The National Cycleway Advisory Group is a coalition of national Business and Non-government representatives[1] who believe a national cycleway will benefit New Zealand significantly, who are already working to bring it about and who offer their expertise and influence to advise on its development. We think it's a great idea to invest in national cycling infrastructure. We think it can boost jobs and provide a real asset for New Zealand. However, a smart approach will be needed to ensure that the investment results not in something that just delivers jobs in the construction phase, but something that can keep on contributing to the prosperity and wellbeing of New Zealanders in the future. A cycleway must set out to deliver the best experience of New Zealand cycling to both overseas visitors and New Zealanders. It is about the best experience from the point of view of the user (the...
News: March 2009
Mar
Hi, I sent the following letter to Steve Harte and Paul Barker at WCC, suggesting a site visit to Riddiford St. Paul is available most of the times suggested - just waiting for him to confirm Steve's availability. Let me know if you're interested in coming along for the site visit. We only need 2-3 people from CAW, and want to keep things constructive. I've also included below a draft letter Nick has prepared to follow up on the visit. Comments on the letter are welcome. Word version also attached so you can see the photos. Cheers, Robert Dear Steve & Paul, It's great to see the Advance Stop Boxes go in on Riddiford St. I've already made much use of them! Congratulations and thanks to WCC for this initiative. I hope we see lots more of them around the city. A group of CAW members had a look at the Riddiford St layout changes after some concerns about their impact...
Mar
You might be aware that NZTA recently turned down a golden opportunity to add cycling and walking paths to the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee then proposed a trial on the Bridge. True to form, the NZTA dismissed the idea, so it’s now time to protest! A demonstration march is planned for Sunday morning 9am, May 3rd, 2009, starting at the Westhaven end of the Bridge. For more info and news, see... http://intersect.ning.com/events/walking-and-cycling-over-the http://getacross.org.nz/ http://www.ridestrong.org.nz/RS/groups/get_across_the_auckland_harbour_b... Get Across Crowd www.getacross.org.nz
Mar
GWRC are consulting on the proposed regional land transport programme 2009-12. I've got a print copy of the document, but it's also online. We'll need to get a submission in by 24 April. Any volunteers to coordinate this?
Mar
WCC is asking for comment on restoration of Te Raekaihau Point (west side of Island Bay, on the way to Houghton Bay, proposed but failed location of Marine Ed Centre). This could be relevant to CAW, given the south coast road's importance as a recreational cycling route. There is an open session on 11-3 5 April.
Mar
Watch here for Tamati's Tiki Tour - One Less Car on the Road in Nelson on Thursday 26th March. Or copy and paste the following into your browser. http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/breakfast-thursday-march-26-2588088/vid...
Mar
Jimmy is a journalism student thinking of doing a story on cycling and walking around the Miramar peninsula. I've given him some leads already, but if you would like to give him some ideas, his contact details are in the email. -- Alastair From: James Ellingham [jamesellingham@xtra.co.nz] Sent: Thursday, 26 March 2009 10:43 a.m. To: Alastair Smith Subject: Cycling around Miramar Hi Alistair, I'm a student journalist from Massey University, and I'm currently looking at why there are no cycling/walking facilities around Miramar, as it seems to be a popular recreational area. I hope it's okay to email you at work, as I received your email address when I rang the number listed on the Cycle Aware Wellington website. I saw on Cycle Aware Wellington's website that this issue was...
Mar
New Group Starter Booklet - A 21 page guide outlining the steps you need to take to start a new group in your area Draft Consititution - A basic constitution to provide the buiding blocks for your new constitution. Funding Information - A useful guide to potential avenues of funding Getting Started Visual - A flow chart showing the steps
Mar
Bicycle Nelson Bays minutes 25-3-2009 Present: Anne, Helen, Fiona, Richard, Lyneke Agenda items Meetings and acrtive membership -need to have regular meetings at a regular venue -meeting at the pub went well Tasman Regional Land Transport Strategy Heart of Nelson follow up Port Nelson Infill BAG issues -need to have regular meetings at a regular venue to get more people to make it to meetings. Meeting at the pub went well but not conducive to getting a lot of work done. Fiona to send Anne an up to date list to identify people who could become active members. Fiona to develop a script for talking to new members. It was messy to sign people up with BNB then try and get them to join CAN. Is the key point to do it by emails/website. Meetings from 2nd Tuesday of the month from now on- does this clash with road cycling? Tasman Regional Land Transport Strategy...
Mar
How do we get local people involved? Who do we target? Who are BNB representing when doing submissions? Is it the usual suspects or are there more cyclists out there? Anne (not really Fiona)
Mar
Just a reminder about the meeting on cycling in the botanic Gardens, tonight Tuesday 24 Mar 5.30pm
Mar
"The Regional Walking and Cycling Strategy covers safety, access and mobility, infrastructure and strategic planning for active modes of transport in the Bay of Plenty. It also includes an indicative Regional Cycling Network, which identifies a series of cycle routes across the Bay of Plenty. Environment Bay of Plenty has worked with many organisations on this regional strategy. These include the New Zealand Transport Agency, city and district councils, Sport Bay of Plenty and Toi Te Ora Public Health. The Regional Walking and Cycling Strategy was adopted by the Regional Transport Committee on 5th March 2009" . . attached is a scan of the letter thanking us for our submission. More on the strategy (including a pdf download) can be seen at: http://www.envbop.govt.nz/Publications/Regional-Walking-and-Cycling-Stra...
Mar
Cycling is popular, safe, economical, responsible and healthy. It's also really simple! here's a guide to making your cycling all of these and more! You can download this guide too - click on the download icon at the bottom of the text. CAN Guide to Every Day Cycling Ride with pride You’re making a difference! Enjoy your riding Smile, feel great, radiate happiness! Support other cyclists Help make cycling better for everybody! Do it by bike Make those small trips by cycle! Follow the road code at all times Know the code, stay alert, don’t lose your cool! Love your bike Make sure it’s as safe and healthy as your good self! Report problems Let your local council and police know about any...
Mar
This page provides New Zealand's road code to help motorists and cyclists share the road in safety. 1. For Motorists - Sharing the road with cyclists Cyclists can be quite vulnerable on the road as they are less visible and less well protected than other road users. For these reasons, be alert for cyclists on the road and drive carefully when near them. Safe driving around cyclists Hazards like parked cars, potholes, glass, litter and opening car doors may cause cyclists to veer off-line and move into your path. Because of this, give cyclists plenty of room when passing them. Ideally, allow at least 1.5 metres between you and the cyclist. Wait for a clear space before passing a cyclist on a narrow road. At intersections, apply the same rules to cyclists that you would to any other vehicle on the road. Take care to indicate turns. Only drive across cycle lanes when...
Mar
CAN Cycling in New Zealand - Facts and Figures Cycling is popular, safe, economical, responsible and healthy. These key facts and figures show why this is true in New Zealand. You can download the page below, giving the more detailed facts and figures. o There are many cyclists. There are 1.3 million cyclists in New Zealand today (30% of the population), and of these, 750,000 are adults of voting age (26% of adults). o Cycling is relatively safe. About 1 in 1,000 cyclists have road accidents compared to about 3 in 1,000 car drivers. Only 40% of cycling crashes are caused directly by the cyclist, with a smaller proportion by adult cyclists[1]. o Cycling more than pays its way. Urban cycle lanes and other facilities are partly paid for by rates, which cyclist pay, and partly...
Mar
Film review: Veer - the movie Directed by Greg Fredette 98 minutes, hdv, colour Want to borrow this movie from CAN? When Greg Fredette started making Veer, a new feature-length documentary about bike culture in Portland, Oregon, he had less faith in his community. But as he followed the tributaries of the cycling scene, he found an increasing sense of hope. “I feel like I’m far less cynical than I used to be,” he says, speaking from Portland a week before Veer premiered in February. “I noticed a change in myself. I had found myself disappointed in our government and our community – but I met so many people who are dedicated to improving things.” One such character in Veer is Steven Kung, president of Exchange Cycle Tours, a program that uses bicycles for social/travel exchanges. “An average guy,” Fredette says, “who decided to save the...
Mar
URGENT - please contribute to a stocktake of of all regionally significant recreational / tourism cycle routes (off and on road) throughout the country. Submit your routes before 23 March 09 (Monday).To support the background work / feasibility study being undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism for the National Cycleway, the working party of key stakeholders urgently need to undertake a stocktake of all regionally significant recreational / tourism cycle routes (off and on road) throughout the country. We need input from people who have a good knowledge of cycle routes within their region - this includes existing routes, or those in construction or that are planned. Can you please bring this to the attention of any key person (s) in region that is likely to have this knowledge and is able to respond prior to Monday 23rd of March. We will be collating the information on Monday. We...
Mar
Cycle Aware Wellington news release ** draft ** 18 March 2009 Cyclists welcome Wellington's first cycling stop boxes Adelaide Rd stop boxes Green rectangles painted on the road have appeared near traffic lights in Newtown. But these aren't street art, they are Wellington's first advanced stop boxes, designed to help cyclists get a smooth start at traffic lights. Cycle Aware Wellington chairperson Illona Keenan says the stop boxes are a welcome safety innovation for both cyclists and drivers. “Stop boxes make cyclists more visible to motorists, and help cyclists get through the intersection smartly.” “Left-turning motorists won't have to wait for cyclists on their left who may be going straight through the intersection.” Stop boxes ensure right-turning cyclists are properly positioned. They reduce exposure to exhaust, which...