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News
29
Jun
Jun
For discussion here and at CAW meeting 7 July.
I think CAW needs to decide how much energy we want to put into organising a 350 day of action (http://www.350.org/plan) ride on 24 Oct. As it's not in our 2009 Plan am keen it doesn't displace other stuff.
My proposal: CAW contracts an event manager to organise it. Have invited Charlie Devenish from 350.org.nz to come to CAW meeting so we can cook something up.
http://can.org.nz/event/2009/10/24/international-day-of-climate-action
Proposed event format
Bike ride 350 degrees...
25
Jun
Jun
Source: Bicyclesafe.com Note, this refers to American roads, thus riding on the right-hand side
This page shows you real ways you can get hit and real ways to avoid getting hit
This is a far cry from normal bicycle safety guides, which usually tell you little more than to wear your helmet and to follow the law. But consider this for a moment: Wearing a helmet will do absolutely nothing to prevent you from getting hit by a car. Sure, helmets might help you if you get hit, but your #1 goal should be to avoid getting...
25
Jun
Jun
Two years have passed since hundreds of Wellington riders gathered to mark the death of two riders.
On 26 June 2008 Wellington cyclists organised a memorial ride as a mark of respect for the two riders, Des Eyre and Superindendant Steve Fitzgerald, killed on 19 June. Cyclists gathered at Parliament. After a brief opportunity to speak, we departed Parliament, and rode along Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road to Petone Roundabout. We paused there, then rode back to Wellington. The ride commemorated and honoured the lives of the riders.
We remember them.
25
Jun
Jun
Things to remember if you have a crash.
1. Be Prepared to Act
If you crash and are injured, you may have to rely on bystanders for help. If you are conscious and mobile after your crash be prepared to act.
2. Get Off the Road...25
Jun
Jun
A few examples of a UK campaign to make vehicle drivers look out for bikes
25
Jun
Jun
Right... Brands Go Bike Crazy In NYC http://www.psfk.com/2009/06/brands-go-bike-crazy-in-nyc.html
June 23, 2009
Marketers and PR-folk take note, free bike rides just might be the next “pop-up shop” for their universal ability to lure in the general public and it appears retailers are catching on. Topshop and Whole Foods recently gave their customers more reason to turn to the alternative mode of transportation, with two bike-centric store events held in NYC.
Over the weekend, Anglophiles everywhere took...
22
Jun
Jun
Wellington City Council's Strategy and Policy Committee last week considered its draft Long-Term Council Community Plan in light of community feedback and recent funding requests - agreeing on .... providing $250,000 in 2009/10 and $500,000 each year after that to help improve the city's cycle and walking network. Projects likely to benefit from this include the proposed Great Harbour Way, Porirua to Tawa streamside walkway, Middleton Road and routes from the South Coast to the central city.
Well done CAW's LTCCP submitters...
22
Jun
Jun
FWD message
Hi everybody
The Regional Transport Committee received (on Monday this week) the draft of the walking and cycling strategy and approved it to be be circulated to targetted stakeholders for submissions or feedback. I have identified about 80 stakeholders whom we are targetting for feedback through a submission/feedback process. A proportion of the 80 stakeholders are members of the steering group who helped shape the strategy. For those of you receiving this email, you are identified because you were either part of the original sub-regional focus group...
22
Jun
Jun
"BRISBANE looks set to become the first Australian capital city to join several European centres in introducing a public bike hire scheme, with the city's council launching a call for proposals for the project at the weekend" according to an article in the Australian.
22
Jun
Jun
The city of Copenhagen, Denmark, our Best of Green 2009 winner for "Best City To Be a Cyclist In", has installed what I think is a totally awesome cyclist counter ("cykelbarometer") in front of city hall (it also has an air pump if you need to inflate your bike's tires). The two numbers on the counter are "total number today" and "total number this year so far", according to our friend Mikeal from Copenhagenize. The city will give a Biomega bike to cyclist number 500,000, and since there are about 12,000 cyclists that pass by on a week day (about 25k both ways), it shouldn't take too long...
18
Jun
Jun
Cabinet paper provides no confidence that national cycleway will ever become a reality.
Cabinet paper: no confidence for national cycleway
Kelvin Davis Labour Tourism Spokesperson
18 June 2009 Media Statement
Cabinet paper provides no confidence that national cycleway will ever become a reality.
Papers released by Tourism Minister John Key's office and the Tourism Ministry give no confidence that the vision of a cycleway the length of New Zealand will ever be anything more than a disconnected patchwork of small tracks, says Labour tourism spokesperson...
18
Jun
Jun
*CTC Safety in Numbers Campaign*
CTC – the UK’s national cyclists’ organisation’s Safety in Numbers Campaign has been launched on 5th May in Parliament by broadcaster and CTC President, Jon Snow, who is a regular cycle commuter in London. He said:
“London’s streets have started getting a lot safer, thanks to the growth in cycling over the past decade.”
Logic tells us that the more people who cycle, the safer cycling becomes for everyone and now CTC has gathered even more evidence to back this up.
Roger Geffen, CTC’s Campaigns and Policy Manager,...
18
Jun
Jun
*MythBusters: Utility Cycling Requires Special Gear*
No special cycling gear is needed for utility cycling
The current emphasis on hi-viz and other special cycling safety gear being promoted as de rigueur for even a trip to the shops may be counterproductive, and off-putting to many potential bike users.
The subconscious message that cycling is a dangerous activity is being unwittingly promoted by the plethora of safety gear now being deemed essential equipment for a bike ride. In fact cycling is statistically a very safe...
16
Jun
Jun
From the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance:
2.45 Addressing many of Auckland’s key challenges involves decisions about infrastructure. For example the ability to meet social needs such as affordable housing and safety are linked to community infrastructure and public transport. People on lower incomes are particularly reliant on public transport to get to work.
It is essential that planning for infrastructure takes a long-term focus. This means taking into account global changes such as climate change and peak oil – might the Auckland if the future be less car-...
15
Jun
Jun
4:00AM Monday Jun 15, 2009
By Mathew Dearnaley
Pedestrians and cars already share road spaces in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.
Auckland drivers and pedestrians will have to get to know each other a lot better as footpaths are removed from some busy city side-streets.
Urban designers have won approval in principle from the city council's transport committee for developing a suite of streets into "shared space" where pedestrians will be free to roam as long as they do not unduly hold up motor traffic.
Footpaths will be removed, as...
15
Jun
Jun
John Meekings tracked his running costs for 100,000 km over ten years.
Including the initial purchase, the running cost for travel on John's bike has been $557 per year, or 4 cents/km.
Here's his story.
GT Backwoods
Before this bike I owned an Avanti road bike. I used that for doing fun rides and cruising in the country. All in all a great bike. When my second son was born we needed a second bike with a kid-seat. A decision was made to upgrade to something that would handle some weight over...
12
Jun
Jun
Courtesy of Malcolm Law:
The following story appeared on the front page of The Hutt News, June 9 2009.
"Big boost for cycling budget
The city council will bump up its spending on cycleways from $150,000 to $350,000 a year, an acknowledgement of strong public support for improved cycling facilities in surveys and submissions on its 10 year community plan.
It's likely a priority for the 2009/10 budget will be work on a River Trail cycleway between Manor Park and Silverstream. At present cyclists are forced to dice with motorised traffic on the highway at...