NEWS

Finalists in the SPARC Cycle-Friendly Awards 2006 have been announced today. The thirty-one nominations include a nationwide mayoral challenge event, a shared cycle/pedestrian path in Palmerston North, a workplace mileage policy that includes walking and cycling, a staff fitness programme in Mt Maunganui, and free adult cycle skills courses in Tasman and Nelson. Now in their fourth year, the Cycle-Friendly Awards are designed to acknowledge and celebrate some of the most notable achievements in the country that are helping to promote cycling and to create a cycle-friendly environment. The Awards were devised by the Cycling Advocates’ Network (CAN), the national organisation promoting everyday cycling, and are sponsored by sport and recreation agency Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC), Ministry of Transport, Roger Boulter Consulting, Avanti and Bike Wise. Nominations were called for in four categories: best cycle facility project, best cycling promotion, cycle-friendly commitment by a business and cycle-friendly commitment by a public organisation. “SPARC supports innovative ideas that provide people with opportunities to get active. We congratulate the finalists and CAN for working to improve the cycling environment for everyone,” said SPARC Active Living Manager, Richard Lindsay. More than thirty nominations were received this year, with all nominators going into a draw to win a voucher from cycle clothing company Ground Effect. CAN chairperson Robert Ibell was pleased with the quality of the nominated projects. "As with last year, we had lots of great projects nominated in the cycling promotions and cycle facilities categories and in one category we have had to select four finalists instead of the usual three", said Mr Ibell. “The Cycle-Friendly Awards are helping to showcase some imaginative and effective projects that are making a difference for cyclists," said Mr Ibell. "We're looking forward to working with SPARC and other partners to trial some regional awards next year, as well as running the national event." The prize winners in each category will be announced at a ceremony at Parliament on Saturday 18 November. Wellington MP Charles Chauvel will present the awards to the finalists. Winners will receive a uniquely designed “bicycle-bell” trophy and a certificate. After the ceremony, there'll be the chance for people to try out a selection of weird and wonderful bicycles on the Parliament forecourt, including a triple tandem, a recumbent, a penny farthing and folding bikes. The finalists for the SPARC Cycle-Friendly Awards 2006 are (in no particular order) as follows: Avanti Award for Best Cycle Facility Project: - Pioneer Highway Shared Pedestrian/Cycle Path (Palmerston North City Council) - Little River Rail Trail, Christchurch (Little River Trail Trust) - SH73 Opawa Road Stage 2 reconstruction (Christchurch City Council) - SH74 Styx Mill Overbridge widening and four-laning (Transit NZ, Canterbury) BikeWise Award for Best Cycling Promotion: - Christchurch City Council cycleway moratorium - Spokes Campaign (Spokes Canterbury) - Safer Cycling in Nelson CBD (Nelson City Council) - Bike Wise Mayoral Challenge (Bike Wise, HSC) MoT 'Getting There' Award for Cycle-friendly Commitment by Business: - Workplace cycle facilities (Tait Electronics, Christchurch) - Kidsfest & BMX Bike Skills (Linwood Cycles, Christchurch) - Staff Fitness for Bayfair Triathlon (Orica Adhesives & Resins, Mt Maunganui) Roger Boulter Consulting Award for Cycle-friendly Commitment by Public Organisation: - Life Cycle Courses: Of course you can cycle (Tasman District & Nelson City Councils) - Bike Nelson Booklet (Nelson City Council) - Ilam campus cycle-friendly initiatives (University of Canterbury). ENDS. For more information, see www.can.org.nz/awards or contact Awards Co-ordinator Bevan Woodward, 021-122 6040, awards@can.org.nz The Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN) Inc is this country's national network of cycling advocate groups. It is a voice for non-competitive cyclists - recreational, commuter and touring. We work with central government and local authorities on behalf of cyclists for a better cycling environment. We have local groups, corporate and individual members throughout the country - see our website: www.can.org.nz