News: October 2010

Getting more children biking regularly is the goal of New Zealand's top cycling projects this year.Schools and children are the winners at ASB Cycle Friendly Awards Getting more children biking regularly is the goal of New Zealand's top cycling projects this year.We are delighted to reward projects that are getting children on their bikes, said Awards Coordinator Dirk De Lu."Having fun on a bike should be part of every Kiwi child's life. These projects empower our children to stay in shape, gain confidence, build independence, and best of all, to enjoy the freedom of cycling."We all win when more people bike, said Mr De Lu."Skilled cyclists make safer drivers, reduce traffic congestion, and lower our health and roading bills."Other winners focus on promoting stylish dress and comfortable, upright bikes.Greater Wellington Regional Council Chair Fran Wilde presented the...

Horizons Regional Council is currently reviewing the Regional Transport Plan which specifies what public transport services should be provided in the Region. The council invites public feedback on the current Plan, community transport issues and the services the community wishes to see implemented in the future in order to prepare a draft Plan for public consultation in July 2011. A series of pre-consultation meetings are taking place throughout the region.  CAM members are encouraged to attend these which include Palmerston North Monday 1 November 2010, 2pm at Horizons Regional Council Boardroom, 11-14 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North Feilding Wednesday 3 November 2010, 10am Manawatu District Council, Manawatu Room, 135 Manchester Street, Feilding As well, CAM members are encouraged to send feedback for a CAM to forward as part of its response, or to...

Attached is a letter from Barry Kidd advising you of the changes being made to the Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport Funding 2009/10 - 2018/19.These changes are important to understand because they will affect funding applications to the NZ Transport Agency in the future.This letter is being sent electronically and in the mail to several key stakeholders in the land transport sector.If you have any questions about the letter please contact Jacob McElwee on (04) 439-9320 or at j.mcelwee@transport.govt.nz.

The boss of New Zealand's largest vehicle company wants Kiwis to pay more for their petrol.Toyota New Zealand CEO Alistair Davis says our fuel prices are far too low - the fourth-lowest in the OECD in fact.That's encouraging us not only to own bigger cars, but to drive them longer distances. And that means we're in reverse when it comes to meeting international greenhouse gas emission obligations."Our greenhouse gas emissions have actually gone up 23 per cent since 1990," he told a media briefing in Auckland last week."Our population has risen 26 per cent in that time, but our light vehicle fleet has gone up 53 per cent."Not only that, but the average engine capacity has gone up 10 per cent since 2000, and average distance travelled per light vehicle has gone up 64 per cent since 1990."The single most effective way to deal to this issue would be to raise petrol prices via introduction...

So, for those who prefer not to wear helmets, here is an alternate option - http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/10/hovding-helmet-airbag-for-head.php :)  

The last 3 years have seen a substantial and welcome increase in the availability of the utility style bicycles that are the vehicle of choice for the vast majority in countries where bicycling is well-established.  http://sites.google.com/site/urbanbicycles/bicyclesnz 

Two years ago I wrote For Bicylists, There is Safety in Numbers noting the work of Chris Rissel, who said "It appears that motorists adjust their behaviour in the presence of increasing numbers of people bicycling because they expect or experience more people cycling." Last year we asked Is there "safety in numbers"? and quoted Peter Jacobson's 2003 study that concluded that "Where, or when, more people walk or bicycle, the less likely any of them are to be injured by motorists. There is safety in numbers." Now cycling activist Elly Blue follows up on Grist with more recent data, and notes how the theory is catching on.Ms. Blue explains why it works: When there are a lot of bicyclists on the road, according to this theory, drivers take notice. They become more attentive, slow down, pass more cautiously, double-check their blind spots, expect the unexpected. They sense that the...

Vehicles within the classic cartoon "The Flintstones" were all foot powered. The mechanism that propels the bicycle hasn't really been improved on since it was invented. That is, until now. A design firm out of Oregon has come up with a car that can sustain speeds of about 30 mph, with electric assistance. It doesn't use any gas. It can whip you into shape too.Meet the HumanCarIn the late 60s, engineer Charles Greenwood saw habits that he did not like, for instance too much commuting and not enough exercise. He also saw an opportunity. Since then, he has worked with a team of designers and other engineers coming up with an automobile that can operate at motor vehicle speeds without a gas engine. The automobile needs no gas, produces no emissions, and gives users a workout too. According to the Daily Mail, you will find already about 100 orders in, and full production...

The other morning when I was walking along Wellington's waterfront to work, a cyclist had the grace to ring her bell to let me know she was coming up fairly slowly behind me.Not so the "boy bike racers", who treat the confines of the waterfront as a training track. Some of them are capable of sprint speeds of 50kmh, which could be very injurious were they to hit a pedestrian.This likelihood is quite high because you can't hear their bikes coming up behind you, and these cyclists don't slow down when the path width narrows to a couple of metres at Shed 5. Instead, they weave in and out of walkers, presumably on a prayer that a pedestrian won't change his or her direction.Why should we, enjoying a great bracing walk on the waterfront, far removed from road traffic, have to keep checking behind us? Will it take a serious injury before something is done about these people, or will something...