e.CAN 194 - The email bulletin of Cycling Advocates' Network, NZ

e.CAN 194 - The email bulletin of Cycling Advocates' Network, NZ

e.CAN

Contents:

2 Walk and Cycle Conference- register now!

The first ever joint NZ Walking and Cycling conference will be held from 22-24 February 2012 in Hastings. Over 70 speakers will be presenting - registration forms and a draft programme are now available.

The focus of this conference is on everyday walking and cycling for transport, recreation and tourism. It encompasses all aspects of trips made by these "active modes" (including promotion, infrastructure, safety, policy and training) and their integration with each other, other travel options, and our lifestyles in general.

Early-bird registrations close on Wednesday 21 December - hurry!

For more information or to register, go to: http://www.2walkandcycle.org.nz

Wanted: CAN merchandise coordinator

We're looking for a keen volunteer to take over the role of CAN merchandise coordinator. CAN operates a small online shop (http://www.can.org.nz/shop) offering the famous 'One Less Car' back-pack covers and other items.

This is a voluntary position with a time commitment of about 1-2 hours per week, basically involving filling orders and ordering new stock when necessary. It could be done from anywhere in the country, and no particular experience is needed (though if you are a methodical type that will help).

Interested? Contact Bryce Lyall (shop@can.org.nz).

Six-year wait for Wellington buses to carry bikes

2 December 2012: Bikes and buses are set to combine- but not till 2017. Plans to install racks to enable buses to carry bikes are included in Greater Wellington regional council's draft long-term plan, which will go out for consultation next year.

At present only folding bikes can be carried on buses. Though cycling advocates are pleased plans to enable buses to carry bikes have been included, they are disappointed by the six-year wait.

Cycling Advocates Network spokesman Patrick Morgan said it was a good step getting bikes on buses included in the plan. "We're delighted it's on the programme, but disappointed that they haven't decided to do it sooner."

Read more here:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/6072802/Six-year-wait-for-buses-to-carry-bikes

Cycle use in Hastings shows a significant rise

16 December 2011- The early results from Hastings District Council's annual cycle count have shown a significant increase in the number of riders since the Council's iWay initiative was launched.

iWay began in 2010 after council received $4.1m in funding from the New Zealand Transport Agency's model communities project. The aim being to increase the number of people who walk or cycle by making it easier and safer to ride or walk throughout Hastings. The initiative included the construction of on and off road cycleways and a promotion programme which encourages people to enjoy the great outdoors.

So far Council's annual cycle count has been completed on 15 of 37 sites which are monitored throughout the area and the results have been compared with the figures gathered from the same sites and weeks in 2010/11. Of the 15 sites, seven have shown a significant increase in the number of cyclists. The overall figures from the 15 sites show a 23% increase in the number of cyclists using these roads.

Read more here:

http://www.voxy.co.nz/lifestyle/cycle-use-hastings-shows-significant-rise/5/110692

New research: what kinds of infrastructure do new cyclists want?

This research, which was conducted from July 2008 to January 2010, investigated what type of cycling infrastructure would encourage 'new cyclists' (i.e. people who either do not currently cycle at all, or people who do not currently cycle for utilitarian trips) to use cycling as their mode of transport for daily activities in New Zealand.

The research involved undertaking an international literature review followed by national surveys and Christchurch-based focus groups, to gain an understanding of some of the motivations and barriers associated with utilitarian cycling, and to evaluate a range of cycling facilities.

The research showed that safety was the most significant issue for potential cyclists, particularly in relation to vehicle driver behaviour and traffic volume. Other significant issues included having facilities at the destination for showering and changing, enjoyment, and the perception that car drivers are not courteous.

The solutions that were most likely to effect a significant change in cycle numbers related to the nature and consistency of infrastructure, and education for motor vehicle drivers and cyclists on how to best and safely use it. The researchers recommended that along with a number of other cycling-supportive steps, planners could develop a comprehensive, consistent network of cycle-only paths with separation from motor vehicles, and with dedicated intersection facilities such as hook turns and cycle signals.

Download the report here:

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/research/reports/449/

More new research- cyclists have lower exposure to air pollutants

NZTA have released a new report from a project designed to "assess the comparative risk associated with exposure to traffic pollution when travelling via different transport modes in New Zealand cities".

The good news for cyclists is that, as previous research in other parts of the world has already indicated, people on bikes are generally exposed to lower levels of air pollutants than people in cars or buses. The key results of this research are:

  • Car drivers are consistently exposed to the highest average levels of carbon monoxide (CO).
  • On-road cyclists are exposed to higher levels of CO, particulates (PM1) and ultra-fine particles (UFPs) than off-road cyclists.
  • Car drivers and bus passengers are exposed to higher average levels of UFP than cyclists.
  • At some parts of their journeys, travellers are exposed to very high levels of pollution, often for short periods of time.
  • Locating cycle paths just a short distance from roads can reduce pollution exposure significantly.
  • One hour of commuting could contribute up to 20% of total daily CO and UFP.
  • PM10 and PM2.5 are inappropriate indicators of exposure to vehicle emissions.

Download the full report here:

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/research/reports/457/

Forget 'green cars'- focus on public transport, walking and cycling, says WHO

7 December 2011- Greener vehicles won't make us healthier. They'll have no effect on the human misery from accidents, pollution and physical sloth linked to car culture, say health experts.

Transport policy changes recommended by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) focus too much on better fuel and engine performance, and not enough on health impacts, claims the World Health Organisation (WHO).

"The IPCC is remiss in only focusing on climate change," said Carlos Dora of WHO's Department of Public Health and Environment. He was speaking at the launch of the organisation's report, Health in the green economy, at the COP17 climate change conference in Durban yesterday.

"'Better' transport - better for climate and health, should focus on promoting a mix of high-quality rapid transit/public transport and active transport, i.e. safe cycling and walking access in our cities," said Dora.

Read more here:

http://www.health24.com/news/Enviro_Health_/1-1308,71916.asp

Are we reaching 'peak car'?

22 October 2011- Anyone who has been stuck in big-city gridlock lately may find this hard to believe, but millions of Westerners are giving up their cars.

Experts say our love affair with the automobile is ending, and that could change much more than how we get around – it presents both an opportunity and an imperative to rethink how we build cities, how governments budget and even the contours of the political landscape.

The most detailed picture of the trend comes from the United States, where the distance driven by Americans per capita each year flatlined at the turn of the century and has been dropping for six years. By last spring, Americans were driving the same distance as they had in 1998. The data are similar in Europe, Australia and Japan.

Read more here:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/are-we-reaching-peak-car/article2210139/singlepage/

To increase cyclist safety, reduce motor vehicle speeds

28 November 2011- The UK Department for Transport recently commissioned the Transport Research Laboratory to conduct a literature review to consider the role of infrastructure in relation to the safety of cyclists and their interaction with other road users.

"Overall, it proved problematic to draw firm conclusions from the literature," admitted TRL, but it concluded "Of all interventions to increase cycle safety, the greatest benefits come from reducing motor vehicle speeds."

Read more here:

http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/to-increase-cyclist-safety-reduce-motor-vehicle-speeds/012278

Weblinks

Understanding walking and cycling: a recent UK study into why more people don't do them:

http://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/items/17bb3ed2-1209-b3e9-5357-614f329af72e/1/

World's first bicycle-riding robot?

http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/16/view/17651/bicycle-riding-robot.html

Moscow's first bike lane: or is it an obstacle course? of course, we don't build things like that here:

http://observers.france24.com/content/20111004-russia-moscow-builds-first-bike-path-obstacle-course-bicycle-cycling-university-video-photo

How the Dutch got their cycle paths:

http://www.pps.org/blog/how-the-dutch-got-their-cycle-paths/

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.

Sign up to CAN online via credit card at http://www.can.org.nz/join-can/. Join us!

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

address: PO Box 25-424, Wellington 6146, NZ
email: secretary@can.org.nz
website: http://www.can.org.nz