Review of:Williamson, Laura (2016) The Bike and Beyond: life on two wheels in Aotearoa New Zealand. BWB texts. $15 softback, $5 eBook.Wanaka based, but of Canadian origins, Laura Williamson has been writing about biking in NZ for a couple of decades, including contributing to the MTB magazine Spoke. She's concerned that despite the growth in recreational cycling, we're still wedded to our cars for commuting and utility trips. "Biketivism", or social action that challenges the primacy of the car, has been around for while, as CAN's existence demonstrates, but the term has gained currency with the release of Fredrik Gertten's Bikes vs Cars. She notes the 2009 Auckland Harbour Bridge walk/cycle protest as a Kiwi example of Biketivism.Athough NZ doesn't think of itself as a "cycling" nation, plenty of Kiwis have gone abroad to...
News: November 2016
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CAN’s central Committee have been busy carrying out our usual advocacy, lobbying and publicity work to support cyclists' interests. Here are some highlights- In the public eye Our 'main man' Patrick Morgan has been making regular appearances on The Panel, an afternoon radio talk show on RNZ. Stories Patrick has reacted to covered mandatory mirrors for bikes, so-called Bike Wars in Wellington, the sentencing of a truck driver for killing a cyclist, and the feasibility of footpath cycling. And of course the Max Key episode: ‘I'd like to congratulate him on his driving. It appears he's passing with more than a metre to spare’ was Patrick’s parting shot to one journalist. Legislation Rule changes on trucks were ratified this year; CAN spent some time presenting the arguments against increasing truck width by 5cm, but unfortunately we weren't successful...
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Share the Road, the campaign that puts truck drivers and cyclists in each others’ shoes, has received a prestigious industry award.Campaign Manager Richard Barter was delighted to accept the Trafinz Leadership award, saying it confirms the value of the research that went into creating Share the Road workshops and activities. "Behaviour change on New Zealand’s roads is critical in encouraging more Kiwis to cycle. Understanding the demands on our heavy vehicle drivers is a big part of that."Richard said the award, from the New Zealand Local Authority Traffic Institute (TRAFINZ) confirms the value of the research that went into creating Share the Road workshops and activities, and the support of many members of the trucking and cycling communities in NZ. ‘This award’s a tribute to all the work and help given to us by local councils, cycling advocates and the NZTA, not to mention trucking...
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The Associate Minister of Transport, Hon Craig Foss, has signed into law 13 amendment Rules that make minor changes to existing Land Transport Rules. They’ll come into force soon- December 1st!CAN’s submission is here; thanks to those who worked on it. Here are some of the rules which apply directly to cyclists-Permit drivers to encroach onto a flush median when overtaking cyclistsExtend the time period during which lighting and reflector requirements apply to pedal cycles and power assisted pedal cyclesClarify that a driver approaching an intersection must not enter a cycle lane if the driver's intended passage or exit is blocked by stationary traffic or the signals are red and a vehicle would obstruct the cycle laneAllow a bus driver to enter and leave a cycle lane and to stop at a bus stop in a cycle lane for the purpose of passenger boarding and alightingRequire pedal cycle and...
Nov
Tim Williams, CEO Committee for Sydney Tim Williams presented to a meeting of transport advocates, experts and local Councillors recently in Wellington on the subject of Keeping Sydney Moving. Truly competitive global cities have the transport infrastructure to match their aspirations. While Sydney’s transport offering continues to improve, we need a step-change in provision if we are to equal the performance and accessibility of our competitors. The momentum towards a modern public transport system for Sydney needs reinforcing as vital to economic success and access to opportunity across the city.Notes, by Paula Warren Start from what sort of city you want. Transport will transform the urban space. Use it as a tool to get where you want to go, rather than mopping up after it has made a mess of things. Town planning and transport...
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CAN's Share the Road Campaign is about raising awareness and empathy between cyclists and the drivers of large trucks and buses. Keeping up with international best practice is important, so we know we’re offering the best possible guidance to our workshop attendees. Campaign Manager Richard spend a hectic two weeks visiting cycle safety trainers in Los Angeles and Vancouver, and then attending the International Cycling Safety Conference in Bologna. Here are some of his top lessons.Presentations by Volvo truck and car people gave accounts of amazing developments in car and truck technology, where the vehicle ‘knows’ where cyclists and pedestrians are and can predict where they are headed, allowing them to ready the brakes if a crash is imminent.Another session discussed red light running by cyclists. They found that this varied in the cities they looked at from 8% in Melbourne to 87.5%...
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CAN's Share the Road Campaign is about raising awareness and empathy between cyclists and the drivers of large trucks and buses. To learn more, Campaign Manager spent a day in a Southland Logging truck on the 19th Oct.It was a large "H for High Productivity" vehicle (50 tons loaded up). The trips involved delivering a load of logs to the Port at Bluff, picking up a load from a forest to the west of Invercargill and delivering it to a saw mill in Invercargill. It was an eye-opening day.Drivers face the relentless pressure of ensuring the safety of other road users in a vehicle that typically entirely fills the traffic lane it is operating in. Working against this is the relentless routine of the job. Every aspect is critical, i.e. checking the truck at the beginning of the day, ensuring it is loaded safely, tying the load down correctly, negotiating poor roading infrastructure in...
Nov
Have you signed up for the Aotearoa Bike Challenge yet? Join organisations including Westpac NZ, Ministry of Justice, Fonterra, Xero and Sky City Auckland and help your team discover how easy and enjoyable riding a bike can be. The challenge is all about participation – who can ride a bike for just 10 minutes or more. Organisations and teams across the country will compete against each other to see who can get the most team members to ride a bike during the Challenge (1-28 Feb).Sign up and invite your colleagues to join you now at http://www.aotearoa.bike/- Note the challenge is not limited to workplaces, your friends and family can sign up for the challenge as well!
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Christchurch City Council is rolling forward with its ambitious network of good-quality cycle routes known as the Major Cycleways. Routes primarily serve commuting trips into & out of the CBD. But progress hasn't always been easy...There is some resistance to change and the usual difficulties with providing parking for cars where residents have become used to roadside parking. Advocates at Spokes Canterbury are appealing for our help in supporting such schemes as the Quarryman's Trail, now open for consultation here, and the 'mysocialpinpoint' tool they've chosen is quite fun to use. See what you think.More details are here on the always-excellent Cycling in Christchurch blog.