Subject: Do you commute regularly into town? Do you know someone who does? Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:41:50 +1300 Hi all Jess from Sport BOP contacted me about the bike buddy programme during Bike Wise month (February 2010). The idea is to give new cycling commuters an opportunity to join experienced commuters during Bike Wise month (we should probably have this going all year round). There needs to be a person who people can contact to find out if there is an experienced commuter they can join in their area. I’m going to be the contact person but I need a list of experienced commuters willing to buddy up with new commuters during Bike Wise month. If you’re able and willing to support this programme during Bike Wise then please contact me with information on your commuting day/time/route. Cheers Eldad Collins Principal Planner/Sustainability Advisor APR...
News: November 2009
Nov
(Bicycle Industry Association of New Zealand) www.bianz.org.nz New Zealand Retailers Association Incorporated
Nov
Image: NYC DOT (pdf) "Everybody get out there and ride!" The stats are out and according to the NYC DOT, bicycling in New York has shot up by 26% in 2009, which is a lot by any measure, though it is lower than the 35% increase in 2008. As you can see from the chart above, these increases are unprecedented. For more on these feel good news, make sure to check out the great video. Streetsblog writes: The new counts bolster the evidence linking safer bikeways to increased cycling. New York's bike network expanded significantly in the past 12 months, including protected paths on Broadway, Eighth Avenue, the Sands Street approach to the Manhattan Bridge, Allen Street, and Kent Avenue in Williamsburg. In total, NYC has created 200 miles of bike routes in the past three years, and now...
Nov
Winners for the CAN Cycle-Friendly Awards 2009 have been announced.Winners for the CAN Cycle-Friendly Awards 2009 have been announced. Out of thirty-three nominations the winners are as follows: Avanti Award for Best Cycle Facility Project: Waitakere City Council for Twin Streams Walking & Cycleway NZ Transport Agency Award for Best Cycling Promotion: Frocks On Bikes, Wellington for Frocks On Bikes NZ Transport Agency Award for Cycle-Friendly Commitment by Business: Fullers Ferries for Fullers’ Integrated Ferry and Bus Service ViaStrada Award for Cycle-Friendly Commitment by a Public Organisation: Police Nelson & Nelson City Council for Bobbies on Bikes Taranaki Regional Council Award for Cycling Champion of the Year Bevan Woodward – Auckland Harbour...
Nov
We should discuss CAW involvement with this at 1 Dec CAW meeting Hi, My name is Tania; I am event coordinator for the 2nd annual community Mt Victoria Inner City Festival in Wellington. If I could ask for a couple of minutes of your time in relation to this festival I’d be grateful. I would like to invite CAW to be involved in next year's festival. I am approaching various other groups in Wellington that have a love for protecting our environment and making our world more sustainable, but welcome you to suggest others who might be worthwhile approaching. It’s an eco-focused festival is planned for Saturday 27 February 2010: 10am – 3pm, and has a theme of sustainability and green living. Ideas for how CAW could be involved include; * Helping to running a workshop on bike skills etc * Listing the festival on your site – promoting people to cycle along and check it out *...
Nov
We should discuss CAW involvement with this at 1 Dec CAW meeting Hi, My name is Tania; I am event coordinator for the 2nd annual community Mt Victoria Inner City Festival in Wellington. If I could ask for a couple of minutes of your time in relation to this festival I’d be grateful. I would like to invite CAW to be involved in next year's festival. I am approaching various other groups in Wellington that have a love for protecting our environment and making our world more sustainable, but welcome you to suggest others who might be worthwhile approaching. It’s an eco-focused festival is planned for Saturday 27 February 2010: 10am – 3pm, and has a theme of sustainability and green living. Ideas for how CAW could be involved include; * Helping to running a workshop on bike skills etc * Listing the festival on your site – promoting people to cycle along and check it out *...
Nov
Opportunities for Regional Co-operation New requirements under recent changes to the Land Transport Management Act is for road controlling authorities and Regional Councils to bid for money from the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) as a region by submitting a Regional Land Transport Programme (RLTP) to the NZ Transport Agency. Previously each local Council put in a separate local bid. This is obviously not such a shift for Unitary Authorities (Territorial Authorities that combine local and regional councils into one body) who were already acting regionally. Regions now more than ever need to decide what is important regionally in terms of prioritisation of regional transport projects. Working regionally clearly has become even more important in the transport sector. Sometimes the number of local authorities in each...
Nov
Hot tips for verbal submissions from a pro-walking and cycling City Councillor's perspective Your presentation to Council is an important part of advocating for walking & cycling. All Councillors may not have read your written submission – though staff will have done so. Always ask to speak to your submission. This is when you will have Councillors’ attention and can make an impact. Think long term about submissions. You may not get all of what you want this year – but keep coming and making the same credible case. Councillors will then get to know that you mean business, have support, and won’t go away. Your ongoing relationships with staff are important in making progress. Be organised, articulate, and committed. Make it clear what you are asking Council to do, especially around funding, which is what they will be focused on. Prepare a...
Nov
Prime Minister John Key has officially launched construction of the first national cycle trail on the banks of the Waikato River today. The two new sections of Mr Key's plan to build a series of cycle tracks throughout the country run from the Waipapa Dam to Lake Karapiro and from Whakamuru to Mangakino, in the south Waikato. The Government will spend $3 million of the $50 million set aside for the cycleway project on 41km of track to complete a 100 kilometre track that will follow the Waikato River. Mr Key said the Waikato cycleway was already well advanced due to support from the community and corporate sponsors, and would be completed in time for the Rowing World Cup at Lake Karapiro in 2010. The brand for the cycleway was also unveiled showing a stylised stick figure riding a bike with the slogan Nga Haerenga -- the journeys, The New Zealand Cycle Trail. Mr Key said today...
Nov
I started this a month or so ago and have only filled in bits on my regular commuting route. It is a public document so please add and edit as you see fit. The street view feature is really useful - you can drag the little orange man to any point and rotate his street level view 360 degrees. http://maps.google.co.nz/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&moduleurl=http:%2F%2Fmaps.googl...
Nov
Stylish bikes and people at the launch of Frocks on Bikes Christchurch, NZ. Seeking to promote the idea that one CAN ride a bike in normal attire. Frocks on Bikes Link to John Lieswyn's photos from October 24 2009
Nov
His team would ban vehicles from the city's "Golden Mile" – Lambton Quay, Courtenay Place, Willis and Manners streets – to create a pedestrian mall complete with free trams and cycle lanes. "The whole ambience of the place would just boom .. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3028363/Prendergast-may-try-for...
Nov
SubCycle Group: for women of recreation Introducing SUB (Sarah Ulmer Brand) Culture A Subculture is a social group within a national culture. Within the national culture of females being active and healthy, we would like to invite you to be part of our *SUBculture*. SUB identified that a lot of you want to ride, run or walk with other women of a similar ability, but don’t know how to meet these like minded ladies, or are afraid of rolling up to a bunch ride or group run where the testosterone will overpower any enjoyment you may have had. The other issue is always time, so it is important that these group sessions are local to you and at a convenient time. So let us introduce the new SUBculture, this is a vehicle for women nationwide to ride with other women, motivating you to ride more and to meet like minded ladies. We hope that SUBculture helps you to be motivated and in...
Nov
Today, the cell phone ban while driving comes into force. Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN) congratulates the government for this road safety initiative. CAN has long been asking for such a ban. "We have made submissions to Government for years on this topic, as it's such a no-brainer. If you want to get the road toll down, then this is one of the really simple initiatives", says CAN technical adviser Andrew Macbeth. Our policy on the matter can be found on our website. CAN co-chair Axel Wilke points out that the changes to the road rules also include cyclists. The Road User Amendment Rule talks about 'drivers of vehicles' in relation to cell phones, and the relevant definitions include cyclists and bicycles. "As long as your cell phone has a speaker phone facility, it's very easy to build your own hands-free set, as you can see in the attached photo", Mr Wilke says. ==Ends== For further...