Hi All,I noted that there is no venue selected for the CAN DO. Today I sugesed to Patrick the Belmont Memorial Hall in Lower Hutt. Although it is in the Hutt rather than Wellington proper it has several advantages:Close the the recently improved Hutt River Trail. Recently upgraded with a sealed bike trackplenty of fabulous picnic spots.Close to train and bus routes and SH2Cheap, we could even ask Hutt City Cuncil to supply it free of chargeParking-a-plenty (scoff, scoff)There are neat options for an extended ride from the Hutt to the Wairarapa via the Rimutaka incline or take the train to Carterton or Masterton and ride any number of marvellous routes. Easy access to motels and hotels or plenty of opportunity for billets, I am sure.CheersStuart
News: June 2010
Jun
It has become a kind of mantra for cities looking to encourage cycling through a widening network of bicycle lanes: Build them, and the riders will come. And, it turns out, the same might be said of bicycle thieves.As cyclists from New York to San Francisco take advantage of new commuting infrastructure, thieves appear to be taking a growing interest in two-wheeled travel as well, riders and advocates report. The response by some cities and local law enforcement agencies has been a kind of high-tech cat-and-mouse game, one involving bait bikes and radio trackers as well as social media Web sites.In San Francisco, the police are working with advocates to develop a series of stings this summer using hidden transmitters mounted on bikes. “It’s a lot like the drug war,” said Marc Caswell of the San Francisco Bike Coalition, an advocacy group. “We need to get the higher-ups.”Campus...
Jun
Help decide what projects CAW should work on in 2010-11During the planning meeting, over cup cakes, we came up with ideas for potential CAW projects for 2010-2011. But we need your help to prioritise what top three projects we should work on in 2010. Please fill in the survey form – so we can work on the top picks of a wider audience.During 2009Last year we worked on meetings, submissions, and improving relationships. CAW’s three projects were: the implementation of the WCC cycling plan, membership engagement, and bus driver training. We had a great year with a key WCC win on Thorndon Quay. We engaged members by great events; Love to Roll, GBBD, Wairarapa tour, Obs cycle course and 350 ride. And we helped run the first bus driver training workshop.What now...What should be our priorities for 2010 and 2011? Have your say by...
Jun
What is a model walking and cycling community? Model communities are urban environments where walking or cycling is offered to the community as the easiest transport choice.Attached is a fact sheet put out by NZTA today with their announcement re the successful bids for the funding. Plus some information from both NP and Hastings on what is in store for their communities.
Jun
Hastings and New Plymouth will benefit from a $7.28 million Model Communities project aimed at getting more people cycling and walking. Cycling groups welcomed the news. "Everyone wins when there's more people walking and biking," said Cycling Advocates' Network spokesperson Anne FitzSimon. "There will be less traffic congestion, less pollution, people will be healthier, and businesses will benefit from more cycling tourism." "All New Zealand cyclists will be watching closely to see how councils in Taranaki and Hawkes Bay invest in better cycling facilities. If the project delivers good results as expected, we'll be asking the government to extend it around New Zealand so everyone can benefit." The Model Communities project is a key part of the government's 'Getting There' walking and cycling strategy, which aims to develop walking and cycling environments that are as...
Jun
Photo: Stuart Gibson$3.7m boost for walking and cycling in New Plymouth and Hastings The NZ Transport Agency has announced that $3.7 million will be invested over the next two years to help New Plymouth become one of New Zealand’s first walking and cycling model communities. NZTA Central Regional Director Jenny Chetwynd said the agency had approved the funding through the walking and cycling activity class of the National Land Transport Programme. New Plymouth District Council will receive $3.71m over the 2010/11 and 2011/12 financial years. “The purpose of this investment is to help create an environment that will make walking and cycling easy transport choices for people in New Plymouth. Through this funding we’re also encouraging the council to integrate walking and cycling into their transport planning and other initiatives,” Ms Chetwynd said. The...
Jun
Giddy biking and public policy enthusiasts crowded into Minneapolis' Uptown Theater last night, grabbing pints of Surly brew (in a corn-based compostable cup, no less), and settling in for a panel discussion on "Cities, Bicycles, and the Future of Getting Around," part of a popular "Policy and a Pint" series sponsored by local public radio station 89.3 The Current. Headlining panelist David Byrne, avid cycling advocate and former Talking Heads frontman, was no doubt causing some of the buzz-I mean, he's David Byrne, for heaven's sake; if you haven't seen Stop Making Sense, stop reading this blog and go. Go now. Do it. But to be fair, Twin Cities cyclists have also had a lot of other things to get excited about lately: Bicycling named Minneapolis the #1 U.S. city for biking, and that was even before last week, when the initial phase of Nice Ride Minnesota, a...
Jun
Why cycling? The UK – and the world – faces major policy challenges including climate change, economic crisis, and the rise in limiting, costly illnesses linked to low levels of physical activity. Transport contributes to these problems. Over the past century human powered journeys have increasingly been replaced by motorised journeys. Road transport accounts for a substantial and growing share of Europe's CO2 emissions, while the cost of motoring is a heavy burden on households. Active transport modes - walking and cycling - could help to solve these problems. They are green, cheap and an obvious way for many people to get their daily exercise.Why cultures? We need more evidence about how active transport levels could be increased – what motivates people to walk and cycle, what barriers and encouragements they experience. This project...
Jun
The month of June marks the running of Trek’s Go By Bike campaign in the UK. For 2010, Trek has partnered with advocacy organizations London Cycling Campaign (LCC), CTC-The UK’s National Cyclists’ Organisation, and Sustrans.From May 28th to June 30th, customers who purchase a Trek from participating dealers will be offered a free one-year membership to either LCC or CTC. Sustrans will then send customers a ‘Free Your Bike’ pack, which includes tips on cycling, and a local National Cycle Network map. Trek dealers will also be including a free helmet to customers who purchase a bike during the campaign. In 2009, Trek UK launched a successful promotion called Go By Bike. The goal of Go By Bike was to encourage people to take up cycling, either for recreation or commuting. The campaign consisted of special offers available to customers, along with information on the benefits of...
Jun
http://artofconversation.typepad.com/art_of_conversation/2007/05/attenti... "Seen while cycling home from work (while stopped at red light)...... Was this a clever twist on the debate on getting around London? The site was so slow I never found out and I had to get back to my theme, Conflicting Perspectives of Differently Travelling Londoners and the Issue of Cycling in London."
Jun
A mother-of-three has been charged over the death of an Auckland University lecturer as he cycled home from work two months ago. Nadine Koroheke, 40, was charged with dangerous driving causing death to Johann "Hans" Edge, also a parent of three including a new baby, and is to appear in the Manukau District Court next month. Thirty-six-year-old Dr Edge, who was a lecturer in sports and exercise, was cycling home to Howick on March 25 with two colleagues. As he came down Pakuranga Rd, and Ms Koroheke crossed two lanes to turn into her driveway after going to the dairy, he hit the rear passenger side of her Holden Commodore. Constable Steve Carey of the Counties Manukau serious crash unit said the charge was laid in court on Monday last week before being served on Mrs Koroheke. The two-month-long crash investigation file went to Manukau road policing manager Inspector Heather...
Jun
Environmental and animal rights activists have been cycling through Mexico City naked. Many covered up just a little with bunny tails, painted cow spots and other well-placed props. They wore signs saying, "Don't eat me" and "I need my skin." The protest on Saturday was also intended to promote cycling in one of the world's biggest, most polluted cities. Armando Monroa says he got naked to show aggressive Mexico City drivers "how fragile the human body is compared to a machine that weighs a tonne". Cycling has become increasingly popular in the Mexican capital. The local government has promoted it by installing 1100 rental bikes at 85 stations throughout the centre of the city.
Jun
Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN) says reverse-in parking is better for people in cars and pedestrians as well as cyclists. CAN spokesperson, Anne FitzSimon, applauds New Zealand Transport Agency support for reverse-in parking. "Reverse-in parking improves the driver's view when pulling out of parking spaces." "It's safer for passengers as they face the footpath when getting out of a car. It's also easier to access a car boot from the footpath rather than standing in the road." "And it greatly reduces conflict with cyclists." Reverse-in parking induces traffic calming by lowering traffic speeds and improving conditions for cyclists and pedestrians. Ms FitzSimon says, "We are concerned that the AA believes reverse parking will lead to more accidents." The AA refers to women drivers, the elderly and those with limited mobility being most at risk. Ms FitzSimon says, "Surely appropriate...
Jun
ASB Cycle Friendly Awards 2010 Poster and Flyer available The two attachments are for circulation and printing. The flyer is good for events where likely nominators may be in attendance. The poster for general advertising. Please contact me if you would like printed copies of the poster. awards@can.org.nz Dirk
Jun
The Transport Agency is supporting plans by some councils to change their carparking rules so that motorists have to reverse into angled carparks. It says doing so would help reduce accidents, especially between cars and bikes. The agency's spokesperson, Andy Knackstedt, says at the moment drivers reverse out of the parks, so they should be able to reverse in. But the Automobile Association says motorists with poor mobility, especially elderly drivers, find it difficult to reverse into parks. The Transport Agency says councils should be free to choose whether they change their parking policy, but if they do, they should use signage which is consistent with other areas.http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2010/06/14/124809f698dc
Jun
Lack of courtesy on the road drives New Zealanders crazy, says AA InsuranceSelfish drivers with a 'me-first' attitude are the most common frustration to New Zealanders on the road, according to a new AA Insurance survey.And the most frustrating driver behaviour: drivers who use hand-held mobile phones to talk or text while driving, despite the law change."Our claims experience shows that many accidents are caused by drivers not paying full attention to the road, particularly when using mobile phones and texting" says Martin Fox, deputy general manager, AA Insurance.Drivers not paying full attention to the road were rated second in the AA Insurance Driver Frustrations Index, which surveyed 3270 New Zealanders aged 18-65 to create a Top 10 list of frustrating driver behaviours."A driver who becomes frustrated or impatient as a result of inattentive driving is...
Jun
Should cyclists have to pay registration fees, like other road users? Earlier this year, an Australian MP raised the ire of many cyclists by suggesting just that. According to the SMH, the politician in question said the paying such fees would help legitimise the place of cyclists on the roads. I take exception to the use of the word legitimate. How is my place on the road not legitimate now? Surely cyclists should receive credit for the fact that we take up less space on the road than we would if we were all driving cars (whatever some motorists may think) and bikes create no pollution. Semantics aside, the theory seems to be that the cyclists' registration fees could go towards funding bike lanes and the necessary safety campaigns. Great, so cyclists have to pay for campaigns urging drivers to not run them over? This plan just gets better and better. At...
Jun
The London Fixed-gear and Single-speed club has a useful discussion forum on cycle training: qualifications, training tips, jobs, police checks, insurance etc. Not just for those who ride fixies or single speedshttp://www.lfgss.com/thread43904.html
Jun
The New Plymouth District Council yesterday voted to include unamended all the Roading Officer's recommendations for the Roading Projects:Extract from NPDC Council Minutes from meeting on 9th June 2010
Jun
Auckland is enjoying a strong cycling revival, according to a regional transport authority survey, which has recorded a 27 per cent increase in bikes on the roads in the past year. Although that region-wide figure is exciting for cycling advocates, Auckland City reports a stronger 39 per cent increase within its boundaries. "We had the perception [that this was happening] but now we are seeing the figures to prove it," said Cycle Action Auckland spokeswoman Barbara Cuthbert. "We are seeing a complete change now to everyday cyclists getting on to the roads." The Auckland Regional Transport Authority recorded more than 12,000 movements at 84 sites across the region on a one-day "snapshot" taken at peak times during the second week of March. Although some riders are likely to have been counted at more than one site, strategy and planning general manager Peter Clark said the...