News

The politics of cycling

12
Dec

Cyclists. They’re nothing but a bunch of Green-voting, latte-sipping, inner-city trendoids with an over-developed sense of entitlement.

That’s what you’d think if you believed much of the media coverage given to cycling in the past few years. From shock jocks to tabloid TV shows to newspaper columnists, there's always someone ready to have a go at cyclists.

Especially media organisations that favour the conservative side of politics.

This vilification is curious, given that Australia is a nation of bicycle buyers. Last year, we bought more cycles than cars – something...

December 12, 2011 Alex admin READ MORE

Roll On Wellington Awards reward the best (and worst) of cycling

7
Dec

Volunteer trail builders are the heroes of the Wellington cycling community, winning the award for the best piece of cycling infrastructure.

Cycle Aware Wellington presented the first Roll On Wellington Awards on 6 December.

Spokesperson Claire Pascoe says the awards showcase the best and brightest of cycling in Wellington.

"They're a great opportunity for the cycling community to show their support for the things they love in Wellington. There were lots of winners on the night... as well as a few who lost out."

Volunteer trail builders' hard work pays off not just...

December 7, 2011 Patrick READ MORE

Call for submissions for Rimutaka Railway proposal

5
Dec

Greater Wellington Regional Council is now calling for submissions on the Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust's proposal to rebuild the railway from Maymorn to Summit, replacing the Rimutaka Rail Trail. Submissions are due by 31 January 2012.

The proposal is substantially as presented to GWRC in November.

The specification for the "walking track" has been widened to 4m, and the gradient to a maximum of 5%, but the cost does not appear to have changed!

There are some suggested precautions to be taken against fire hazard, including replanting vegetation along the track...

December 5, 2011 AlastairS READ MORE

Cyclist trapped under car

5
Dec

A cyclist broke her leg when she was trapped under a car after a collision in Hamilton this morning.

The 27-year-old's leg was stuck under the car which was lifted, then freed by firefighters.

Hamilton police Senior Sergeant Gill Meadows said the woman was travelling west on Boundary Rd when the crash happened at the intersection of Oakley Ave about 8.45am.

The woman was in a moderate condition and suffered a broken leg.

Boundary Rd was briefly closed as the scene was cleared.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/...

December 5, 2011 Patrick READ MORE

Free cycle training for adults – does it make a difference?

5
Dec

Yes, it does, says Sam Margolis from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets

If you live in London, or in any other major centre in the UK, you may well have seen the adverts promoting free cycling training offered by local authorities. In the absence of high-quality cycling infrastructure, many councils have pushed cycle training schemes as a relatively low-budget method of boosting safer and more cycling.

In 2009/10, the total funding for cycle training in London alone was over £3m. It is seen as a useful tool not only to build skills and techniques for riding a bike, but to...

December 5, 2011 Patrick READ MORE

It's as easy as riding a bike

1
Dec

It's as easy as riding a bike
A report to the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust

Patrick Morgan
Cycling Advocates Network, can.org.nz
December 2011

caption: Children riding home from school, Assen, the Netherlands
Photo gallery on Flickr

Summary
With assistance from the WCMT I studied cycle training programmes in the UK, Denmark, Netherlands and USA in September and October 2011. I met cycle skills trainers, planners, media and advocates.

Objective
My goal is to lift the standard of...

December 1, 2011 Patrick READ MORE

Give Way Rule Change

24
Nov

Planning is underway for an intensive public information campaign for changes to two give way rules that will come in on the 25 March 2012.

The campaign will be run in the month leading up to the date of the actual change on 25 March 2012, with national advertising starting ten days before the change. This late February start date is necessary to avoid public confusion and minimise the risk of people starting to use the new rules too early. This thinking is based on best practice when Victoria, Australia changed a similar rule in 1993.

The NZTA is developing the public...

November 24, 2011 Patrick READ MORE

CAN supports new Smart Transport Network

23
Nov

Transport dominates every aspect of our lives, our health, the form of our communities, our environment, economy and our personal financial well-being.

Smart Transport means providing a full spectrum of appropriate, sustainable and integrated transport choices.

The Smart Transport Network has been formed following the Smart Transport Conference, held in parliament buildings in August 2010, to present a new collective national voice, with an international perspective on transport solutions.

The Smart Transport Network will advocate for smart, modern solutions and...

November 23, 2011 Patrick READ MORE

Exercise your vote: election day bike gang

22
Nov

Come join us lovers of bicycles AND democracy this coming Saturday.
We are just gonna be riding around the central city neighborhoods dressed in neutral ORANGE, ringing our bells and reminding people to vote. Frequent café stops. Fun guaranteed!

Auckland: 2pm, 1 Porters Place, Eden Terrace, Newton.
It doesn't matter which way you vote, on Saturday it is all about making sure people are exercising their democracy. All you need is to be wearing orange. You don't even need to own a bike, as we have 15 that are being lent to us for free! Thanks NextBike...

November 22, 2011 Patrick READ MORE

US photojournalists seek great NZ cycling stories

18
Nov

The Path Less Pedaled
In March 2009, we sold all of our belongings to explore the United States by bicycle, and started
PathLessPedaled.com. In traveling and sharing our journey, we have inspired thousands of other people to
follow their own travel dreams.

PathLessPedaled.com is an adventure travel blog that is recognized as one of the leading bike touring
websites, with compelling photography, videos and writing. The website averages 40,000 visitors per
month and is constantly growing. In addition to the website, we have over...

November 18, 2011 Patrick READ MORE

Link to November bikewalk.org (USA) newsletter

17
Nov

http://www.bikewalk.org/cl/2011/nov/1116bconf.html

Posted by David Hawke (Committee)

November 17, 2011 DavidHawke READ MORE

Rimutaka Rail Trail threatened

15
Nov

Protecting the Rimutaka Trail

Greater Wellington has recently received an application from the Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust for permission to reinstate the railway line.

We need to front up on 23 Nov and 15 Dec at GW. Who can come?
Please email fran.wilde@gw.govt.nz and murray.kennedy@gw.govt.nz with your views.

Points you might want to make:
- with 80,000 visitors a year, the Rimutaka Trail is the most popular in the region.
- it's considered the best ride in the region for beginners and families
- it's a convenient and...

November 15, 2011 Patrick READ MORE

Advice for drivers and cyclists follows Dunedin crash

14
Nov

Cycling Advocates Network (CAN) and BikeNZ have issued advice for drivers and cyclists following a fatal crash in Dunedin this morning.

Although the details of the crash have not yet been released, CAN spokesperson Patrick Morgan has reiterated advice to all road users about proven ways to reduce the chances of a crash.

Advice for drivers:
* Look twice for cyclists, especially those coming from the left hand side.
* Give cyclists plenty of space. Allow 1.5 metres between you and the cyclist.
* For truck and bus drivers: get the best mirror system you can to...

November 14, 2011 Patrick READ MORE

Could you forget fossil fueled transport for one day? Car free Sundays

8
Nov

Two Car Free Days Planned in Response to the Tauranga Oil Spill, Over the Next Three Months

Could you forget fossil fueled transport for one day?

Sunday 27 November marks a Car Free Day being launched this year in what's being labelled a ‘positive, proactive response' to the Tauranga oil spill currently happening off the east coast of New Zealand.

Organiser Charlotte Squire, Editor of the good news website Happyzine says Car Free Days are a great way to quickly reduce oil consumption, and can be an "ode to the people of Tauranga" during a challenging time for their...

November 8, 2011 Patrick READ MORE

Safety is a two-way street

7
Nov

Safety is a two-way street
Emma Davis and Senior Constable Pat Kauri are interviewed for Greater Wellington's new safety campaign.

November 7, 2011 Patrick READ MORE

Survey on Wellington Waterfront usage

1
Nov

Emma Hope of WCC writes:

Noticed anything different when you've been on the Waterfront lately?

Wellington Waterfront Ltd and Wellington City Council have recently made some subtle new additions to the Wellington Waterfront, and they want to know what you think! The survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/sharedpathways) will take approximately five minutes to complete, and all responses will remain confidential. For any further information, please contact Emma Hope at Wellington City Council on emma.hope@wcc.govt.nz

We'll also be stopping people on the...

November 1, 2011 AlastairS READ MORE

Wintry city a wonderland for cyclists - US

13
Oct

It's so cold the gears need defrosting, roads are like ice rinks and helmets are strapped over full-face balaclavas.

But the mayor of the favourite city for cycling in the United States says if Minneapolis can achieve what it has, there's no reason Melbourne and other Australian cities can't follow.

Almost halfway across a country famed for its car culture and with a climate to test the bravest – think snow ploughs and Fargo – Minneapolis doesn't strike as one where commuters would prefer the saddle over the car heater.

But its ranking as the best biking...

October 13, 2011 Alex admin READ MORE

Patrick interviewed on London Radio

10
Oct

CAN's Project Manager, Patrick Morgan pops up on The Bike Show: The Bike Show is a weekly radio show about cycling. It is broadcast in central London on radio art station Resonance 104.4fm.  You can listen to the show and Patrick is on air about half way through the show; start to listen off this page or download from iTunes.

October 10, 2011 Graeme READ MORE

Chicago to offer cheap bike rentals to encourage cycling

10
Oct

Chicago would have 3,000 bicycles to rent from 300 stations by next summer — with no charge for the first 30 minutes — under an ambitious plan in the works aimed at making cycling a “new transit system.”

Former Mayor Richard M. Daley’s dream of creating a Paris-style bike rental program in Chicago is about to take off, with the city issuing a “request for proposals” (RFP) for a grand plan bigger than Daley envisioned.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his handpicked Transportation Commissioner...

October 10, 2011 Alex admin READ MORE

We're doing a 'special' issue for the first Chainlinks for 2012 - with input Nov 2011

9
Oct

CAN and the Chainlinks team are planning a special issue of Chainlinks for the start of 2012. Work doesn't usually start on the first Chainlinks issue of each year until January and February, and the issue doesn't come out until March or sometimes even April.

For 2012 we will have an issue out in late January, so it's there for Bike month.

Although the current issue of Caninlinks is delayed it has a description of the special issue like this in it.

The next issue of Chainlinks will be published in early 2012 and will be out in time...

October 9, 2011 stephenw READ MORE