News

Children face cycling bans over schools' safety concerns

14
Sep

Students are coached for the cycling proficiency test known as Bikeability at Queens Mead Primary School, Braunstone, Leicestershire. Photograph: David Sillitoe

Significant numbers of children face active official discouragement and even bans against cycling to and from school, cycle campaigners have warned as a new academic year gets under way.

As state pupils in most of the UK returned for the new term over the past week – those in Scotland went back earlier – most travelled to school in cars, on buses or on foot. Just a tiny minority did so on a...

September 14, 2009 Alex admin READ MORE

New Cycleway Research Report now available

14
Sep

New Zealand’s cycling market has the potential to more than double the amount of money tourists spend annually – from $320 million to $640 million. That’s according to a new market research report released by the Ministry of Tourism today.

New Cycleway Research Report now available

New Zealand’s cycling market has the potential to more than double the amount of money tourists spend annually – from $320 million to $640 million.

That’s according to a new market research report released by the Ministry of Tourism...

September 14, 2009 Scorcher READ MORE

cycle to work event 21 Sept?

11
Sep

From Jennie Henton jsgallagher@paradise.net.nz

Hi Cycle Aware
In view of the Copenhagen conference on climate change this December a number of organisations like Oxfam and Avaaz members and are setting up events on Sept 21 to wake up the world leaders.
Avaaz members have registered more than 350 September 21 Climate Wake-Up Call events in 54 countries.

Would you be interested in organising with me a cycle to work event in Wellington on Mon 21 to demonstrate to world leaders that a huge and growing global movement will accept nothing less than a fair,...

September 11, 2009 AlastairS READ MORE

NZ cycling advocates ride on World Carfree Day

11
Sep

Cycling Advocates Network (CAN) is calling on all cyclists to hit the roads on Tuesday 22nd  September 2009 as part of a global event where people take a holiday from their cars. CAN calls on people to go by cycle, foot, bus or train instead of driving - starting with just this one day.

Since its earliest incarnations in the 1970s and ‘80s, WORLD CARFREE DAY has grown into a massive global celebration of human-centric communities and people-powered transportation. The day reminds people that cycling is healthy, convenient, quick, cheap, stylish, very social and lots of fun. World ...

September 11, 2009 Scorcher READ MORE

invitation to cycling conference and CAN Do workshop, Nov, New Plymouth

11
Sep

Here's some great opportunities for cycling advocates.

We have a new govt with new transport priorities - where does this leave people who like to get around by bike?

*1. Come to the 7th New Zealand Cycling Conference*
http://can.org.nz/conference/2009 for programme and registration.
*Communities, Connections and the Economy in focus at cycling conference*
Now, more than ever, cycling has the potential to play a key part in the economic development of New Zealand. The 7th New Zealand Cycling Conference...

September 11, 2009 Patrick READ MORE

Invitation to CAN Do, NZ Cycling Conference, and more. Nov 2009

11
Sep

Here's some great opportunities for cycling advocates.

We have a new govt with new transport priorities - where does this leave people who like to get around by bike?

*1. Come to the 7th New Zealand Cycling Conference*
http://can.org.nz/conference/2009 for programme and registration.
*Communities, Connections and the Economy in focus at cycling conference*
Now, more than ever, cycling has the potential to play a key part in the economic development of New Zealand. The 7th New Zealand Cycling Conference...

September 11, 2009 Patrick READ MORE

Invitation to CAN Do, NZ Cycling Conference, and more. Nov 2009

11
Sep

Here's some great opportunities for cycling advocates.

We have a new govt with new transport priorities - where does this leave people who like to get around by bike?

*1. Come to the 7th New Zealand Cycling Conference*
http://can.org.nz/conference/2009 for programme and registration.
*Communities, Connections and the Economy in focus at cycling conference*
Now, more than ever, cycling has the potential to play a key part in the economic development of New Zealand. The 7th New Zealand Cycling Conference...

September 11, 2009 Patrick READ MORE

OPINION: Back on the chain gang

11
Sep

Narrowly missed clipping a black Holden, buses bully me into the curb, diesel fumes are the least of my worries.

Do I ride through the deep and widely slatted grate or skirt it and merge into the dual carriageway? Someone honks as I'm forced to cross four lanes on Manukau Rd and become sandwiched between a truck and a courier van... it's not my fault.

I'd just navigated by bicycle Onehunga to work in central Auckland.

It takes between 30 and 45 minutes depending on the lights, road works, weather and chances of near carnage.

At work, still puffing and...

September 11, 2009 Alex admin READ MORE

Chainlinks contributers - thank you

11
Sep

I'd like to thank everone that contributed articles for the "September" issue of Chainlinks.

 We wanted a special emphasis on New Plymouth, Taranaki and the events there in November

There were a lot of articles - probably more than Miriam can fit into the 20 pages.

it was a mixture of local group reports, articles that had been planned and discussed, and articles that arrivad out of the blue.  Some material may have to get held over untill the following issue

The volume of material actually caused a few workload issues with the chainlinks team and...

September 11, 2009 stephenw READ MORE

Whose Bike Are You Wearing?

11
Sep

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/fashion/10bikes.html?_r=4&ref=style

"While some cyclists outside the fashion world expressed mixed feelings about seeing their trusty mode of transportation turned into the next gladiator sandal, others looked on the bright side. Even if new riders buy a bike only because they’re the cool new thing, they’re still buying a bike, wrote Matt Simonds, a cyclist who works at a nonprofit agency, in an e-mail message. In such cases, he wrote, “it’s kind of strange what happens when they got on a bike after a long period away from one — they remember...

September 11, 2009 chris lenth READ MORE

Cycle-Friendly Award Nomination - Paul Barker

9
Sep

The last CAW meeting agreed to nominate Paul Barker of WCC for the Cycling Champion of the Year category in this year's CAN Cycle-Friendly Awards.

I've drafted up the nomination (attached). Any suggested changes?

Would be particularly interested in help with a list of Paul's achievements.

September 9, 2009 ribell READ MORE

Do we want to run bike commuter workshops in Nov and Dec?

9
Sep

In 2008 we ran free workshops for newbie bike commuters. WCC (Leanne Parsons) has asked if we want to do them again.
I am keen, and need some helpers - any volunteers?
Patrick (385 4967)

Tue 3 November 12-1, and 5-6pm
Tue 1 December 12-1, and 5-6pm

Here's the guff from 2008:
FREE workshops on how to commute

Discover how easy it is to commute to work by bike and get your summer off to a great start. Learn everything you need to know about commuting to work or school with practical demonstrations about all the gear from...

September 9, 2009 Patrick READ MORE

Women get their wheels spinning in style

8
Sep

A group of Christchurch women is out to make cycling fashionable.

The women are part of Frocks on Bikes, a national group for female cyclists who like to keep their sense of style.

Christchurch organiser Meg Christie said the group, which started in Wellington and Auckland, wanted to encourage women to use bikes.

"There's a big gap with a lot of women not cycling for utility trips. There are some women who go biking for leisure, but not that many using their bikes to get from A to B," she said.

The group was trying to get rid of the perception that...

September 8, 2009 Patrick READ MORE

Charge Any Electrical Device While Riding Your Bike

7
Sep


Photo: Messe Friedrichshafen, www.messe-friedrichshafen.de

 

Eurobike closed a successful week in which records were broken for trade visitors, public attendance, and submittals for the esteemed Eurobike awards. For the second year, a Eurobike Green Award was given to a product that "exhibits particularly significant ecological and sustainable value." This year's green award goes to a gadget a lot of people have been waiting for: a universal charger for harvesting pedal power to charge any music player, mobile phone, GPS or other electrical device. More on specs...

September 7, 2009 Alex admin READ MORE

WCC vacancy: Sustainable Transport Coordinator

4
Sep

Wellington City Council – Employment opportunity

Sustainable Transport Coordinator

Infrastructure 

The Transport Unit is responsible for planning an effective, efficient and safe transport network to all road users throughout Wellington.  We are looking for a person who can understand and manage the challenging demands on our transport network with a view towards improving sustainability. Someone who can use effective travel demand management tools to effect...

September 4, 2009 AlastairS READ MORE

Nominations for Cycle Friendly Awards: Free bikes on trains, SH2 improvements

4
Sep

CAW has been asked for comment/support for two nominations for the CAN Cycle Friendly Awards, due 18 Sept.

1. GWRC: "The Greater Wellington Regional Council have negotiated an arrangement for all Met-Link train services to carry bicycles at no charge.  This covers all Wellington suburban area trains, and services to the Wairarapa. "

2. NZTA for the improvements to SH2 Ngauranga-Petone: cycle warning signs, marked cycle lanes, etc.

I know that there are reservations about these intiatives. Some people would like to see charges for bikes on trains brought back...

September 4, 2009 AlastairS READ MORE

YikeBike launched in CHCH (CHCH funded, invented, NZ Made) !

4
Sep

This advertorial came through to me yesterday.  Would you want to ride one?

"Here's a fantastic new mode of transport launched today - Christchurch funded and invented, NZ made, and just the bees knees.  Not cheap but talk about cool, not to mention environmentally savvy."

see www.yikebike.com

 

 


September 4, 2009 Fiona READ MORE

Transformation of New York

3
Sep

NYC bike path

A pictorial history of transport changes through the ages in Manhattan, New York. How New York City is becoming a cycle-friendly city, and leading the way on Sustainable Streets.

 

From Pricetags.ca

September 3, 2009 Alex admin READ MORE

1.5m campaign

3
Sep

BikeNZ has started a 1.5 metre campaign:

From the BikeNZ material:

Would you stand on the spot with your back towards a truck as it drives towards you at 100km/h, knowing it was going to pass within a metre?

Plain lunacy? This is an everyday occurrence for cyclists on our roads.

1.5m to survive is your call to action! (Sign Petition NOW!)

There are nearly 1.5 million of us riding bikes in New Zealand, yet the Ministry of Transport's 10-year Road Safety Strategy discussion document has little to address the safety needs of...

September 3, 2009 Patrick READ MORE

Work Starts On-site for New Plymouth's Coastal Pathway Bridge

2
Sep

Work Starts On-site for Coastal Pathway Bridge

 

From the NPDC's website:

"Construction of the Coastal Pathway’s shared pedestrian/cycle bridge moves into the public eye with work starting on-site at the Waiwhakaiho River on 1st September.

There will be a blessing of the site on the city side of the river Tuesday morning, then earthworks will begin as part of construction of the bridge abutment.

“Work has been under way for many months on constructing the bridge itself, but this is the first element of the project that the public can see taking shape,” says Manager...

September 2, 2009 Graeme READ MORE