e.CAN 192 - The email bulletin of Cycling Advocates' Network, NZ

NZ Cycle Trail the only way

19 June 2011- Eleven of the 18 routes that will make up the New Zealand Cycle Trail now have sections open and businesses around the country are preparing to reap the benefits.

Prime Minister John Key launched the project after the February 2009 Job Summit with the aim of stimulating the recession-stricken economy.

The Government kicked it off with a $50 million funding injection, and local communities stumped up another $30 million. The idea is for all 18 rides to be ready for use by summer 2012-2013.

Also, the Ministry of Economic Development is planning to expand the New Zealand Cycle Trail, adding a number of back country routes to the 18 trails already being built:

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/78477/cycle-trail-set-to-be-expanded

Meanwhile, a new study from the University of Massachusetts shows that building bicycle infrastructure generates more jobs per dollar than pedestrian-only projects, multi-use trails, or road construction:

http://www.peri.umass.edu/236/hash/64a34bab6a183a2fc06fdc212875a3ad/publication/467/

2 Walk and Cycle Conference: call for abstracts

Don't delay if you are interested in presenting at the 2 Walk and Cycle Conference 2012, please fill out the form (see link below) no later than Wednesday 14 September 2011.

While we are interested in all abstracts that are relevant to the conference theme, we are particularly interested in those addressing any of the following topics:

Benefits (economic, health, etc) of providing for and encouraging walking and cycling
Integration of walking and cycling with public transport and other travel modes
Progress and success stories from Model Walking/Cycling Communities and similar initiatives
Commonalities/Conflicts between walking and cycling for planning/policy/design purposes
Initiatives that address safety of walking/cycling
Measures to encourage and enhance school walking and cycling travel
Signage and directional/way-finding guidance for walking/cycling routes and areas

The call for abstracts document (containing detailed information about submitting an abstract) and the abstract submission form can be downloaded here:

http://www.hardingconsultants.co.nz/2walkandcycle/programme_theme.html

Doctor backs bikes for health, savings

13 July 2011- Forget an inner-city rail loop, build bike lanes instead and save half the money.

That was the message at a meeting on Auckland's health inequities yesterday from Dr Alex Macmillan, a physician and environmental health lecturer at Auckland University.

She said separated bike lanes could be created on every arterial road in the region and traffic calming could be installed in every street for half the $2 billion cost of a downtown rail loop.

She questioned the emphasis on "high-cost rail" instead of walking and cycling. Biking would reduce inequalities because it was healthy and virtually free.

CAN needs a treasurer!

CAN is looking for a well-organised and experienced person to oversee our financial operations. This is a volunteer position, but an honorarium is offered. The day-to-day data entry work is done by our paid staff, and the treasurer oversees that work and provides the CAN Committee with monthly finance reports, submits IRD returns, and prepares the annual accounts for audit.

Our accounts are just being shifted to the on-line system Xero, so this job can be done from anywhere in New Zealand. A role description is available, and please feel free to contact the acting treasurer Jane Dawson (jane@can.org.nz) for further information.

Cycling crash drop 'may be just luck'

1 August 2011- Cycling in Auckland is getting safer, accident statistics show, but experts say a fall in the number of accidents may simply be down to luck.

Police records show Auckland's cyclist fatalities and serious-injury rates dropped dramatically this year.

Statistics from the national hospital database show minor-injury and non-injury cycling crashes in Auckland have increased by at least 10 per cent in the past two years.

Australians too scared to ride their bikes - survey

2 June 2011- Aussies want to jump on their bike but they're just too afraid to start pedalling.

A random sample of more than 1000 adults nationally has found that despite the majority of people owning or having access to a bike, seven in 10 people were not considering cycling as a form of transport in the near future.

But of those respondents, half said they would like to ride a bike more regularly but things would have to be different.

Overwhelmingly, unsafe road conditions were the No.1 reason why people weren't using their bikes as transport, followed by the speed of traffic and a lack of bike paths.

Britons unmoved by pro-cycling campaigns

3 June 2011- Years of UK government efforts to promote cycling have had almost no impact on a sceptical population who largely view bikes as either children's toys or the preserve of Lycra-clad hobbyists, a university study has found.

The coalition has pledged more than 500 million pounds over five years on pro-cycling efforts. But the research indicates these reach only the small proportion of people already interested in cycling, leaving others unmoved.

Weblinks

131 million reasons to Copenhagenize Christchurch:

http://publicaddress.net/southerly/one-hundred-and-thirty-one-million-reasons/

Brain on, motor off: a new German campaign to encourage cycling and walking (in German only):

http://www.kopf-an.de/

Bike share in China: not so long ago this would have been unnecessary- but it is now:

http://vimeo.com/24241296

Cyclebabble: stories from the Guardian Bike Blog

http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/viewProduct.do?ISBN=9780852652305

Senegalese bike dancing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3LOKfQ3y2Q

NYC bikelane protest video: what happens if you don't ride in the bike lane in New York:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzE-IMaegzQ

Bicycling renaissance in North America?: an update and re-assessment of cycling trends and policies:

http://policy.rutgers.edu/faculty/pucher/TRA960_01April2011.pdf

The door zone: three videos from the US on the car door problem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TQ7aID1jHs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJKbXH2cAyI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u4eRbpPJUY

Good cities for bicycling: how to make them, according to Danish luminary Jan Gehl:

http://sf.streetsblog.org/2011/06/16/danish-architect-jan-gehl-on-good-cities-for-bicycling/

Sit up cycle:

http://www.situp-cycle.com/

How to clear parked cars from bike lanes? drive over them with a tank:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-fWN0FmcIU

About e.CAN

e.CAN is distributed approximately every 4 weeks to CAN members, Friends of CAN and other interested people. CAN members also get our bi-monthly magazine, ChainLinks.

To check back issues of e.CAN, go to http://www.can.org.nz/ecan .

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.

We also welcome donations to support our work. You can donate online at: http://can.org.nz/donate

address: PO Box 6491, Auckland 1141 email: secretary@can.org.nz
website: http://www.can.org.nz

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e.CAN 192 - The email bulletin of Cycling Advocates' Network, NZ

e.CAN 192 - The email bulletin of Cycling Advocates' Network, NZ

Contents:

NZ Cycle Trail the only way

2 Walk and Cycle Conference: call for abstracts

Doctor backs bikes for health, savings

CAN needs a treasurer!

Cycling crash drop 'may be just luck'

Australians too scared to ride their bikes - survey

Britons unmoved by pro-cycling campaigns

Weblinks

About e.CAN

About CAN