Cyclists welcome record investment in safe and sustainable transport
Cycling advocates say the new transport budget is good news for safer roads.
The Government released the new Government Policy Statement (GPS) on transport funding today. It allocates up to $1.1 billion for new cycling and walking projects, up to $4.8 billion for rapid transit, and up to $8 billion for public transport over the next ten years.
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Notes from Chris T-S, Living Streets Aotearoa
I attended the TRAFINZ safety workshop in Wellington.
The workshop featured Margaret Dugdale from NZTA and James Campbell from MoT talking about progress towards developing a new road safety strategy to replace safer journeys which they acknowledge has failed (first 5 years of declines in road death toll has been almost completely reversed in last 5 years).
Margaret put NZ in international context (it ain't...
Cycling advocates call for urgent action on road safety
Ten years after the death of Police Superintendent Steve Fitzgerald while cycling home, cycling advocates are calling for urgent action on road safety.
Former national road policing manager, Mr Fitzgerald was cycling home from work on 19 June 2008 when he and a truck and trailer crashed on a roundabout in Petone. In 2009 the truck driver was convicted of careless driving.
Cycling Action Network spokesman Patrick Morgan says the solutions to traffic danger are well known, but Councils and the...
Finalists for the 2018 Bike to the Future Awards, New Zealand’s national cycling awards, have been announced.
The awards, now in their third year, are organised by the NZ Transport Agency and Cycling Action Network (CAN). They celebrate the projects and people that are actively supporting and encouraging New Zealanders’ choice to get around by bike as part of their everyday journeys.
The finalists, selected from 60 nominations, range from large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Te Awa River Ride - Ngaruawahia to Horotiu section, to education initiatives...
Vision Zero is an approach to road safety that has, as its aim, zero fatalities or serious injuries. Representing his local residents’ association, David Hawke (a former CAN Secretary) made a presentation to Christchurch City Council last December requesting endorsement of the Vision Zero principles.
The final result was a submission from Council to Government saying “We support the vision zero principles and recommend that the national road safety targets focus on a continual reduction in deaths and serious injuries.’
Have you thought about asking your...
The Government Policy Statement on Land Transport sets the Government's policy direction on transport. It's revised every three years.
Minister of Transport Phil Twyford and Associate Ministers Julie-Anne Genter (below) and Shane Jones have a positive vision for transport.: a vision that puts at its centre a reduction of our dependence on private cars, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and improvements to public health. CAN supported their draft Policy Statement and many many friends of CAN followed our submission guide to support the draft GPS.
Here you can view the...
Bike Auckland Welcomes ATAP 2 Announcement
Bike Auckland celebrates today’s Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) 2 announcement by Mayor Phil Goff and...
Cycling advocates dismayed by Council decision not to address Thorndon Quay black zone
The decision by the Wellington City Council City to ignore pleas to make Thorndon Quay safe has dismayed and angered cycling advocates.
“This flies in the face of the Government’s recent call for a zero road death toll and Associate Minister of...
Transport Policy submission guide
The Government’s new transport policy (the GPS) will invest more in cycling, walking, public transport and safety than ever before. CAN rates it at 9/10. But it's still in draft form, and we need to have our say to make sure it gets approved. Follow our submission guide and have your say BEFORE 5pm Wednesday 2 May 2018.
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Vision Zero is the only ethical approach to road safety
Patrick Morgan
Cycling Action Network
Last Saturday two men were killed while crossing Wyllie Road in Papatoetoe, Auckland. This was no accident. Their deaths were preventable.
There were 380 avoidable deaths and thousands of serious injuries on our roads in 2017, resulting in untold heartache and more than $4 billion in total social costs. Why do we...
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...