The Dutch experience of urban design for cycling
A synopsis of a talk by Netherlands Ambassador Rob Zaagman
March 2018, Wellington
“Cycling is a way of life in the Netherlands”.
But until the 1980s transport provisions for cars in Holland, just as in New Zealand, had priority over cycling and...
Cycling advocates are applauding new Government strategy which sets a goal of zero deaths and serious injuries.
Patrick Morgan from Cycling Action Network says it's time New Zealand caught up with world-best practice on road safety.
"Cyclists welcome this audacious approach to protecting lives. For too long our Government has stood by while road deaths have increased."
"There are proven actions which will reduce risk. These include safer speeds, investment in protected bike lanes and public transport, and better education for...
New Zealand’s best cycling projects will be recognised as nominations open for the 2018 Bike to the Future Awards – with refreshed award categories to better reflect the sector.
The awards are a joint initiative between Cycling Action Network (CAN) and the NZ Transport Agency, aimed at recognising the people and projects contributing to a more bike-friendly New Zealand.
As the public's perception of cycling is changing, the award categories have been amended this year. Changes to the award categories include the 'Built Excellence Award', the '...
Cyclists call for safer spaces, and drivers to happily share the road
A new survey from the Cycling Action Network reveals the biggest concern among more than a thousand cyclists is safety.
68 percent said drivers are not prepared to ‘share the road’ with people on bikes.
67 percent are concerned about the lack of safe cycling networks.
A record 18 people on bikes were killed in 2017 and more than 700 injured.
Cycling advocate Jan Nisbet (pictured), who just...
Better cycling infrastructure, slower speeds and driver education are common themes from the responses to CAN’s cycling safety survey in February.
Key concerns from more than 1100 people were a lack of safe cycle routes, drivers not being prepared to share the road, and cars passing too close.
To make Government and local councils act on your concerns we need your help to launch a national petition: Safe cycling for everyone – no more people on bikes killed on NZ roads. PLEASE DONATE to help promote and get thousands to sign so that the changes you want are...
Take action on safer roads - CAN wants to hear from you
Here at Cycling Action Network we say it's time for a new approach to road safety.
After four years of rising traffic deaths, and years of weak action by the Government and Councils, it's time for change. New Minister Julie Anne Genter has announced a Road Safety Summit, and we need to speak up. CAN is launching a major campaign, and need to hear from you.
Please take 5-10 minutes to have your say at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/...
We've launched a major, survey-based campaign to build support for better road safety, with Vision Zero taking a central role.
Take our quick survey: We're asking organisations, groups and individuals round NZ to tell us - and Government - what measures and policies YOU need to feel safer making journeys by bike. We'll be bringing the results to the Government's major Road Safety Summit in coming weeks.
This will give CAN and our allies powerful information and support in our journey to get more people on bikes more often, enhancing our communities and environment....
Palmerston North, 29 July 2018
What? The CAN Do is our annual workshop that brings together cycling advocates from around New Zealand. CAN Do will supercharge your advocacy for safer streets and for more kids on bikes.
Why? The CAN Do includes strategic planning, inspiring presentations, and campaigning skills training. It showcases local group achievements and activities. CAN Do is rounded off with a fun ride,...
After founding the Bike On New Zealand Charitable Trust in 2010, Havelock North man Paul McArdle has been tireless in his mission to get more kids on bikes, more often.
Driven by the desire to see more children cycling, Paul said it was a real honour to join the other New Zealanders on the 2018 New Years Honours list.
'It's not just the work I've done. It's a whole lot of other people who have supported this over the years. It's recognition for them also and different groups who have supported bikes in schools in particular.'
Paul has been the driving force behind a range of...
CAN Project Manager Patrick Morgan is swapping an office chair for a bike saddle for the next month. Starting on 10 February, he's riding the 3,000 km Tour Aotearoa from Cape Reinga to Bluff..
'You might be surprised how sedentary my work can be.' he says. 'Although I love what I do for CAN, there's a lot of keyboard bashing, phone calls and meetings. I can't wait to start the ride.'
More than 600 people will line up for Tour Aotearoa, starting in six waves over a 2-week period. It's not a race. Riders have up to 30 days to reach Bluff, following cycle trails, quiet...
GIRL POWER PAINTING CAMBRIDGE PINK
This week Cambridge turned pink when Far North Flash, the under 13 girls racing team from Kaitaia led by coach Phil Gibbs, took to the roads of Waikato.
After taking out top spots in the under 19s 30km race at the SRAM Tour de Ranges on Saturday, the girls carried on their cycling road trip to Cambridge to complete their accreditation to race at the Avantidrome.
The girls train regularly together both on Zwift and in real life. They have mastered the roads, become very aware of their environment and most of all...
Last week a car didn’t give me 1.5 metres clearance when it was overtaking me on my bikeWhy is that so news-worthy? Because it happened in Spain
And in Spain the drivers are so aware of and so courteous towards cyclists.
I spend about six months a year in a very touristy town called Calella, an hour by train north of Barcelona. Every day I get on my bike and ride to the shops or to visit friends or go for a ride just for fun. I am never alone. There are people heading to work or, like me heading off to do their shopping with their panniers on their bike and a...
Hamilton has made rapid progress towards ratifying Vision Zero as City policy.Here are highlights from the timeline:
May 8th - Cycle Action Waikato (CAW) Submission to Draft-Waikato-Regional-Road-Safety-Strategy-2017-21 asking to bring NZ Safe System in line with Vision Zero, a plan for NO fatalities or serious injuries in road traffic. Outcome: ’By 2040 there will be no more than 39 deaths per annum in the region’ (p21)May 9th – CAW ask elected city councillors for Access Hamilton to use the word ‘eliminate’ (not reduce) ‘fatalities and severe injuries’ in line with HCC health and...
Toward Vision Zero in Christchurch
Perceptions of safety are a serious barrier to people taking up cycling. Vision Zero is an approach to road safety that has, as its aim, zero fatalities or serious injuries.
CAN and Living Streets Aotearoa together endorsed Vision Zero at the 2 Walk and Cycle Conference in mid-2016, and local councils and community boards are beginning to pick up the idea.
Halswell Residents Association (Inc.), of which I am Secretary, approached our Community Board in Christchurch in November 2016 seeking their endorsement. Despite...
New research from 'Journal of Transport & Health' makes some startling findings.
In NZ we hear a continuous media narrative of cyclists being injured and killed, and while 2017 was an appalling year for fatalities, increases in injury levels were not nearly as great. A new study from England clarifies the figures, finding travel fatality rates vary more by age and gender than by transport mode.
The study finds, for example, that young men are safer cycling than driving, that males have higher fatality rates than females for cycling, driving and walking; pedestrians...
Your local CAN group has no doubt been beavering quietly away through 2017
Local groups engage with their Councils, check cycleway plans, run events, do bike fix-ups and whatever else it takes to get MORE PEOPLE ON BIKES MORE OFTEN. Here's a small sample of news from around the Network. See a full list -and join up- here.
The map's in PDF format too, see the link below. Many thanks to our volunteer Bryony Waterman-Dick for the infographic.
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How to teach a child to bike
The desrire to ride is the most important thing. Lots of encouragement helps.
Choose a smooth surface. A gentle slope helps the child gain momentum. It's harder to learn balance on grass as the bike is less responsive.
1. Set up your child’s bike correctly to give them the best possible start
Your child should be able to stand over their bike and...
Cycling advocates have welcomed new plans to make New Zealand roads safer this summer.
Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter today announced a boost in road safety funding. She has signalled a new focus from the Government on introducing safer speed limits.
Patrick Morgan from Cycling Action Network, said this is good news for all road users, but cautioned that road...
Summary
● FIT Wellington’s ‘Scenario A+’ is a great start: LGWM’s scenario A plus light rail to link major
destinations AND introduce congestion charging.
● Add in a downtown biking network of protected cycleways.
● Back it up with links on quieter traffic-calmed streets and safe, quick ways to cross SH1
and other arterial roads.
● Make a bigger deal about how biking can contribute to transport and placemaking.
Submission attached as PDF
Wellington's major transport plan needs your help!
CAN group Cycle Aware Wellington have serious concerns about the Let's Get Wellington Moving process. CAW have called for a more bike-friendly approach:
'We want an obvious, all-new CBD biking network with a consistently high level of service. A grid of north-south and east-west connections that:
- don’t mix with traffic (sharing with buses can be OK for access but doesn’t give a good level of comfort for key routes)
- don’t rely on the waterfront (great for cruising but not a proper transport link)
...