CAN staff and volunteers delivered 2x1-hour workshops at SKM (Sinclair Knight Merz) on World Day for Safety and Health at Work, 28 April 2009, in return for a cash donation to CAN. Auckland: Kirsten, Barb, Barb and Stephen met a dozen SKM staff. Their new Auckland office is well set up with secure bike parking and staff showers, partly thanks to an already active BUG which has up to 40 members. Most of the group were thinking of cycling to work, or keen to take it up again after a break. CAA's talk emphasised encouragement for new cyclists, covering getting started, bikes and gear, and route planning. Questions were maily focussed on finding safe routes for commuting, particularly safe ways into SKM's Parnell office off very busy Stanley St. and on combining cycling with other forms of transport. We also talked about bike maintenance, punctures, protective...
News: April 2009
Apr
Nominations are now open for the Cedric Rogers Memorial Award, for leadership in road safety practice. This award has been commissioned by SASTA, the Safe and Sustainable Transport Association NZ. Some of the criteria for entries are: The work for which the individual is nominated will have achieved long term road safety benefits through education, engineering, enforcement, management, community ownership, or a range of these The nominator is to explain briefly the role and work for which the nominee is being nominated Each nominee must hold current SASTA membership, and have a representative attending the next SASTA AGM Completed entries must be received by 5 pm, Thursday 9 July 2009 For more info, contact Anna Blomquist. CAN has been mailed an entry form- contact Adrian if you want it.
Apr
Correspondence forwarded by Paul Bruce. Anyone had a similar experience? Cheers, Robert "Just writing because I've seen a LOT of police gathered at certain spots around wellington to stop cyclists and give them tickets. Is there some sort of crackdown on cyclists? Would be really great to know what was going on before i write a letter to say, the council or whoever is responsible. Its really quite infuriating all these police in their hi-vis gear stopping cyclists who appeared to be following all the rules (helmet, lights, hi-vis gear). Wouldnt their resources be better placed in educating car drivers on sharing the road with cyclists? Your thoughts would be much appreciated. Hope you are well."
Apr
Latest newsletter from the Office for the Community & Voluntary Sector is available here.
Apr
Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) (for 2009 – 2019) You still have a few days in which to male a written submission on the Long Term Council Community Plans for the region’s city councils: Wellington (by 18th May), Hutt City (30th April), Porirua City (1st May), Upper Hutt (13th May). In the drafting meeting, CAW’s representatives stressed the importance of: Ensuring commitment to, and continued funding for, cycle policy; Promoting active transport - all the more important in time of recession; Supporting The Great Harbour Way – including maintaining and improving cycle facilities around the harbour; That new initiatives should include consideration of cycling possibilities/implications. Please try and find time to make a submission, even if only short. This is a good opportunity to encourage improved local-body commitment to...
Apr
Eight-year-old Nigel Williams from Maidenhead will tomorrow step into his family’s history books when for the first time he will attempt to walk alone along the three hundred-metre route from his home to school. His mother, Jennifer said that although she was apprehensive, she supported her son in what she described as ‘the journey of a lifetime’. ‘Of course, as a family we are aware of the dangers of the challenge Nigel faces, but we are fully behind him in this adventure,’ she said. Looking anxiously at the sky, she added that with the weather forecast predicting patchy rain and a stiff breeze for the next day, she still hoped that the attempt wouldn’t have to be abandoned at the last minute. ‘We are a three car family and decided we had to make a difference for the environment’s sake, and Nigel came up with the walk to school idea. I don’t think as parents we are behaving...
Apr
Enquiry received: "I have been advised by my insurance company (State Insurance) that a new policy is being applied by New Zealand Insurance Companies around insurance for Road Racing Cycles over $5000 Today after phoning State Insurance to list my new Road Cycle (value $8000) against my Household insurance policy replacing my old cycle. I was asked if I do any road races, upon informing them that I compete in around 3 events a year I was informed that I would not be covered for any use of that cycle .. only cover for non-use Theft & Fire. Querying the logic I this I was informed that ‘any use’ includes riding to work, general training would not be covered etc because I stated I did actually do some races. Whilst I can accept exclusion for racing, a policy change to affect the general use of a cycle over the value of $5000 seems to be a significant shift in insurance policy...
Apr
Everything you wanted to know about riding to work or school ... but were afraid to ask!The 10 most frequently asked questions about riding to work1. Will I feel good?Long-term health benefits include increased strength, improved muscle tone, and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some cancers.Cycling gets the endorphins flowing and is a great stress release.Remember, bike riding should not feel more strenuous than walking unless you want it to. Don't push yourself too hard at first2. Will it take long?For city trips of less than 10km in peak hour, it's generally quicker to cycle than to drive or use public transport.You've also done your exercise for the day so you don't need to find time to go to the gym.3. Do I need any Special Equipment?You need a bike, a helmet (it's illegal to ride without one) and a good lock.If...
Apr
Critical Mass is a bicycling event typically held on the last Friday of every month in over 300 cities around the world. While the ride was originally founded in 1992 with the idea of drawing attention to how unfriendly the city was to bicyclists, the leaderless structure of Critical Mass makes it impossible to assign it any one specific goal. In fact, the purpose of Critical Mass is not formalized beyond the direct action of meeting at a set location and time and traveling as a group through city or town streets on bikes. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass Critical Mass is seen by some as a protest, others as a celebration, party, festival or simply a bike ride. In New Zealand rides happen in Auckland, Rotorua, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Wellington, Timaru [and other places?] Frocks on Bikes could be seen as a variant. And here it is on Facebook. CAN has no...
Apr
In a move described by the Driving Standards Agency as an acknowledgement of the realities of modern life, it was announced that public resources would no longer be invested in attempting to prevent people from dangerous practices such as using mobile phones while driving and instead the driving test will be updated to ensure drivers could manage multi-tasking while in control of a vehicle. ‘It’s a desperately needed step’, claimed Samantha Henshawe, a DSA spokeswoman, ‘the number of accidents that occur while fumbling for a Bluetooth earpiece under the driver’s seat is rising exponentially, but learner drivers aren’t being equipped with the right skills. And really, when was the last time you heard of somebody even trying to reverse around a corner anyway?’ As part of the revised examination traditional manoeuvres such as the three-point turn and parallel parking will be...
Apr
With winter heralding changes in riding conditions, cyclists are being urged to light up and brighten up. Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN) spokes person Stephen McKernon says, “Cyclists should light up for morning, evening, and bad weather riding. Cycling fatalities have declined over recent years, at the same time as high-visibility riding gear and brighter lights have become more popular. Safety-focused attitudes and good safety equipment work." CAN strongly recommends high-visibility reflective gear such as fluorescent clothing, pack covers, and extra reflectors. "The use of high-visibility gear and stronger lights has become more popular over the last decade," McKernon says. "We suspect this may be why cycling fatalities have declined since 1998. Bike sales are up, our roads are busier, and cycling accidents have increased, but brighter cyclists are far less vulnerable at night,...
Apr
Why should the City of Portland invest in bicycling? The role of the modest bicycle in tackling the great challenges we face, today and tomorrow, and why bicycling is a vital tool in realizing the Portland we envision In Portland, bicycling is more than just a recreational pastime. It is the City’s fastest growing means of transportation. In the last four years annual growth in bicycling has been exponential! In 2008, more than one of every six Portlanders used a bicycle as either their primary or secondary means of transportation to work. Here’s how bicycling can help Portland achieve some key goals identified in the Portland Plan: CLIMATE CHANGE & THE ENVIRONMENT - a city that is resilient in the face of climate change and has a minimal carbon footprint Forty percent of Oregon’s CO2 emissions are attributed to...
Apr
Tips for drivers and cyclists, from NZTA and the Ministry of HealthHey, cyclists! Here are some tips for staying safe while cycling. Make eye contact with drivers. Regularly check behind you. Check your bike regularly – brakes, tyres, chain, reflectors and lights. Wear an approved helmet. Make sure it fits firmly and keep it done up. If your helmet gets dented or broken in a crash or dropped heavily, replace it. Work on your bike skills. Practise away from traffic. Make sure you can be seen – bright-coloured clothes, lights and reflectors all help. Ride at least one metre out from parked cars, and watch for drivers opening doors. Occupy the centre of the traffic lane when the road width requires it, or when you need to position yourself for a turn. Scan ahead for potential hazards like potholes, drain gratings, pedestrians or drivers who have...
Apr
Questions for Oral Answer 4. Finance, Minister—Statements [Uncorrected transcript—subject to correction and further editing.] 4. Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Labour—New Lynn) to the Minister of Finance: Does he stand by all the statements he made on TVNZ’s Q+A programme on Sunday, 5 April 2009? Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) : Yes. Hon David Cunliffe: Does the Minister stand by his comment that “the national cycleway is not going to happen in a hurry,” and that he “won’t be spending $50 million on it this year, or next year, or the year after.”? Will he now concede that the 4,000 jobs the Prime Minister promised the cycleway would create are unrealistic and that as a response to the recession it has already failed? Hon BILL ENGLISH: Yes, and no. Hon David Cunliffe: Is the reason the Minister will not commit to funding cycleways—cycling from cloud...
Apr
This is an A-Z index to all the stuff you need: Contact details, images, helmets, logos, media, parking, submissions ... About CAN Bike commuter tips Biking 101 - More tips for commuters Biking 102 – tips for experienced cyclists to share with new cyclists Mythbuster: Utility Cycling Gear Overcoming Excuses Bikes and Buses BUGS - Bicycle User Groups Calendar Campaigns Chainlinks magazine Conferences Contact CAN Critical Mass Cycle-Friendly Awards Cycle Friendly Workplace Cycle parking Cycle skills training Cycle touring Cycling Blogs - Top 50 Donate to CAN eCAN email bulletin Facts and Fiction Funding for Local CAN Groups FundraisingHelmets Help on using this website Home page How to not get hit by cars Image galleries Join CAN Legal Advice Letters to the Editor guide Library catalogue Local groups Local group fund application form Media guide - a guide for news...
Apr
We've received a query from NZTA about permanent warning signs showing not just a bicycle (as is currently the case in NZ), but also a person. The background is that apparently they are considering changing the permanent warning sign for cyclists to have a human being shown in it. It's the only permanent warning sign that currently doesn't show a person. Here's what CAN members have contributed. Bicycle parking Bicycle Permanent Warning Sign - Germany Bicycle path sign Bicycle logo for carriageway Bicycle logo for carriageway - Oregon, USA Bicycle logo for pathway I imagine NZTA staff might even recognise where they are from. My favourite's the one in the triangle - the big cyclist with the even...
Apr
The Whanganui Green Bikes scheme recycles donated bikes, making them roadworthy to lend out for a minimal charge. The scheme has been operating for approximately 10 months now, six of those with funding from NZ Transport Agency and Whanganui Community Foundation. To date, we have given out approximately 100 bikes, with 10 more ready and waiting for their new riders. Many bikes and parts have been donated, to the extent that we now have an ample supply, as well as a number which have already been disassembled for parts. Green Bikes stands as a community-based cycling advocacy group. We aim to help raise the profile of cycling as an effective, efficient, fun and worthwhile means of transport. The project aims to decrease car use and increasing cycling in Whanganui by making it easier for those without a bike to access one. It gives an opportunity to first-timers to try cycling out...