Bikes plus trains can compete with driving, say cycling advocatesThis is the perfect time for the Government to invest in passenger rail, say cycling advocates. Cycling Action Network (CAN) spokesman Patrick Morgan says the combination of trains plus bikes can deliver point to point convenience, affordability and speed that competes with road. Mr Morgan is presenting to the Inquiry into the future of inter-regional passenger rail at Parliament this morning at 10:50am. Livestream here (https://www.facebook.com/TISCNZ/ ).He says New Zealanders deserve more travel choices, rather than being forced to drive or fly.“To meet our climate commitments the Government must invest in low carbon alternatives.”"With high fuel prices here to stay, our Government needs to ensure cycling and passenger rail are viable choices."“Passenger trains must have storage capacity for bicycles....
News: October 2022
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Inquiry into the future of inter-regional passenger rail in New ZealandCAN (Cycling Action Network) is New Zealand's national network of cycling advocates. We work with government, local authorities, businesses and the community on behalf of cyclists, for a better cycling environment. We've been around a long time. We speak for more than a million people in New Zealand who love riding bikes. Passenger rail + bikes are a powerful combination that can compete with driving and flying. Togather, they deliver a low stress, low carbon travel option that is attractive to many people. Passenger rail help us meet our climate commitments. Passenger rail can help reduce carbon emissions, especially if long distance electric-powered train options are provided.We support funding the creation of new inter-regional rail services and increasing the service of current inter-regional rail services (Te...
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The Government is taxing employer-provided bikes at 64%, which limits the uptake of cycling. Employers are exempt from Fringe Benefit Tax on providing car parks to staff, but not bikes. That needs fixing. Please make a submission to even the playing field, and help more people get on bikes.BackgroundNew Zealand employers want to do their part to reduce emissions, but businesses today are being taxed at 64% on any bikes they provide to staff, an example of our Government failing to act on the Emission Reduction Plan. Unlike the United Kingdom, Germany, and other European countries, New Zealand has no ‘Bike to work’ scheme. It instead chooses to heavily tax employers keen to provide bikes to staff for commuting. Globally, bike-to-work schemes are used to motivate commuters to jump on a bike instead of using their private car; reducing emissions, and congestion, and...