Patrick Morgan, Project Manager, Cycling Action Network
What a year! While Covid has forced us all to adapt, I'm proud of what CAN has achieved in the past year.
Thanks to everyone at CAN for your time, energy and passion. I'm impressed with your commitment to serve your community by fighting for better biking. You inspire me. Together, we're stronger and more effective.
As CAN's project manager, it's my job to
- support your advocacy,
- make the case for cycling in social and mainstream media
- build relationships and influence with decision makers in Government, councils, and the community
- help you make submissions on climate, health, and transport policies.
- fundraise
I'm employed by CAN for 30 hours / week. I'm based in Wellington. .
Highlights
Meeting cycling advocates, and presenting a paper, at the national cycling and walking conference in Dunedin, March 2021
Supporting Cycle Wellington members take direct action by building a planter-box protected cycle lane in Island Bay, May 2021. A few days later Wellington City Council voted to increase the cycle budget and accelerate building bike lanes. 
Liberate The Lane rally, Auckland, May 2021
I travelled to Auckland (by train) with Mark, Alex and Jonathan from Cycle Wellington to show our support for Bike Auckland's harbour bridge rally.
In June, we picked up Transport Minister Michael Wood from Wellington airport, and rode together to the Beehive. He had a chance to meet cycling advocates and try out the flash new Cobham Drive bike path.
Working with Kapiti Cycling on ensuring cycling access on highway 59 as it passes Transmission Gully, and campaigning for a safe crossing at Poplar Ave
Working with Hutt Cycle Action on the RiverLink campaign. We're fighting a David and Goliath battle to ensure Waka Kotahi and Hutt City Council deliver great cycling connections in the Hutt Valley. We raised more than $12,000 towards legal action in the Environemnt Court.
I'm well aware of our privileged position. As advocates, we have spare time and the resources to campaign for betetr cycling. But we need to look and sound like the wider community. Working with some volunteers in Wellington, we're exploring ways to improve CAN's accessibility, diversity and inclusion. I look forward to seeing progress on this.
I'm always looking for opportunities to make the case for cycling. I was happy to take Stuff up on the offer of an opinion piece in February: Investing in cycling will make Wellington 'a better place', advocate says
Fundraising remains a critical issue for CAN. For several years we have run deficits. This is not sustainable. We are hugely grateful to our supporters who give so generously of their time, energy and money. Together with the CAN Board, we are addressing financial sustainability, but we have much to do.
Away from work, I had opportunities to ride Hawkes Bay trails, the Remutaka, Paparoa, Old Ghost, Heaphy, Great Taste trails, and highway 94 to Milford.
We face urgent issues in health, climate, equity, and well-being. Getting more people on bikes, more often, has a vital role to play in making our lives better.
I look forward to another year of making New Zealand even better for biking.