News

Get on with Hutt Road cycleway improvements, say cyclists

5
May

67% of submissions received by the Wellington City Council support the Hutt Road Improvements. This includes the submission from advocacy group Cycle Aware Wellington who see the design as a significant and long overdue improvement.

For years now the Hutt Road has been the bane for the numerous cyclists and pedestrians alike who use this route to commute in and out of the city. It has been the scene of many accidents and close calls, which last year led to a protest ride to the Civic Centre to call on the Council to "get on with it" and create better cycling infrastructure.

...

May 5, 2016 Patrick READ MORE

Winter cycling tips

5
May

caption: Russell from NoCar Cargo gives winter riding the thumbs up

Cycling through winter

Winter is coming, but that's no reason to leave the bike at home. You can still enjoy the convenience, savings, health gains and fun of riding a bike, whatever the weather.

Sooner or later, everyone is faced with riding in the rain. With a little knowledge and the right gear, spinning through showers can actually be an enjoyable experience.

Light up
Shorter days mean you need to make sure your lights are charged and bright....

May 5, 2016 Patrick READ MORE

Love Cycling

7
Apr

Do you want safer and more attractive cycling in New Zealand?

Whether you are a family with kids, a mountain biker, roadie, cycle chic rider, commuter or simply love to ride, now is the time to take action.

The Government and Councils have ambitious plans for building better bike routes, through the Urban Cycleways Programme - great news! But plans can be derailed by bikelash or lack of public support. Now is a good time to speak up for cycling.
Here's NZTA's list of cycling projects.

How you can help

Ride your bike

...

April 7, 2016 Patrick READ MORE

2017 - celebrating the Bike Centennial

7
Apr

2017 marks 200 years since the bicycle was invented, by Baron Karl von Drais. I reckon that's a good reason for a bike party - the Bikecentennial.


Baron Karl von Drais 1817

I'd like to see the Bikecentennial marked with events, story-telling, exhibitions and lots of rides.

Kate Sheppard: the vote, rational dress, Atalanta Ladies' cycling clubNZ bike entrepreneurs the Kennett Brothers, Ground Effect, framebuildersNZ Cycle Trailstrail builderssocial history and the changing role of the bikesporting successcargo biikes, BMX, MTB,...

April 7, 2016 Patrick READ MORE

E-bikes' speed may surprise you

1
Apr

Cycling advocates reminds people not to underestimate the speed of bicycles.

A recent case in Palmerston North highlighted the danger of turning into a side road too soon after passing a person on a bike.

CAN spokesperson Patrick Morgan said this is a common cause of bicycle crashes.

"Although on average bikes travel at around 15km/h, a fit person or an electric-assist bike can be travelling at speeds similar to a car. It is the responsibility of an overtaking driver to be aware of the speed of the vehicle they are overtaking."

Patrick Morgan
CAN - Cycling...

April 1, 2016 Patrick READ MORE

Report from VéloCity Global Conference

25
Mar

CAN went to the VéloCity Global conference last month.

VéloCity Global is the global get-together for all those interested in the promotion of cycling.  The European Cycling Federation organises the event, and this year it was held in Taipei, Taiwan.  Our delegate was Will Andrews, from Bicycle Nelson Bays.

The president of Trek Bikes, John Burke


Themes

Industry was one of the major threads this year.  It was good to witness well-thought out presentations from the big bike manufacturers, showing an understanding the benefits of transportation cycling...

March 25, 2016 Will Andrews READ MORE

Social media tips

15
Mar

Social media tips
Social media posts should be:

Immediate
Twitter and Facebook work better if you post something immediately.
For example, if you're running a cycling event take a quick photo with your phone and post it with a short message.

Conversational, friendly, confident
Just be yourself. Don't be scared to show a bit of personality, as long as you're on message.
Positive and optimistic about our ability to make change
There's a lot to gripe about, the world's a terrible place, but...

March 15, 2016 Patrick READ MORE

Cycle lanes help attract top talent, say UK businesses

7
Mar

Cycle lanes help attract top talent, say UK businesses
The chair of a major UK law firm says cycling infrastructure helps businesses attract top talent in cities like London, and says a "silent majority" of companies support investment in decent cycling routes.

David Morley, Senior Partner of Allen & Overy, which employs 3,000 staff worldwide, a third of those in London, says the firm's main assets are its employees and people friendly streets help make an attractive place for those employees to live.

Allen & Overy is among 40 businesses within...

March 7, 2016 Patrick READ MORE

Open Letter to a Car-Addicted City

1
Mar

Open Letter to a Car-Addicted City
Monday, November 10, 2014 by Brent Toderian
Source: http://www.planetizen.com/node/72068/open-letter-car-addicted-city

It's rare for a newspaper to dedicate two stories in the same issue to the planning, design, and transportation challenges of a city, and even more rare for a newspaper to ask for an additional op-ed piece from a visiting city planner to tie it all together. That's what the Western Australian newspaper did this past week, during my trip to Perth, Australia. I was there at the invitation of the Heart Foundation to work with...

March 1, 2016 Patrick READ MORE

Wellingtonians will embrace cycleways

26
Feb

Shifting gears, embracing change
Why Wellingtonians will embrace cycleways

Opinion for the DomPost
29 February 2016
by Patrick Morgan, Cycling Action Network

Cycling is a hot topic.

It generates strong feelings, plenty of letters to newspapers and social media posts.

But this discussion is as much about change as it is about cycling.

Smoke-free bars. Marriage equality. The metric system. All had their detractors, but somehow the sky didn't fall in. The lesson is that we get used to change. Eventually,...

February 26, 2016 Patrick READ MORE

A CAN Do cycling renaissance celebrated in Waikato

17
Feb

A CAN Do cycling renaissance celebrated in Waikato
News release from Cycling Action Network

With cycling on the up, advocates from around New Zealand will gather in Hamilton next month to celebrate, to push for more progress and learn from each other.

The CAN Do is a national gathering for Cycling Action Network (CAN) . CAN Do is an annual summit to plan the future direction of cycling advocacy across New Zealand. This is a special CAN Do celebration, as it's been 20 years since CAN was founded.

Cycling Action Network spokesman Patrick...

February 17, 2016 Patrick READ MORE

Artists, Designers, Creatives- Enter CAN's T-shirt Design Competition

11
Feb

Artists, creatives, clothing obsessives and designers- get out your software ok soft crayons, get freaky, and get your T-shirt design into our competition by March 16th!

Artists, creatives, clothing obsessives and designers- get out your software ok soft crayons, get freaky, and get your T-shirt design into our competition by March 16th!
Awesome prize package includes $250 bike voucher. Details on this JPG.  Artists, creatives, clothing obsessives and designers- get out your software ok soft crayons, get freaky, and get your T-shirt design into our competition by...

February 11, 2016 Will Andrews READ MORE

Urban cycleways a core priority for safety and health - Govt

10
Feb

Urban cycleways a core priority for safety and health, says Govt
The thousands of Kiwis taking part in Go by Bike Day today demonstrates the importance of the Government's Urban Cycleways Programme, says Transport Minister Simon Bridges.

Speaking at the annual event in Wellington this morning, Mr Bridges said making urban cycling a safer and more attractive transport choice was a core priority.

"Through the Urban Cycleways Programme central and local government are working together to deliver $333 million of new cycleway projects throughout the country...

February 10, 2016 Patrick READ MORE

Go By Bike Day 10 Feb 2016

9
Feb

Go By Bike Day 10 Feb 2016
Get on your bike and celebrate the awesomeness.

Find your local events here.

Wellington Go By Bike Day 7-9am Queens Wharf

February 9, 2016 Patrick READ MORE

Kids cycling to school - what you need to know

1
Feb

Kids cycling to school - what you need to know

With more children on bikes this week, cycling advocates are offering advice to parents and drivers.

"People can expect to see more children on bikes as schools reopen this week," says Patrick Morgan from Cycling Action Network.

"Drivers need to pay extra attention, and slow down around schools."

He says some schools have a 40 km/h speed limit in place, to reduce traffic danger.

"The Government and Councils are investing $350 million in cycling, so we will see more bike lanes with children...

February 1, 2016 Patrick READ MORE

Change is hard but people will love the new Island Bay cycleway

26
Jan

Cycling advocates say the Island Bay design is safe."It's been proven all over the world. I think that change is hard. People will get used to it and I predict Island Bay people will be proud of their new cycleway," said Patrick Morgan of the Cycling Action Network.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/residents-tell-wellington-co...

January 26, 2016 Patrick READ MORE

Short bike videos

11
Jan

Short bike videos
Ask Patrick if you want to view these.

Amsterdam Bicycle Rush Hour 5 minutes, 2013
Meester Visserplein in the city centre. 5:30pm. The junction is busy, a main cycle route crosses a main motor vehicle route, but traffic flows smoothly and relaxed.

https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/amsterdam-bicycle-rush-hour/

 

The man who lived on his bike-HD 3 minutes, 2012

I love being on a bike, it helps me feel free. I get it from my dad. After days and days of...

January 11, 2016 Patrick READ MORE

Ride before bride

11
Jan

Ride before Bride
Most people might spend the eve of their wedding preparing vows or confirming last-minute changes. But Evan Floden spent the day tackling a gruelling cycle race.

Napier-born Floden lives in Spain but flew to New Zealand at the end of December to visit family and marry his partner Veronica.

On Friday, the 30-year-old competed in the Hawke's Bay Summer Cycling Carnival time trial event, a 23-kilometre flying lap that started and finished at Taradale's Church Road Winery.

Clearly not exhausted from all that, Floden also managed to...

January 11, 2016 Patrick READ MORE

Cycling gets safer as popularity increases

7
Jan

Cycling gets safer as popularity increasesNews release from Cycling Action Network
8 January 2016

Cycling advocates are welcoming news of more people cycling, and a fall in injuries.

Cycling Action Network spokesman Patrick Morgan says both numbers are moving in the right direction.

"Increases in cycling and a fall in injuries are consistent with the 'safety in numbers' effect. It appears that as more people cycle, it gets safer."

"More journeys made by bicycle eases congestion for those who need to drive."

Auckland Transport...

January 7, 2016 Patrick READ MORE

Have you sampled a Cycle Trail this summer?

5
Jan

Have you sampled a Cycle Trail this summer? How was it?

Imagine riding through the cool of the dense New Zealand bush, with only the call of native birds loud above the hum of your bike. Trails sweeping wide bends to reveal breathtaking views of snowcapped peaks mirrored in a still lake. Journeys such as these exist, and are exactly what ‘Nga Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail' has to offer.

This Summer sees most of New Zealand's Great Rides open, providing exciting journeys on 2,500km of trails. These cycle trails breathe new life into old tracks, roads and...

January 5, 2016 Patrick READ MORE