Cycle Aware Wellington 13 May 2009 Who is Cycle Aware Wellington? We are a voluntary, not-for-profit organisation aimed at improving conditions for cyclists and encouraging more people to bike more often. We are the local advocacy group for cyclists who use their bikes for transport and recreation. Since our inception in 1994, we have worked constructively with local councils on a wide variety of projects, including * Bike to Work Day and other cycling promotion events * Safety and bike skills training for police officers, council staff, adults, and children * Working with the transport sector to improve safety for cyclists in the Wellington region. * Capital City Cycle Guide More at www.caw.org.nz Summary Cycle Aware Wellington appreciates a lot of the points made in the draft LTCCP, but believes Council should specifically...
News: May 2009
May
May
Steve Waring was at a small meeting in Richmond this week. There were nine people in the room, and six, it emerged, had ridden the Central Otago Rail Trail.If you ask around, it might start to feel as if that tiny, unscientific sampling isn't as unrepresentative as it first appears.Seemingly, every second middle-class family, middle-aged couple and experience-seeker with the ability to stay upright on two wheels has made or is planning a trip to the depths of the Maniototo to trundle along the trail for a few days. Waring quotes the latest estimate that 500,000 people have ridden on the Otago trail since it was officially opened almost 10 years ago. His fellow cycle trails enthusiast and advocate, Peter Bone, quotes another estimate, that the market for such trips is growing at anything from 18 to 30 per cent a year.Winding its way through what was once an all but forgotten expanse of...
May
From an email forwarded by PNP: Long Gully Station has applied for a resource consent from WCC for a wind farm (http://www.wellington.govt.nz/news/publicnotices/details/long-gully.html). As well as turbines on the ridge past the radar dome it also includes the construction of a transmission line down the tip track. The documents do not note whether the tip track will be altered in any way. Though the road beyond the radar dome will be upgraded to cater for construction traffic. If this is given the go ahead then the Tip track is a preferred access for construction. If used this would require considerable modification.Perhaps a submission would make all parties more aware of the recreational use of the Tip Track. Submissions due 26 June
May
WCC are calling for feedback on the Kilbirnie Town Plan. There's a specific request for feedback on How easy is it to walk and cycle to and around the centre? Are there opportunities to improve connections between the centre and nearby schools, Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre and where people shop? CAW needs volunteer(s) to look at this from the point of view of implications for cycling, and draft a submission. Feedback is needed by 15 June.
May
See: http://can.org.nz/event/2008/10/31/critical-mass .
May
ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY UNDER REVISION The Government is renewing the national road safety strategy, replacing the 2010 strategy with one that will operate until 2020. The Ministry of Transport is holding initial consultation meetings with stakeholders before issuing a discussion document for public comment. CAN, along with BikeNZ, met with MoT officials on 13 May to highlight key safety issues affecting cyclists. The timetable from here is: late July/early August 2009 - discussion document released for public comment December 2009 - strategy finalised and released CAN groups and members will be invited to submit on the discussion document. CAN will provide suggestions for submissions on this website, publicising it via e.CAN.
May
An update from Bevan Woodward and the Getacross Campaign: Here's the plan from here.. - We intend meeting with the NZTA's CEO to see if they will re-open the walk/cycle way study - We will ask the PM to consider making the walk/cycle a "Road of National Significance", which means it is entitled to a share of the recently announced $1 billion of extra funding for State Highway projects. - We are staging a short protest outside the NZTA's "Bridges Linking Communities" Conference on Wednesday, 8:30 to 9:30am outside the Sky City, please contact Andy for details: andysmith@clear.net.nz or 021-474 740. - We have lodged a complaint with the Auditor-General's office over the NZTA's conduct relating to the walk/cycle way study, see: http://www.fast.gen.nz/page/walking(and)biking-on-the-bridge/auditor-general-investigation/ This is inspiring video of Sunday's events, it's a...
May
GetAcross Media Release 4:30pm, 24 May, 2009Time for the Transport Agency to take walking and cycling seriouslyAfter watching more than 5,000 people stream across the Auckland Harbour Bridge, GetAcross spokesperson Bevan Woodward says: "This is an incredible outcome. We are blown away by the high turn out of Aucklanders and their determination to get walking and cycling access on our Harbour Bridge."As organisers, we were very clear in our instructions that supporters mustn't force their way onto the Bridge, but 'people power' took over today. People of all ages and from all walks of life decided that they'd had enough of the Transport Agency's inaction and wanted to show how strongly they felt.""I do apologise to motorists caught up in the traffic congestion. It was never our intention to cause disruption to the traffic, however the Transport Agency needs to review how it handled the...
May
From: http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/637249History provides many examples of famous associations: Romeo and Juliet, rum and coke, ice and hockey – but what about bicycles and business? This combination certainly has a nice ring to it, but until recently merchants and politicians have associated dollar signs with cars. And yet, there are signs that the times – and the thinking – are changing. The recent proposal by City of Toronto staff for a bike lane on busy Bloor St. is one such sign.Merchants like to see a steady flow of people near their stores because people spend money. Typically – or so the popular wisdom used to go – this flow of people will arrive in cars, which city planners normally call "traffic." Traffic, however, is not only powered by car motors, but also by pedals, feet or transit vehicles. The objective, unless you own a parking lot, is to attract the largest...
May
Some four thousand cyclists and walkers today crossed the Auckland Harbour Bridge as part of the GetAcross campaign. What a wonderful way to celebrate the 50th birthday of our Auckland Harbour Bridge!Some four thousand cyclists and walkers today crossed the Auckland Harbour Bridge as part of the GetAcross campaign. CAN congratulates the GetAcross team for their success in pressuring NZTA and so facilitating access to the Bridge for the huge crowd on the 50th Anniversary of the Bridge's opening. Happy Birthday, Auckland Harbour Bridge! The rally began with speeches held at the southern end of the Bridge from 9am. By 9:30am the crowd was restless and started to drift towards the motorway onramp at the base of Curran Street. These were blocked by barriers and a small numer of Police. Around that time a small group of racing cyclists appeared on the Bridge and rode up the left-hand lane to...
May
Next Meeting: Mishima Room, NPDC, 27 May 2009, 12.30pm. Minutes should be distributed on Monday.
May
Nic from CAW is presenting our submission to WCC on Tue 26 May at 2:40pm at WCC, ground floor, Wakefield St. Please come along asCouncillors pay attention when there's a show of numbers. Our submission, in draft form, is here. I'm presenting my personal submission at 11:40 on Wed 27th.
May
PRESS RELEASE: GETACROSSThe GetAcross campaign is lodging a complaint with the Auditor-General over the NZ Transport Agency's unprofessional and misleading conduct in regard to the Auckland Harbour Bridge walkway and cycleway study.GetAcross spokesperson Bevan Woodward said "After meeting with Ministry of Transport officials to outline our concerns, it was suggested that we refer this matter to the Auditor-General.""We have outlined four key concerns, summarised as: Despite many prior assurances that the Bridge was being future-proofed for walking & cycling by Transport Agency, their Board relied on a last minute "rough assessment" letter (marked "private & confidential') to effectively kill the project Misleading information has been provided by NZTA CEO Geoff Dangerfield and his staff. Transport Agency's CEO Geoff Dangerfield, who has participated in providing...
May
The Cycling Advocates Network (CAN) is pleased to announce the launch of a new cycling safety vest."Our safety vest is bright orange, with a reflective strip to the rear. You can be sure that other road users will see you a mile away!" says CAN spokes person Stephen McKernon."You can also be sure to be the most stylish rider around, whether you are riding to work or on a long weekend ride. The vest has been specially designed for CAN by Ultimo Clothing. It is in the CAN orange, and features a CAN logo on the front. The car-repelling message on the back reads 'Think globally, cycle locally' ", says McKernon. "With this vest, you can't be on the road and not be noticed! This is a sure way to be safe and stylish while also promoting CAN." The first official trial of the vest was at the great Auckland Harbour Bridge crossing, where a number of riders tested the vest in extreme protest...
May
9 Solutions to common non-commuting excuses I’m out of shape •Ride at an easy pace; in a few months you will be in great shape. •Ride your route on a weekend to find the easiest way to work. •You will improve your fitness when you become a regular bike commuter. It takes too long •The average commuter travels at 15 km/h; the more you ride, the faster you will become. •Trips of less than five km will be quicker by bike. •Trips of 8 to 12 km in urban areas may take the same time or less as by car. It’s too far •Try riding to work and taking public transport home, then alternating the next day. •Combine riding and public transport to shorten your commute. •Ride to a co-worker’s house and carpool to work. No bike parking •Look around for a storage area in your building or office. •Stash your bike in a covered, secure place such as a closet or even your office. •Ask employer to...
May
New Zealand Police National News Release 8:49am 21 May 2009http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release.html?id=5115The safety of all individuals will be the primary focus for Police during the planned protest at the Harbour Bridge by the Auckland GetAcross campaign group.Waitemata District Road Policing Manager Superintendent John Kelly says the NZ Transport Agency has decided to disallow the public from walking or cycling across the bridge on Sunday."There is no cycle or walkway on the bridge. The inherent danger to everyone accessing the bridge while it remains open to traffic is clearly evident and obvious to all.""Police will be vigilant in their observations of all road user activity at the bridge on Sunday," he said."Our focus will be on ensuring that traffic flows across the bridge continue as normal, and that everyone who attends Sunday's protest arrives and departs safely," said...
May
Government backs key CTC demand on road safety for cyclists 21/04/2009 CTC - the UK's national cyclists’ organisation, has strongly welcomed the inclusion of a new target to reduce the risk of cycling in the Government’s draft Road Safety Strategy, published today. The strategy backs CTC’s call for a target to halve the risks of cycling within 10 years, and that this target should be based on reducing the actual risks faced by cyclists, not simply on reducing the number of cyclists injured. Safety in numbers There are many examples from Britain and elsewhere to indicate a strong link between increasing cycle use and reducing the risk of cycling. For instance, a 91% increase in cycle use on London’s main roads since 2001 has been accompanied by a 33% reduction in cyclist casualties over roughly the same period. This and other international evidence...
May
Here's the Cabinet Paper on the NZ Cycleway. Paragraphs 27 and 28 indicate the govt's approach: co-funding with regional partners. So if you want govt $ to build a cycleway, get a proposal together and start talking to the Ministry of Tourism. http://www.tourism.govt.nz/Documents/Policy%20Website/Documents/Cycleway... It's also attached below. And from http://www.tourism.govt.nz/Our-Work/National-Cycleway-Project/ What’s next The Ministry of Tourism has been researching New Zealand’s existing and proposed cycleway routes. Some promising routes have already been identified and the Prime Minister expects to announce those selected to form part of the network by the end of July 2009. The aim is to get underway with these projects as soon as possible. Alongside this, an Advisory Group is being established that will look at other regional cycleway...
May
Street Parking & Traders Proposals to install bike lanes on major streets are often met with opposition from merchants who fear that the reallocation of road space from on‐street parking to on‐street bike lanes would hurt business. To encourage more Canadians to use bicycles for utilitarian trips more often, it is essential that the implementation of bike lanes on major streets be accelerated. The Bloor‐Danforth corridor is a particularly attractive option for a citywide east‐west bike lane in Toronto because it is one of the only long, straight, relatively flat routes that connects the city from end to end; there are no streetcar tracks; and it has one of the highest incidences of bicycle collisions in the city. This report is about the development and testing of new analytic tools to determine the public acceptability and economic impact of reallocating road space....