Ride - leaves the old BP station at Box Hill in Khandallah at 8:00am most Sundays. http://www.onslowtarbabies.org.nz/index.html Wednesday lunchtime: 12:15 pm, meet outside Circa Theatre, fast up-tempo ride around the bays. If you are interested in events then it pays to check out cycling clubs and groups at the Greater Wellinton Regional Council Site. Many of the clubs and groups have websites which will provide information and links to upcoming events. See http://www.gw.govt.nz/section1153.cfm
Feb
Monday Night Women's ride: Regular rides during day light savings hours, every Monday from Freyberg pool starting at 5:30pm. This ride is around the bays (or there part of). Cyclists of all abilities and bikes of all flavours are welcome. See http://www.pnp.org.nz/ or sign up for the Capitelles Email Group Tuesday Night Wellington Windies SUB Women's ride: Regular rides during daylight savings hours, every Tuesday from Freyberg Pool starting at 5:30 pm. This ride is an introduction to group riding and generally goes around the bays. The group concentrates on being able to ride in traffic, being able to ride with people you don't know, and group etiquette. See http://www.sarahulmerbrand.com/hub/culture/ Thursday Morning SUB Women's ride with Andrea: This group operates all year round, and leaves from Cnr. Cuba and South...
Feb
We have received much information from Mighty River Power and the Ministry for the Environment on the hearing/oral submission coming up, much as CDs. If you want to see this email cycleawaremanawatu@yahoo.com to request. We have been advised of the general dates allocated for the hearing/oral submissions (see attachment). Recent updates also attached (16 Sept 09) as hearing times are delayed.
Feb
Professor of city and metropolitan planning at the University of Utah, and Fellow of the Urban Land Institute. (duration: 31′38″) Reid Ewing is Professor of City and Metropolitan Planning at the University of Utah, and is a Fellow of the Urban Land Institute. He was formerly a Research Professor at the National Center for Smart Growth at the University of Maryland. He has authored books for major planning and development organisations; his most recent publication is Growing Cooler: The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change (Urban Land Institute), and his National Traffic Calming Manual (American Planning Association) is due out later this year. He is visiting New Zealand as a guest of the New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities. http://www.radionz.co.nz/__data/assets/audio_item/0005/1870376/sat-20090...
Feb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnm4UAMFp9Q Canterbury Regional Transport Committee, 16 Feb 2009
Feb
Come and join the fun with these upcoming events for BikeWise month and beyond… See www.frocksonbikes.org for information on and photos of our events
Feb
http://www.ocvs.govt.nz/publications/newsletter/index.html
Feb
Last Tuesday Shaun Taylor was riding his bike to work in Nelson without his helmet on. The police pulled him over. Then he was pepper sprayed and rammed by the police car. http://www.3news.co.nz/Video/CampbellLive/tabid/367/articleID/91551/cat/...
Feb
http://tinyurl.com/da2tj3 & http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelsonmail/4846810a6510.html
Feb
Go By Bike Day (18 February 7:30am) The Lower Octagon. Cyclists will be treated to a complimentary breakfast voucher to use at Barakah, The Ra Bar or Mash. Everyone can try out the crazy bikes from Bikes 4 Fun which go sideways, backways and everyways. Spokes Dunedin will have a bikeworkstand and tools available for a quick tune up on your wheels! Critical Mass! (27 February 2009 at 5:30pm) Otago Museum, Dunedin. Critical Mass group ride in the central city and back to the botanical gardens to raise awareness of cycling as a primary (and fun!) mode of transport. A workshop will be setup from 4pm to enable all cyclists to get their bikes tuned up. All welcome – free of charge. Spot prizes and giveaways will also take place. Contact: Stephen Molloy, SPOKES, 03 467 5178. Walk for the Planet (7 March 2009) Cyclist keen to...
Feb
Has CAW taken up the issue of the site for the new indoor sports stadium with WCC? There are likely to be problems with the proposed site for cyclists & pedestrians, such as no access from the Cobham Drive cycle/pedestrian path. As P/T access won't be great, people will use cars to get there, so the road network in that area will get busier (and less attractive for cycling). Cheers, Robert
Feb
Cycle Action Waiheke Meeting 19 January 2009 14 Hillside Rd Waiheke Island Present: Electra Kalaugher, Tom Ransom, Marijke Ransom, Barbara Cuthbert, Tony King Turner, Marie-France Duhamel Agenda Action points from last meeting Bike Wise Week – AGM, Close Esplanade Day Bikes on Buses ARTA Regional Meeting CAW Logo ACC programme of road works 2008/2009 Transport Forum Advisory cycle lane trial Start of meeting: 7.30pm Action points from last meeting: Outstanding Action Points to be followed up: TOM: to get in touch with FUG to discuss parking removal at Matiatia TOM AND...
Feb
Cycle Action Waiheke caw@gmail.com2020 update - see https://www.facebook.com/Cycle-Action-Waiheke-102206208218703 Cycle Action Waiheke (CAW) is a local cycling advocacy group based on Waiheke Island. CAW was started in 2007 by a group of local people who felt there was a need to create an independant voice for cyclists to comment on local issues. In particular people were concerned and believed that Waihekes roads should be made safer and more enjoyable for everyday cycling. Membership is free and currently(Feb09) running at just over 100 people. Cycle Action Waiheke has presented to the Waiheke Community Board on a number of ocasions at public forum. Presentations so far have included: Presentation on the need for cycle lane provision on Ocean View Road from Matiatia ferry terminal to Oneroa. Presentation on the need for the upgrade of Ocean View Road near Little Oneroa beach to...
Feb
You can join Cycle Aware Manawatu by signing up to our yahoo group by emailing: cycleawaremanawatu@yahoo.com and requesting to join. There is no membership fee but we do encourage you to become a financial member of the Cycling Advocates' Network who provide support to our group and act nationally to promote cycling. http://can.org.nz/join-can You are welcome to come to our monthly public meetings (see heading "Monthly Meetings" for regularly updated details).
Feb
A new report from the Dutch employer's organisation the TNO says that cycling employees save their employers €27M per year due to lower sickness costs. The article says that employees who regularly cycle to work take on average one day less sick leave per year than their non-cycling colleagues. If employers encourage employees to cycle to work more, then they can save more. Across the Netherlands, 26% of all commuting journeys and 10% of business trips are already made by bike. Of course, in some locations these figures are already somewhat higher. The TNO suggests in the article that employers should be trying to increase these figures. The ministry of traffic and works is shortly to start a test of financial incentives for cycle commuting also in order to increase this percentage. More on cycle commuting at David Hembrows excellent website: http://hembrow.blogspot.com/
Feb
http://www.wellington.govt.nz/news/display-item.php?id=3451 Taxis have been given the green light to use Wellington bus lanes in a trial to see if such a move could benefit taxi users and more efficiently use dedicated road space to help ease growing peak-time congestion. Four bus lanes - in Kaiwharawhara Rd, Adelaide Rd, Glenmore St and Chaytor St - have been chosen and will be open for use by taxis from next Monday 9 February. Taxi industry representatives have been lobbying Wellington City Council for access to bus lanes and the Council wants to test the effect on bus operations and travel times. Cr Andy Foster, the Council's Transport Portfolio Leader, said: "We want to see if taxis can benefit from using bus lanes without detracting from the travel time savings we have achieved for buses. "Taxis are a vital part of moving people around Wellington and we see the use of...
Feb
I have been recommended to get in contact with you about a cycling presentation I plan on doing in the South Island. Email is probably the best way to contact me and I look forward to your ideas and suggestions for me. Cheers, d'Arcy. I arrived in New Zealand on Friday from Australia and a month before that, Ethiopia, with a plan to promote volunteering, development and global awareness through an educational and interactive presentation and quiz ~ ‘A World of Global Experiences to Share, Emissions Free!’ Previously on return from volunteering two and a half years ago I rode my bicycle 2000km giving presentations to schools and communities in my home state of South Australia. I plan a similar trip for New Zealand, now with even broader and richer experiences after my last 12 months in Africa with Australian Volunteers International (AVI) and Volunteer...
Feb
Cycling is enjoying a renaissance in New Zealand, and it’s becoming more and more obvious every year. About a third of us – that’s more than 1.5 million people – are now cyclists and one fifth are regular riders.The press release below went out in 2009 via the BikeWise team with our name on it. It's great to be working with and supporting BikeWise.I also recommend Cycling fallacies. ++++ Cycling is enjoying a renaissance in New Zealand, and it’s becoming more and more obvious every year. About a third of us – that’s more than 1.2 million people – are now cyclists and one fifth are regular riders. In fact our passion for pedalling has grown so much that Bike Wise Week has burgeoned into Bike Wise Month. During February people all over the country will ride to work on Go By Bike Day, or with their mayor as part of their local Mayoral Challenge. Thousands of businesses will compete for the...