e.CAN 181 - The email bulletin of Cycling Advocates' Network, NZ

e.CAN

Contents:
- February is Bike Wise Month
- Public invited to put ideas for pathway under Auckland Harbour Bridge
- 'Aggressive' drivers deter cycling tourists
- Cyclists getting squeezed off roads: tour operators
- Cyclists call for ceasefire
- Risky cycling rarely to blame for bike accidents, study finds
- School cycling in Wales triples
- Beijing to revive bikes for smooth traffic, clear sky
- Weblinks

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FEBRUARY IS BIKE WISE MONTH

February is Bike Wise Month, a NZ Transport Agency initiative that encourages Kiwis of all ages to give cycling a go at one of hundreds of events taking place across the country throughout February.

The key events are:

- Go By Bike Day: On Wednesday 17 February New Zealanders are being encouraged to bike to work or school instead of going in the car. Breakfast events, including free food and entertainment, are being held in more than 50 locations. See http://www.bikewise.co.nz/Site/events for your nearest Go By Bike Day.

- Mayoral Challenge: Held on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month: New Zealand towns and cities will compete for the honour of the most 'Cycle Mad City' by getting as many people as possible to follow their Mayor on a gentle bike ride. The title of Cycle Mad City will go to the town or city with the highest percentage of their population joining in on their Mayoral Challenge. In 2009 Mayoral Challenges were held in 48 centres involving more than 14,000 participants.

- Bike Wise Challenge: This is a fun, free, online competition which encourages organisations to get their staff on their bikes for Bike Wise Month. Organisations of a similar size compete against each other in each region to see who can get the highest percentage of members/staff in the saddle. Held throughout February 2010, the Challenge is open to any New Zealand company or organisation. The aim of the Challenge is to encourage as many people as possible to try out cycling as a fun and healthy way to get around. See http://www.bikewisechallenge.co.nz.

For further information on events around the country see:

http://www.bikewise.co.nz/regions.html

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PUBLIC INVITED TO PUT IDEAS FOR PATHWAY UNDER AUCKLAND HARBOUR BRIDGE

14 January 2010- Aucklanders are being invited to have their say on the design of a user-pays walking and cycling pathway across the harbour bridge.

The Getacross Campaign has commissioned architects Copeland Associates to design a tolled path to be tucked under the bridge's eastern clip-on, and wants guidance from the public on broad principles.

"We're after an iconic design with the wow factor - we want to create a top 10 tourist attraction for the Auckland region and an asset all Aucklanders will be proud of," said campaign spokesman Bevan Woodward.

"Hence we're inviting Aucklanders to have their say on the pathway's design."

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'AGGRESSIVE' DRIVERS DETER CYCLING TOURISTS

21 December 2009- New Zealand needs to put its money where its mouth is if it wants to become a true ecotourism destination, says a family of cyclists scared off the roads.

European couple Wouter van Wezemael and Vanessa Mudarra are calling for more cycle lanes after being forced to use public transport on their charity bike ride, traversing the length of New Zealand to raise money for Forest & Bird.

But Transport Minister Steven Joyce says work is being done, and it is a matter of logistics and money.

The family began their journey in Cape Reinga on November 1, but by Taupo they swapped their bikes for buses and trains, after becoming terrified for the safety of their 15-month-old daughter Ella.

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CYCLISTS GETTING SQUEEZED OFF ROADS: TOUR OPERATORS

9 January 2010- New Zealand has some of the most scenic roads in the world but cycle tourism operators say some are becoming increasingly dangerous.

Road cycle tourism was at risk because the roads were not designed for cyclists and increasing traffic volumes, operators said. This is despite efforts to educate both drivers and cyclists to improve road safety.

Cycle Tourism Operators New Zealand chairman Tim De Jong said it was harder for operators to cater for tourists wanting to do road tours because of the increase in volume of traffic on roads that were not designed for cyclists and vehicles.
Read more here:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3217113/Cyclists-getting-squeezed-off-roads-tour-operators

Young German cycle tourist Mia Pusch (19), who was killed in a collision with a truck recently while cycling through the Manawatu, had been describing her experiences a few days earlier on her blog:

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/killed-tourist-wrote-trucking-beasts-3327045

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CYCLISTS CALL FOR CEASEFIRE

28 January 2010- Cycling advocates are calling for a ceasefire in the latest skirmish between some drivers and cyclists.

A Christchurch businessman has today issued a statement, apologising for his online remarks in which he said he wanted to "nail" cyclists with his Hummer.

Cycling is a great way to get around, and a sport enjoyed by more than a million New Zealanders says Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN) Chair, Bevan Woodward.

Mr Woodward says, "We all win when cyclists and motorists share the road with care. Every person on a bike means there are fewer cars on the road. More bikes means less congestion."

CAN is thrilled to see the latest "Code for Cyclists" produced by New Zealand Transport Agency. "The Code legitimises cyclists as valid road users at a time when there has been considerable mud-slinging between parties."

"An increase in everyday cycling instead of driving for short trips, reduces accidents, increases health, vitality and well-being and reduces future roading and health costs.

"If only three people in every 100 took up cycling instead of driving, New Zealand would save more than 1 billion dollars per year."

Code for Cyclists: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadcode/index.html

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RISKY CYCLING RARELY TO BLAME FOR BIKE ACCIDENTS, STUDY FINDS

15 December 2009- A tiny proportion of accidents involving cyclists are caused by riders jumping red lights or stop signs, or failing to wear high-visibility clothing and use lights, a UK government-commissioned study has discovered.

The findings appear to contradict a spate of recent reports speculating that risky behaviour by riders, such as listening to music players while cycling, could be behind a near 20% rise in cyclist deaths and serious injuries in the second quarter of this year.

The study, carried out for the UK Department for Transport, found that in 2% of cases where cyclists were seriously injured in collisions with other road users police said that the rider disobeying a stop sign or traffic light was a likely contributing factor. Wearing dark clothing at night was seen as a potential cause in about 2.5% of cases, and failure to use lights was mentioned 2% of the time.

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SCHOOL CYCLING IN WALES TRIPLES

30 November 2009- Thousands of pupils in twenty-four schools across Conwy and Neath Port Talbot have improved their health, reduced their carbon emissions and cut local congestion since becoming involved with Bike It.

Bike It came to Wales in September 2008 and has achieved great results in its first year. Prior to Bike It only 13 per cent of children in Conwy and Neath Port Talbot cycled to school once a week. A year on, this has increased to 39 per cent and the number of children that never cycle to school has almost halved.

This September, Bike It also began operating in Cardiff, where Sustrans hopes to see similar increases in the numbers of children cycling to school.

Bike It Officers work with pupils, parents and staff to help them overcome whatever it is that is preventing them from cycling to school - by organising cycle training and bike maintenance sessions, helping to install new bike sheds, contributing to classroom work and providing information about safe routes to schools.

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BEIJING TO REVIVE BIKES FOR SMOOTH TRAFFIC, CLEAR SKY

24 January 2010- Beijing authorities aim to increase the proportion of cyclists on road from the current 19.7 percent to 23 percent by 2015 for a clearer sky and less traffic jams in the capital city.

The government will revise and eliminate regulations that discourage bicycle usage, and install more restrictions against car drivers, said Liu Xiaoming, director of the Municipal Communications Commission.

The proportion of Beijing residents riding bicycles was only 19.7 percent in the first four months in 2009, compared with more than 80 percent in the 1980s.

By 2015, 45 percent of the population are expected to use public transport, 22 percent by car, 8 percent to take taxis, while 23 percent to ride cycle, according to the plan of the Beijing government.

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WEBLINKS

- The Bike Tree: a 21st century bike shed in Japan to solve the bike parking problem (a nice problem to have):

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/video/2009/nov/05/bicycles-japan-bike-tree

- Drink cycling: is it legal?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/blogs/are-we-there-yet/3156431/Drink-cycling-is-it-legal

- Separated cycleway work begins in Sydney:

http://www.roadconstruct.com.au/news/Separated-cycleway-work-begins-in-City-of-Sydney

- Bike Club: a new UK initiative aimed at encouraging young people (10 - 20) and their families to cycle:

http://bikeclub.org.uk/

- Pay as you drive: the Netherlands is to become the first European country to replace road
tax with a kilometre charge for all motorists:

http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2009/11/cabinet_finalises_road_pricing.php

- Ciclovia manual: how to hold a Ciclovia event:

http://cicloviarecreativa.uniandes.edu.co/english/index.html

- Technical information for cycling: a bunch of technical resources from the Queensland govt:

http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/General_information/Cycling/Bike_user_guide/Technical_information/

- Lovely Bicycle!

http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/

- Lake Road cycle lanes: if you haven't already signed the petition to save the Lake Rd cycle lanes in Takapuna (North Shore) here it is:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/lakeroadcyclelane/

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ABOUT CAN

Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN) is New Zealand's voice for cyclists. We want to see cycling become an everyday activity in NZ. CAN's membership includes experienced cyclists, advocates, engineers, planners, local and regional councils, bike shops, and local advocacy groups throughout the country.

To find out more about CAN, go to our website, http://www.can.org.nz.

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