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News: October 2010
Oct
Welcome to CAN Do, CAN's annual get-together. The weekend includes our AGM, workshops, training, rides, plenty of food and drink, and a chance to catch up with fellow "CANners" from around New Zealand. Dates: Saturday 30 - Sunday 31 October 2010Registrations are now closed.Notes and presentations from most of the sessions are available- see links in the programme below. The notes are also available here. Venue: Petone Central School, 16 Britannia St, Petone, Lower Hutt: mapHandy to bus routes 81, 83, 91(airport flyer) . Bus stop is near Petone Police station.Trains are being replaced by buses 7am -4pm on 30-31 Oct. Sorry, no bikes on buses.Numbers expected: 35-50. (53 registered as at 27 Oct)Complimentary wi-fi will be made available at the venue during...
Oct
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...
Oct
FixMyStreet.org.nz is a New Zealand/Aotearoa version of FixMyStreet.com. It's a citizen-initiated web service to collect issues relating to the built environment and route them to the appropriate council. Issues might include glass on roads, potholes, lighting, parking on cycleways, problem intersections, etc.If you're not familiar with FixMyStreet, a citizen (cyclist!) locates an issue on a map by entering a street address or postcode that is then geocoded to a latitude and longitude via Google. They may upload a photo of the issue. Once the details have been confirmed by the citizen, the issue is forwarded to a council email address for processing. Updates can be added and issues can be marked as fixed.I started the FixMyStreet project because I wanted a way of flagging street issues from my mobile phone. There's an app for iPhone, and I'm sure that over time other mobile devices will...
Oct
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...
Oct
When a small group of women devoted a few weekends to walking from Pencarrow to Red Rocks, the idea of the Great Harbour Way was born. With the concept included in the manifesto of the capital's new mayor seven years later, the vision is gaining momentum. Kiran Chug reports.Around Wellington Harbour, more than 60 kilometres of coastline encompasses wild, windswept expanses, genteel suburbs, industrial areas and rocky headlands. For a small group of Wellingtonians, it represents boundless tourism and recreation opportunities.Since 2003, they have worked towards the development of a continuous walk and cycleway around the harbour, commissioning scoping studies and lobbying councils and government. With the election of one of the group's earliest members as the capital's mayor, the project has received a welcome boost.more at http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/big-reads/4266937/From...
Oct
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.
Oct
See the BikeWise site for the latest from NZTA:http://www.bikewise.co.nz/news/2010/09/30/latest-cyclist-skills-training
Oct
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...
Oct
Documenting the ride from Central Otago to Picton to get to Wellington for the 2010 CAN Do, and reporting what it's like touring on our main highways.To get out of Central Otago I couldn't resist using one of the classic Otago back roads - Danseys Pass. This road is a reasonably well formed road from Naseby on the edge of the Maniototo plains in Central Otago through to Duntroon in the Waitaki Valley. it does have a bit of up and down to cope with, and there was a bit of snow on either side of the road at the top. I think I saw 4 vehicles the whole time I was on the gravel. When I got down to the Waitaki there was a good nor-wester blowing, which assisted me on the ride out to the coast to join S.H.1.My first day on S.H 1 went well. Traffic busy but not too frightening. Of the hundreds of cars and trucks that passed my most gave me a reasonable passing distance and only a couple...
Oct
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 :)
Oct
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
Oct
2010 Winners now announced!The annual cycle-friendly awards are upon us again! This year's nominations have yielded a bumper crop of exemplary projects and cycling champions. The judges were hard pressed to select the best from among so many strong nominations: Competition was so close that several categories produced more than the usual three finalists.Each finalist receives a certificate of accomplishment, and the overall winner for each category takes home the coveted bike bell trophy. In addition, Avanti Cycles has donated a Spirit Cycle to be raffled to one of the lucky five overall winners.The awards ceremony is open to the public without reservation or ticketing. It will be held at the Wellington City Council Chambers on Friday 29 October starting at 5:30 PM. Wellington Regional Council Chair Fran Wilde will officiate, Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown...
Oct
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...
Oct
submission required by 5 Nov.http://www.nzta.govt.nz/consultation/vehicle-lighting-amendment-2011/CAN's news releaseComments from Simon K:"I just saw the bit on Can.org about indicators. This is great news. I reckon they can be a very useful substitute for hand signals where ever riding one-handed poses a risk to bicycle control (ie; turning while braking, turning in strong winds, turning through obstacles). Also, they make a lot of sense at night when waving an unlit arm around is of dubious value. I agree eye contact will still be critical."
Oct
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...
Oct
Allowing bicycles to be fitted with stop lamps and direction-indicator lamps is a good idea, say cyclists.Cycling Advocates Network spokesman Patrick Morgan says updating the rules around bicycle lights makes sense."With bright LEDs and powerful batteries, modern bike lights are better than ever. Allowing stop lights and turn indicators on bikes is a sensible move, but these are no substitute for clear hand signals, using lots of eye contact with other road users, and safe riding habits."Advances in lighting technology mean that stop lamp and indicator systems are now available forbicycles. The Road User Rule currently specifically prohibits such systems, but it is proposed that this provision be removed as there is no reason for retaining it.http://www.nzta.govt.nz/consultation/vehicle-lighting-amendment-2011/
Oct
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...
Oct
Cycling is the simplest, most natural means of transport, after walking. So natural and useful in fact that many cities often forget to take it into account. This brochure is intended to consider and return to the advantages of bicycle traffic and to back up arguments with analyses and facts.It is surprising how many advantages bicycle traffic combines: -Regular cycling improves health and prolongs life expectancy. -Cycling requires no fossil fuels – it only burns our own fat. -Cyclists save space, are quiet and move about without producing pollutants -Our children love the bike, if we let themPromotion of bicycle traffic costs little but brings a lot of profit in return – 3 Euros invested in cycle traffic mean 5 Euros less expenses for the National Health System. Everyone having visited a city with a lot of bicycle traffic is aware of the fact that plenty of bicycle traffic positively...