News: March 2010

19
Mar

Cycling to work This map shows the percentage of people who biked to work in various New Zealand cities on Census Day, 2006. Nelson (5.5%), Christchurch (5.1%) and Palmerston North (4.6%) had much higher percentages of bike riders per population than other cities.source: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/bicycles/4/4

March 19, 2010
Patrick
19
Mar

Get Cycling's aim is simple: to promote cycling, in all its varieties, for leisure, transport, health, happiness and the environment. We work for local authorities, health promotion services, regeneration agencies, businesses, schools, universities and the leisure industry.Check out this website:http://www.getcycling.org.uk/index.php

March 19, 2010
julied
18
Mar

SYDNEY will never be a bicycle-friendly city until it develops a ''second cycling culture'' which encourages relaxed European-style riding without the compulsory use of helmets, experts have warned. Instead of advocating racing bikes with drop handle-bars, or mountain bikes with flat bars, cycling groups should encourage the use of traditional upright European styles, often called Amsterdam bikes, to make cycling a mass, utilitarian activity where bikes are used for shopping, running errands and commuting. John Pucher, a US professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey who has written a paper explaining why Sydney cycling levels are half those of Melbourne, believes scrapping two decade-old laws requiring all cyclists to wear helmets would encourage a lot more people on to bikes and provide an overall improvement in community health levels. While he agrees helmets save lives...

March 18, 2010
Alex admin
18
Mar

Between Cycle Tour Operators New Zealand (CTONZ) and Road Transport Forum New Zealand (RTFNZ)As of October 2008 CTONZ & the Road Transport Forum New Zealand (RTFNZ) have an agreement in principle on a protocol for the on road relationship between truck drivers & cycle touring groups. Both organisations recognise that they share the road and, as such have responsibilities towards each other and a common goal, to reduce the number of incidents between cyclists and trucks on our roads.Suggested behaviour -   A - Cyclists & Cycle Tour CompaniesCyclists to be well briefed on NZ road laws and expectations of traffic behaviour and density. Bright high visibility clothing to be strongly promoted to riders. Where possible a flag, reflective diamond or reflective material should be displayed on the bike. In general,...

March 18, 2010
Alex admin
18
Mar

Presentation to the Australian Cycling Conference by Bob Perry – Director SCAPE strategy:Over the past five years, SCAPE strategy has researched the relationship between Transit Oriented Development and bicycles in the world’s most transit-rich city, Tokyo. Staggering differences between Japanese and Australian obesity statistics can be substantially attributed to differences in urban form. The bicycle is an intrinsic component of the Tokyo lifestyle, fundamental to the upbringing of children and the ability of people to age in place. … Ultralocal Cycling engages virtually everybody in everyday movement around neighbourhoods.View here on the Scape Strategy site

March 18, 2010
Alex admin
18
Mar

UK Industry Taskforce on Peak Oil and Energy Security, February 2010The second report of the UK Industry Taskforce on Peak Oil and Energy Security (ITPOES) finds that oil shortages, insecurity of supply and price volatility will destabilise economic, political and social activity potentially by 2015. Peak Oil refers to the point where the highest practicable rate of global oil production has been achieved and from which future levels of production will either plateau, or begin to diminish. This means an end to the era of cheap oil.Download report here (PDF 687KB)

March 18, 2010
Alex admin
18
Mar

High quality public transit consists of service sufficiently convenient and comfortable to attract travel that would otherwise be by automobile. This report uses data from U.S. cities to investigate the incremental costs and benefits of high quality transit service. It indicates that high quality public transit typically requires about $268 in additional subsidies and $104 in additional fares annually per capita, but provides vehicle, parking and road cost savings averaging $1,040 per capita... ...This indicates that residents should rationally support tax increases if needed to create high quality public transit systems in their communities.Current planning practices tend to overlook or undervalue many of these savings and benefits and so result in underinvestment in transit quality improvements.Download here (PDF 220KB) From Victoria Transport Institute, Victoria, BC, Canada

March 18, 2010
Alex admin
18
Mar

We present to you The Copenhagen Cycle Chic Manifesto.- I choose to cycle chic and, at every opportunity, I will choose Style over Speed.- I embrace my responsibility to contribute visually to a more aesthetically pleasing urban landscape.- I am aware that my mere prescence in said urban landscape will inspire others without me being labelled as a 'bicycle activist'.- I will ride with grace, elegance and dignity.- I will choose a bicycle that reflects my personality and style.- I will, however, regard my bicycle as transport and as a mere supplement to my own personal style. Allowing my bike to upstage me is unacceptable.- I will endeavour to ensure that the total value of my clothes always exceeds that of my bicycle.- I will accessorize in accordance with the standards of a bicycle culture and acquire, where possible, a chain guard, kickstand, skirt guard, fenders, bell...

March 18, 2010
Alex admin
18
Mar

The official opening of Bikes in Schools was a great day for all the children, teachers, parents, and guests that attended.It was great to have Sarah Walker, the double world BMX champion, attend and also ride the different bike tracks.The PM John Key had a great time also. He even got on a bike and rode around the 550m bike track. It was great that he choose St Marys School to this for the first time ever.View a video of the day here

March 18, 2010
Alex admin
18
Mar

17 March 2010- New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has just announced that Taupo is one of four New Zealand towns to be shortlisted to become New Zealand's first walking and cycling model community. From the 22 proposals received by NZTA, Taupo has been shortlisted as one of four Councils to progress to stage 2 of the walking and cycling model community process. The decision announced by NZTA at the beginning of March also includes Hastings, New Plymouth and Nelson.http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/taupo-could-become-nz039s-first-walking-a... 

March 18, 2010
adrian
18
Mar

Some people have probably seen this, but for those that haven't this is a promo video Rotterdam has produced as it will be the Le Grand Départ of the Tour de France. Don't worry, it has little to do with cycling racing. Warning, some content may offend. Rotterdam video on YouTube

March 18, 2010
npcycle
17
Mar

Today, I want to announce a sea change. People across America who value bicycling should have a voice when it comes to transportation planning. This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized.We are integrating the needs of bicyclists in federally-funded road projects. We are discouraging transportation investments that negatively affect cyclists and pedestrians. And we are encouraging investments that go beyond the minimum requirements and provide facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.The key recommendations in the new United States Department of Transportation Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation Regulations and Recommendations, that will apply to all projects that receive federal funding (which is most of them):Transportation agencies and local communities should go beyond minimum...

March 17, 2010
Patrick
17
Mar

In mid January 2010 guidance was released to Approved Organisations (AOs) seeking expressions of interest in becoming a walking and cycling model community.  Applying to be a model community is a two stage process and as part of stage one, 22 proposals were received from interested councils. Overall, the majority of the proposals were of a high standard and clearly demonstrated their commitment and passion to become a model community.  It is also evident that there are many communities through-out New Zealand that are already demonstrating the vision of developing great places to live, work and play through their past and current investment in walking and cycling. A national office model community steering group evaluated all 22 proposals and endorsement has just been given to approach Nelson, New Plymouth, Hastings and Taupo, as the short listed councils to progress to...

March 17, 2010
Patrick
10
Mar

Forget Copenhagen & Amsterdam, try Cambridge. Town planners: forget the Netherlands, visit Cambridge (warning the HD video may take some time to stream) Good to see the emphasis on integration of cycling as normal, and a cycle fleet which isn't all MTBs and road racers.

March 10, 2010
npcycle
5
Mar

MANY MANY thanks to all of you out there who participated, organised and supported Bike Wise Events throughout Feb. As a keen member of CAW, it gives me encouragement to keep on pressing for improvements in infrastructure, signage or anything else to make cycling safer and easier for all, and especially school children - observations throughout the month have given me plenty to campaign about! Our next CAW meeting is Wed 10th March 7pm 2 Lakeview Place - some of us will be eating after our TimeBank/Community Gardening session, so you will be welcome to bring something and eat with us. Our main focus will be feedback from our CAW Bike Wise events, and where we go from here.  The idea of having a Critical Mass Bike Ride on the last Friday of each month has come up again - tell us what you think by e-mail if you can't make it to the meeting? Regards, Pippip@wonacott...

March 5, 2010
Anne F
4
Mar

1. Traffic: From 1950 to 1970, the U.S. automobile population grew four times faster than the humanpopulation. As a result, we Americans spent nearly 500,000 years stuck in traffic in 2007 - nearly 4.2billion hours.2. Cars Kill Children: The leading cause of death for children aged 5 to 14 in New York City ispedestrian automobile accidents.3. Cars Kill Animals: Automobiles, SUVs, trucks, and other fossil field-burning vehicles kill a millionwild animals per week in the U.S. - not counting tens of thousands of family pets.4. Sprawl: During the last century, an area equal to all the arable land in Ohio, Indiana, andPennsylvania was paved in the U.S.5. Waste: Cars create 7 billion pounds of un-recycled scrap and waste annually and approximately onebillion discarded tires are littering our increasingly paved landscape.6. Global Warming: More than 333 million tons of carbon dioxide are...

March 4, 2010
Alex admin
4
Mar

"Bike On NZ" Hastings Commuter Cycle ChallengeFeb/March 2010Tukituki MP for the National Party, Craig Foss and Bike Hawke’s Bay Cycling Development Officer Vicki Butterworth want to get more Hawke’s Bay people using bikes to ride to work.  The challenge has been set!• BREAKFAST! On your way to work cycle to the Business of the Day to pick up your breakfast and register with Vicki for the daily prize. The “Business of the Day” will supply breakfast on their chosen day from 7am -8.30am.  This is not a cooked breakfast!  It will be something easy for a cyclist to either eat standing or be able to put in their backpack.  Cyclists will be able to meet other like minded people to learn more about the benefits of cycling to work. You will be notified of winners by email and on Classic Hits each day.  • WHEN? Every working day, Monday to Friday, from Monday 22nd February to Friday 5th March you...

March 4, 2010
Alex admin
4
Mar

Scotland has one of the highest levels of obesity in OECD countries with over a million adults and over 150,000 children obese. This is predicted to worsen with adult obesity levels reaching over 40% by 2030. Overweight and obesity brings with it a risk of disease and a cost to society that will directly impact on our ability to achieve sustainable economic growth. This situation is avoidable.As the majority of the population in Scotland are overweight, they may require up to 60 minutes of moderate physical activity every day in order to achieve or maintain a healthy weight. To make this achievement realistic, this activity needs to be integrated into people's everyday routines. One of the most effective ways to absorb this much activity in a busy day is to reduce reliance on motorised transport, changing our means of everyday travel to walking and cycling.Currently almost two-thirds of...

March 4, 2010
Alex admin
3
Mar

Walk2Work Day is part of a Living Streets campaign that aims to encourage people to walk more in their daily lives. It is a free event held before work in a location close to the main walking routes, targeting people who have walked all or part of the way to work. The campaign aims: -         To encourage more people to walk to work and encourage active healthy lifestyles for all New Zealanders. -         To raise the profile of walking as a as an essential mode of transport. -         To decrease road congestion by reducing the numbers of private vehicles on our roads. -         To support the local economy (by way of retail purchases from walkers on their journey to work). Events will be held at various locations all over New Zealand on March 10th 2010.Click on the events map to find an event near you!

March 3, 2010
Anne F
3
Mar

The Cycling Advocates Network (CAN) and BikeNZ welcome the commitment by the government to improve the safety of cyclists on our roads with the announcement of ‘Safer Journeys’, New Zealand’s 10-year road safety strategy. “Safer speeds, safer roads, action on raising driving standards and educating school children will benefit the more than 1.2 million New Zealanders who ride bikes”, says Cycling Advocates’ Network (CAN) Chair, Bevan Woodward.  However, Mr Woodward warns “New Zealand has a long way to go.   Currently, the roading environment restricts people’s right to cycle safely.” BikeNZ and their cycling community RideStrong agree. “Road safety has united the New Zealand cycling community through RideStrong’s 16,000 members. Through RideStrong, over 15,000 signatures were collected in support of the 1.5m to survive petition- a call for improved road safety for cyclists,” says...

March 3, 2010
Anne F