24 September 2015New faces at CANWe are delighted to announce the CAN Committee has been strengthened with two new members, Christine Rigby and Jo Mackay.As the Government and Councils step up their investment in cycling, we have much to do.Welcome aboard.Introducing Christine RigbyA Florida flamingo now nesting in Auckland after a trip through Asia, Christine has resumed her bike commuting and multi-moding around the city. "I am amazed at the dichotomy of the booming bike infrastructure and the lack of happy faces out on the pavement here in the Big City. I would like for people to realize their own power to be happy, active, and valuable members of the biking community."Her history is peppered with bike-powered projects, such as a Google-funded, bike-mounted, volunteer-powered air quality testing program, a redesign of the Alliance for Biking and...
News: September 2015
Sep
Cyclists urged to light up on dim morningsEarly morning cyclists need to make sure they are well lit, say cycling advocates."The start of daylight saving on Sunday means more people on bikes, but some may be caught out by morning twilight," said Cycling Advocates Network spokesperson Patrick Morgan."Lights, reflectors and high-visibility riding gear make you easier to see."With popular events such as the Taupo Cycle Challenge just two months away, many people will be making the most of longer evenings to pile on the miles."As the days get longer we can expect to see many more people enjoying the pleasures and convenience of biking.""Cycling offers the ultimate trip: it's a fast and easy way to get around, while improving your health at the same time.""Our message to people on bikes is to get out there and enjoy the ride, and use your lights whenever visibility is poor...
Sep
The industrial age of energy and transportation will be over by 2030. Maybe before. Exponentially improving technologies such as solar, electric vehicles, and autonomous (self-driving) cars will disrupt and sweep away the energy and transportation industries as we know it. The same Silicon Valley ecosystem that created bit-based technologies that have disrupted atom-based industries is now creating bit- and electron-based technologies that will disrupt atom-based energy industries.Clean Disruption projections (based on technology cost curves, business model innovation as well as product innovation) show that by 2030:- All new energy will be provided by solar and wind.- All new mass-market vehicles will be electric.- All of these vehicles will be autonomous (self-driving).- The new car market will shrink by 80%.- Gasoline will be obsolete. Nuclear is already obsolete.- Up to 80% of...
Sep
Cycling Advocates' Network supports the Council's proposal to improve pedestrian, cyclist and motorist safety in Wellington suburbs by lowering speed limits.We would like the Council to consider the following points.1. Lower speeds reduce both the likelihood and severity of crashes.2. Cycling Advocates' Network runs Being Cycle Aware workshops with Wellington region bus and truck drivers (http://can.org.nz/being-cycle-aware) It is a half-day facilitated road safety workshop, which gives participants an understanding of the issues that people cycling face every day. It also gives cyclists an understanding of issues facing bus and truck drivers. We found that bus driving is a demanding occupation. Lower speeds reduce the workload demands on the driver and thus reduce the likelihood of crashes.3. Good urban design works. Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians can have visual...