News

24
Apr

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 Victoria St. Meet on the corner of Victoria and Bond St, by the Lido cafe. Let's show the Council we need them to move much faster on building safe and healthy streets. We'll all be better off.

5 – 5:45pm, Wednesday 1 May 2019

April 24, 2019 Patrick READ MORE
9
Apr

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 Featherston St, Wellington. Meet on the corner of Featherston and Ballance Sts. Let's show the Council we need them to move much faster on building safe and healthy streets. We'll all be better off.

7:45 – 8:30am, Wednesday 10 April 2019...

April 9, 2019 Patrick READ MORE
19
Feb

We deserve Healthy Streets
You would expect a cycling advocacy organisation like CAN to be campaigning for bike lanes and safe traffic speeds. But as they say, "Sell the cake, not the ingredients". That's why we're fans of the Healthy Streets approach. It starts with an inclusive vision of what we want: streets that are good for us. Streets that are socially and economically vibrant and environmentally sustainable.

A street that works for people is a street that is good for health.

Towns and cities everywhere are facing the challenge of keeping...

February 19, 2019 Patrick READ MORE
14
Feb

The arrival of e-scooters in significant numbers in NZ creates issues for how we get around. What are the issues?
by Patrick Morgan

Although there are some risks, overall there are net benefits.
- more demand for bike lanes and traffic calming
- helps transition to low-carbon, less car-dependent transport
- but risks need to be managed
- footpaths are primarily for people on foot.

Policy
E-scooters are here already. It's a bad look to seek to restrict something that's already proving...

February 14, 2019 Patrick READ MORE
1
Feb

No loss of life is acceptable, is the message behind the development of the Government’s new road safety strategy,"says Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter.

I need your help: 2019 will be a big year for road safety, with the Government consulting on a new safety strategy.
But there will be push back. We'll need to have our say to get good programmes across the line. There's potentially big wins on safe speeds, a close passing rule, and more cycleways.
CAN will upgrade our digital campaign tools, to help people have their say.
...

February 1, 2019 Patrick READ MORE
11
Oct

CAN is organising our biggest bike expo in Christchurch, on the 13 and 14 October, at the Air Force Museum of NZ, Wigram.

The NZ Bike Expo will bring together everything to do with the bicycle, in a vibrant and exciting consumer show. Visitors will have opportunities to trial bikes, meet top sports people, learn about new adventures on the Events Programme, and feature prizes and giveaways as well as showcasing a wonderful range of top bike and bike-related brands and retailers.

As a cycling advocacy group we’re very keen to get more people on their bikes, enjoying...

October 11, 2018 Patrick READ MORE
9
Oct

Why do people on bikes ride two abreast?

By Patrick Morgan, Cycling Action Network


When we were in kindergarten, we learned a few basic rules on how to get along with each other.

First, follow the rules.

Second, be kind.


Now that we've left kindergarten, this...

October 9, 2018 Patrick READ MORE
24
Sep

Bike to the Future awards review

To: CAN Board
From: Patrick Morgan
25 September 2018


With the 2018 awards behind us, it's timely to consider timing and branding of the Bike to the Future Awards.


Introduction

The Bike to the Future Awards...

September 24, 2018 Patrick READ MORE
4
Sep

Good news - Government invests a record $390m in cycling and walking

I want to share some welcome news with you – the Government has announced a record $390 million will be invested into cycling and walking projects over the next three years.

That's a 33 percent increase. It includes Skypath and Seapath. Sixty-two years after the Auckland Harbour Bridge was built, we will have a direct cycling route from the North Shore to...

September 4, 2018 Patrick READ MORE
28
Aug

NZTA wants our feedback on signs and road markings

What do you think about how signs and road markings are used?

 We’re consulting on the Traffic control devices manual part 5 – traffic control devices for general use – between intersections.

 This document provides guidance and best practice for road controlling authorities and traffic management practitioners on the use of traffic control devices, such as signs and road markings, between intersections. Traffic control devices are used to...

August 28, 2018 Patrick READ MORE
23
Aug

Cyclists applaud funding tailwinds


New Government funding for cycling is good news, whether you ride a bike or not, say cycling advocates.


The Government has today announced $390m investment in walking and cycling over three years, including fully-funding Auckland's Skypath over the harbour...

August 23, 2018 Patrick READ MORE
15
Aug

The indomitable Aro Valley cyclist


Alastair Smith at the end of the St James Cycleway.

20 November 2019
It is with a sad heart I must share the news that Alastair Smith passed away today.

I will always remember Alastair as a caring, considerate and funny man. He devoted huge energy to his passions. High among these was his love of riding a bicycle and sharing the simple pleasures of companionship and adventure. He kept the flame of bike advocacy burning, and we are all better off as a result. I will miss him dearly.
Patrick Morgan

In July...

August 15, 2018 Patrick READ MORE
19
Jul

Give us room - a campaign for a safe passing rule
Introduce a safe passing rule, to protect people on bikes.
A safe passing rule was recommended by the NZ Cycle Safety Panel in 2014. Safe passing rules are common in Europe, the US, and most Australian states. They also protect people on foot, law enforcement and road workers.
Why are we waiting?

Updates

January 2023
Still nothing. Not acceptable

October 2021
No action yet by Government. Transport Minister...

July 19, 2018 Patrick READ MORE
28
Jun

Cyclists welcome record investment in safe and sustainable transport

Cycling advocates say the new transport budget is good news for safer roads.

The Government released the new Government Policy Statement (GPS) on transport funding today. It allocates up to $1.1 billion for new cycling and walking projects, up to $4.8 billion for rapid transit, and up to $8 billion for public transport over the next ten years.

...

June 28, 2018 Patrick READ MORE
25
Jun

Notes from Chris T-S, Living Streets Aotearoa

I attended the TRAFINZ safety workshop in Wellington.

The workshop featured Margaret Dugdale from NZTA and James Campbell from MoT talking about progress towards developing a new road safety strategy to replace safer journeys which they acknowledge has failed (first 5 years of declines in road death toll has been almost completely reversed in last 5 years).

Margaret put NZ in international context (it ain't...

June 25, 2018 Patrick READ MORE
19
Jun

Cycling advocates call for urgent action on road safety

Ten years after the death of Police Superintendent Steve Fitzgerald while cycling home, cycling advocates are calling for urgent action on road safety.

Former national road policing manager, Mr Fitzgerald was cycling home from work on 19 June 2008 when he and a truck and trailer crashed on a roundabout in Petone. In 2009 the truck driver was convicted of careless driving.

Cycling Action Network spokesman Patrick Morgan says the solutions to traffic danger are well known, but Councils and the...

June 19, 2018 Patrick READ MORE
6
Jun

Finalists for the 2018 Bike to the Future Awards, New Zealand’s national cycling awards, have been announced.

The awards, now in their third year, are organised by the NZ Transport Agency and Cycling Action Network (CAN). They celebrate the projects and people that are actively supporting and encouraging New Zealanders’ choice to get around by bike as part of their everyday journeys.

The finalists, selected from 60 nominations, range from large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Te Awa River Ride - Ngaruawahia to Horotiu section, to education initiatives...

June 6, 2018 Patrick READ MORE
4
Jun

Vision Zero is an approach to road safety that has, as its aim, zero fatalities or serious injuries. Representing his local residents’ association, David Hawke (a former CAN Secretary) made a presentation to Christchurch City Council last December requesting endorsement of the Vision Zero principles. 

The final result was a submission from Council to Government saying “We support the vision zero principles and recommend that the national road safety targets focus on a continual reduction in deaths and serious injuries.’

Have you thought about asking your...

June 4, 2018 Will Andrews READ MORE
4
Jun

The Government Policy Statement on Land Transport sets the Government's policy direction on transport. It's revised every three years.

 
Minister of Transport Phil Twyford and Associate Ministers Julie-Anne Genter (below) and Shane Jones have a positive vision for transport.: a vision that puts at its centre a reduction of our dependence on private cars, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and improvements to public health. CAN supported their draft Policy Statement and many many friends of CAN followed our submission guide to support the draft GPS.

Here you can view the...

June 4, 2018 Will Andrews READ MORE
26
Apr

Bike Auckland Welcomes ATAP 2 Announcement  

Bike Auckland celebrates today’s Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) 2 announcement by Mayor Phil Goff and...

April 26, 2018 Patrick READ MORE