Researchers say New Zealand could save $200 million per year in health costs if more people left the car at home and cycled instead.
The Centre for Sustainable Cities says it would take only 5% of car trips being replaced by bike rides to make the savings.
Manager Jan Logie says the extra exercise would also save the lives of more than a hundred people each year.
She says a 5% change is not radical, as it is just getting back to the number of cyclists in the 1980s.
Cycling...
Bike On NZ is a not-for-profit organisation whose aim is to get everyone in New Zealand to experience the joy of biking.
How does Bike On plan to achieve their aim?
By privately funding a number of different projects (eg Bikes in the School and Teenage
Girls on Bikes) and then analysing and assessing their success rate. Funding (private and public) will then be secured via a non-profit charitable Trust to enable the most successful projects to offered across New Zealand.
Bike On believe that the return on these high performing projects will be substantial due to...
A plague of bicycle-riding is affecting thousands of young Wellingtonians who would otherwise be healthy, happy individuals. It can strike anyone at any time. I’ve known many people who have fallen victim to it. One minute they’re hale and hearty bon vivants raging at AC/DC concerts or having a rollicking time as Munich Beer Hall Fräuleins at the Rugby Sevens, and then the next time you see them they’re just bits of skin-and-bone pushing their bodies to the limit on ultra-expensive racing bikes.
5% more cyclists saves $200 million.
Researchers say New Zealand could save $200 million per year in health costs if more motorists opted to use a bike instead.
The Centre for Sustainable Cities says it would take only 5% of car trips being replaced by bike rides to make the savings.
Manager Jan Logie says the extra exercise would also save the lives of more than a hundred people each year.
She says a 5% change is not radical, as it is just getting back to the number of cyclists in the 1980s.
But she says people won't opt for bikes...
Wellington sunrise:700 riders celebrate Go By Bike Day, 17 February 2010.
Speakers included
Hon Steven Joyce, Minister of Transport.
Cr Paul Bruce, Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Amy England, BikeWise.
Isabella Cawthron, Frocks On Bikes.
Kevin Hague, MP, Green Party of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Cr Celia Wade-Brown, Wellington City Council.
Illona Keenan, Chair, Cycle Aware Wellington.
Jan Logie...
New Plymouth's Coastal Pathway Extension bridge being put into position
Hot off the press, photos taken this lunchtime!
The concrete deck has yet to go on plus the handrailing and other finishing stuff. The pathway from the end of the bridge to Bell Block is still out to tender. Tenders close this week, so not likely to be able to ride over the bridge till June/July.
Full article on the unique bridge's move at:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3332400/Earth-moved-as-bridge-taken-to-river/
People often assume that environmental and economic goals conflict. For example, critics often claim that energy conservation strategies harm the economy. They are wrong. Some emission reduction strategies provide economic benefits in addition to their
environmental benefits.
This paper identifies a dozen such strategies, called Win-Win Transportation Solutions. These are cost-effective, technically feasible policy reforms which correct existing market distortions that reduce transport system efficiency. They provide multiple benefits, including congestion reduction,...
If approved, the 2030 Portland Bicycle Plan will be the nation's most ambitious urban cycling project. When completed, city planners hope the hundreds of miles of new bikeways will dramatically cut carbon emissions and promote a more active lifestyle.
Portland promotes urban cycling, but costs will be highThe eco-conscious city plans to build more than 680 miles of new bikeways in the coming two decades at a cost of $613 million.
If approved, the 2030 Portland Bicycle Plan will be the nation's most...
Education Advisor – Bike Wise
(Fixed term – Parental leave cover April 2010 to April 2011)
Are you passionate about cycle safety?
Do you have a can-do attitude?
Are you calm under pressure?
NZTA is currently looking for a fixed term employee to cover a parental leave situation, to manage our national Bike Wise programme that promotes safe cycling as a fun and healthy transport option.
As a project manager for Bike Wise you will need to be highly organised, committed and able to think on the go.
The...
Videos from Sunday's Love to Roll Valentine's Day Ride via YouTube:
FITTEST CHILDREN CYCLE TO SCHOOL, SAYS NEW RESEARCH
Walking also leads to significant cardiovascular improvements
INDIANAPOLIS – Children who cycle to school are more physically active and fit than those who use other modes of transport, according to new research from the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine.
The findings are based a study of 6,000 children, ages 10 to 16, from the eastern region of England. The children’s cardiorespiratory fitness and travel habits were assessed during 2007 and 2008.
...
Through innovative construction techniques, bike parking facilities have been built in Japan to house large numbers in self-contained underground lots. With a 17 second retrieval time, the machine probably finds the bike faster than the rider would if faced with the same number of bikes lined up in the street.
Bikes@Work
is a Melbourne-based business helping to promote workplace health and sustainability through active transport initiatives.
Active transport (such as walking and cycling) has an important role to play in reducing transport costs, congestion, air pollution, promoting health and enhancing the safety and livability of our cities.
The Benefits
Investment in cycling has been shown to be good for the bottom line. The UK Traffic Advisory Unit found that organisations that implemented cycling strategies received a return of between $1....
CAN Committee meeting held in Christchurch on Saturday 13 February 2010
Thirteen cycle trails nationwide are a step closer to becoming part of the national cycleway.
New Zealand cycle trail programme manager John Dunn said the 13 had been selected from 54 to proceed to feasibility study stage.
All applications were outstanding but, with only $50 million to work with, only those that were "simply superior in every way" had been selected for the next stage," Mr Dunn said.
"These applications promise trails of stunning beauty and, along with the previously announced Quick Start projects, will provide a network of about 2000km of iconic great...
As part of Bike Wise Month – New Zealand’s annual celebration of two-wheeled transport – the New Zealand Transport Agency and top Kiwi athletes Hamish Carter and Alison Shanks are helping to raise money for the Starship Foundation through a Trade Me auction going live today.
Olympic champion triathlete Hamish has been a long-term supporter of the Starship Foundation, which provides additional equipment, support and services to staff, patients and families at Starship Children’s Hospital.
“The Foundation helps out more than 100,000 kids and their families from around the...
Adult Cycle Skills Training Workshops
Registrations are now open for the Adult Cycle Training Workshops for trainees.
Want to gain confidence cycling around town, learn some new skills and find out how to deal with hazards on the road? Come along to one of our Adult Cycle Skills Workshops which is like a defensive driving course, but for cyclists!
Qualified...
Photo: Courtesy of Buenos Aires government.
If you're thinking about traveling to Buenos Aires, consider taking your bike with you. The promise of 100 kilometers of new bike paths is becoming a reality with new safe, separated-from-traffic lanes popping up in different parts of the city. Take a look at the map inside.
The new bike paths have arrived not without controversy: drivers complain about the works arguing that there aren't enough riders to make the lanes worthwhile, while some groups of cyclists say they are not along the major avenues.
...
