News

12
Apr

Please consider letting us make things safe enough that people we love stop getting killed

[Republished with the kind permission of David Slack, from More than a Feilding newsletter, 7 April 2022]

Another half second and she might have been dead, our daughter. How would the news story have described it? Probably: a young woman cyclist died today in the CBD in a collision with a tow truck.

Instead there was just a broken bike, and half a second made all the difference.

There was a tow truck, belting through the streets the way they do at haulaway rush hour....

April 12, 2022 Patrick READ MORE
5
Apr

Patrick Morgan, Project Manager, Cycling Action Network
What a year! While Covid has forced us all to adapt, I'm proud of what CAN has achieved in the past year.

Thanks to everyone at CAN for your time, energy and passion. I'm impressed with your commitment to serve your community by fighting for better biking. You inspire me. Together, we're stronger and more effective.

As CAN's project manager, it's my job to
- support your advocacy,
- make the case for cycling in social and mainstream media
- build relationships and influence with decision makers in...

April 5, 2022 Patrick READ MORE
5
Apr

Cyclists need to make sure they are well lit through the winter months, says the Cycling Action Network.

"The onset of shorter days means it's time for cyclists to check their lights and batteries," says CAN spokesperson Patrick Morgan.

"Lights, reflectors and high-visibility riding gear make you easier to see."

"Cycling offers the ultimate trip: it's a fast and convenient way to get around, while improving your health at the same time."

"Our message to people is to get out there and enjoy the ride, and to remember to use lights whenever visibility is poor."...

April 5, 2022 Patrick READ MORE
14
Mar

Invest in biking as fuel prices rise, say cyclists
Cycling advocates say it has never been more urgent for government and business to invest in biking. As petrol crosses the $3 mark, people desperately need alternatives to driving.

Cycling Action Network (CAN) spokesman Patrick Morgan says councils, the Government and workplaces need to shift up a gear to soften the impacts of high fuel prices.

“Let's double-down on biking to ease pain at the pump.”

“People love the joy and convenience of riding bikes, but they need safe and attractive bike lanes...

March 14, 2022 Patrick READ MORE
11
Mar

Bike Auckland invites Auckland’s wider community to join us in a ride of respect for Levi James.This is an opportunity for the community to find a sense of closure and support in the wake of last Saturday's tragedy. Attendees may wish to bring flowers or other items they find appropriate to leave as a memorial, and we will provide a space to share a few words.We invite all those who wish to participate to meet at 11am, Saturday 12 March, in Cornwall Park, Royal Oak; on the grass area between Olive Grove and Haydn Ave.We will ride as a group through Cornwall Park before returning to Manukau...

March 11, 2022 Patrick READ MORE
8
Mar

CAN Annual General Meeting notification
6 April 2022, 7:30 - 9pm

We need your help. There's never been a better time to get involved in bike advocacy.
- We need safe streets, but our cities have been far too slow to protect us.
- Bike lanes are climate action
- Bike tourism and e-bikes are booming. How can we help get more people on bikes?
- How do we share our love our cycling with kids and young people?
- Why are we waiting so long for a Safe Passing Gap law?

Save the date and join us at our AGM. Join us online at:...

March 8, 2022 Patrick READ MORE
25
Feb


This is often an issue when a city first gets going with wanting to detect bicycles at traffic signals. There are a lot of cogs that need to be aligned for the system to work reliably:

The designers need to know what kind of loops to specify. Often, they need a larger offset to adjacent lanes so that they can be tuned with high enough sensitivity to reliably pick up bicycles without detecting cars in adjacent lanes.You’d use different loops for shared traffic lanes than those you’d specify for exclusive cycling infrastructure.Next, the contractors need to know a thing or...

February 25, 2022 Patrick READ MORE
23
Feb

We must drive less, say cycling advocates
Cycling advocates say  the new Road to Zero campaign has the right vision and a good strategy, but there's a gap. "Human mistakes are always possible, but no one should be killed or seriously injured as a result," said Patrick Morgan, from Cycling Action Network. "The Road to Zero strategy includes safer speeds, vehicles, roads, and driving and riding." "But there's a gap. It should also have a goal for less driving. Unless we reduce VKT (vehicle km travelled) we can't achieve our safety and carbon...

February 23, 2022 Patrick READ MORE
23
Dec


Be our tailwind - support bike action

Patrick Morgan here. I'm the project manager at CAN - Cycling Action Network – New Zealand's national charity for people who ride bikes.

I believe riding a bike is one of the best things in the world, for sport, fun or getting around town. Although this is a challenging time, we've seen more people riding bikes for fun, convenience and exercise.

I know we share a love of biking. More and more people are buying and riding bikes. But we're facing headwinds and bikelash, and I want to know if you will help us...

December 23, 2021 Patrick READ MORE
22
Dec

Overview:
Riverlink is a large project in central Lower Hutt to:
• Widen the Hutt River channel to prevent flooding
• Build a grade separated interchange at Melling, and build a new road bridge over the widened river
• “Turn the CDB towards the River” – an opportunity for a significant urban revitalisation to bring the city and the river into alignment

The project is estimated to cost over $700 million and will lead to the demolition of a substantial number of private businesses and houses.

Riverlink is a transformational...

December 22, 2021 Patrick READ MORE
15
Dec

Patrick Morgan here. I'm the project manager at CAN - Cycling Action Network – New Zealand's national charity for people who ride bikes.

Riding a bike is one of the best things in the world, for sport, fun or getting around town. Although this is a challenging time, we've noticed more people riding bikes for fun, convenience and exercise.

I know we share a love of biking. More and more people are buying and riding bikes. But we're facing headwinds, and I want to know if you will help us get more people on bikes.

Will you contribute $50 today to help us...

December 15, 2021 Patrick READ MORE
13
Oct

Boost climate action with e-bike discounts, say cycling advocates

Cycling advocates are calling for the Government to take climate action by providing discounts on the purchase price of e-bikes.


Today the Government released carbon-cutting ideas to the public, These include funding for e-bike share schemes.


Cycling advocates say these ideas don't go nearly far enough to address climate change.


“New Zealand is...

October 13, 2021 Patrick READ MORE
8
Oct

Refer: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/about-us/consultations/changes-to-learner-and-restricted-driver-licences/ rules@nzta.govt.nz Submission on proposed changes to learner and restricted driver licences Cycling Action Network – Submission, 8 October 2021
CAN (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...

October 8, 2021 Patrick READ MORE
27
Jul

Cycling advocates welcome plans to improve safety, and upgrade Wairarapa roads.

“Everyone in our community deserves safe roads,” said Patrick Morgan, spokesman for Cycling Action Network.

“That's why we welcome plans to upgrade SH2 between Masterton and Featherston.”

Waka Kotahi NZTA is planning to add median barriers, set safe speed limits, build new roundabouts and pedestrian crossings.

“Let's face it – with...

July 27, 2021 Patrick READ MORE
13
Jul

A discount scheme for bikes is needed to help more people get around more cheaply, be active, and reduce our emissions.

Sign the petition

In December 2019 the government introduced a discount for public sector workers to buy E bikes. *1
That leaves out a lot of people. So we now want the government to be fair to everyone and implement a discount scheme that is open to ALL Kiwis AND includes both e-bikes and non e-bikes, and necessary equipment. 

 The Climate Commission report said ‘Meeting a zero-carbon target by 2050...

July 13, 2021 Patrick READ MORE
12
Jul

Cycling advocates are saddened to hear of the death of Andy Smith, who was a staunch, articulate and effective campaigner for pedestrians. As long-time Chair of Living Streets Aotearoa, he worked constructively with CAN and other transport bodies to help make streets more accessible, safe and attractive. Alongside cycling advocates, he was a key person behind the 2WALKandCYCLE conference series and an enthusiastic supporter of the SkyPath crossing of Auckland Harbour.

We will miss Andy's colourful personality, his...

July 12, 2021 Patrick READ MORE
25
Jun

Hīkina te Kohupara – Kia mauri ora ai te iwi
Transport Emissions: Pathways to Net Zero by 2050

We like the framework of Hīkina te Kohupara. Now show us the action.

We like the emphasis on equity, inclusiveness, and just transition.

On climate, winning slowly is the same as losing. Use stronger language and commit to actions that will deliver a safe climate.

Global net anthropogenic CO2 emissions must...

June 25, 2021 Patrick READ MORE
24
Mar

People on bikes deserve protection. We love the protected bike lanes Wellington City Council has built, but progress is far too slow. So we're taking action into our own hands. If the city won’t protect us, we will protect our own.
Join us as we build our own people protected bike lane on Cambridge Tce, Wellington. Meet at the Basin Reseve end. Let's show the Council we need them to move much faster on building safe and healthy streets. We'll all be better off.

7:30 – 8:30am, Friday 26 March 2021

...

March 24, 2021 Patrick READ MORE
22
Mar

On the Go Awards recognise outstanding walking and cycling projects

ReBicycle EkeRua which upcycles donated, second-hand bikes and gives them to refugees and other people in need in Wellington, received the top honour at the On the Go Awards in Dunedin on Thursday night.

The On the Go Awards (formerly the Bike to the Future Awards) are organised by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency in partnership with Cycling Action Network and Living Streets Aotearoa. They are an opportunity to acknowledge the dedication and contribution of projects that support a...

March 22, 2021 Patrick READ MORE
15
Mar

2020 advocacy - a clear vision for successful campaigns

Presentation notes from 2WALKandCYCLE 2021, Dunedin

Introductions
Activity: Say hello to person next to you, ask them for one thing they would like to change about cycling in their town or city, then introduce them to the group.

Key points
- Technical vs adaptive change (pen on moon vs fix racism)
- What does success look like? (decribe your vision)...

March 15, 2021 Patrick READ MORE