Contents:
- Best cycling projects and champions announced
- Changes to Give Way rules coming up on 25 March
- Clarification of CAN policy on helmet law
- Situations vacant at CAN
- Bike racks trial underway on Waiheke Island buses
- Tour of New Zealand: 14-12 April
- BikeNZ's Bike Plan
- Safekids campaign workshops on cycling safety
- IPENZ Transportation Group conference: 18-21 March
- UK MPs call for 'cities fit for cycling'
- Parisian cyclists allowed to run red lights
- Cycle like the Danes to cut carbon emissions, says study
- Weblinks
Best cycling projects and champions announced
23 February 2012- New Zealand's best cycling projects, campaigns and champions were announced at the 2 Walk and Cycle Conference in Hastings today.
The finalists were applauded for their contributions to making cycling a fun, safe everyday activity for all New Zealanders.
The Department of Conservation and NZTA banded together to provide world class cycling and walking paths between Fox and Franz Josef glaciers. The success of this effort along with the techniques learned hold promise for better access to all of New Zealand's Parks.
Hastings' iWay Share the Road campaign reminded us to share the road safely and courteously. Many cyclists also drive cars; they are teachers in our schools, fire fighters, police, labourers and even mayors. We all get ahead when we all get along.
Auckland's cyclists led the way with their stunning Harbour Bridge Project. Government's original reservations were overcome by the creativity, professionalism and sheer determination of the community to make all our lives safer and better.
Hastings' iWay project is an example of how our cities and towns can move to meet the future. Changing circumstances will see more of us on foot, bicycle and public transport more often in the future. Hastings is pioneering how this can be done in ways which make us all glad for the opportunities.
In the cycling champion category, Steven Muir of Christchurch showed us all that we can do so much more. Steven raises a family, works full time and has still managed to offer bicycle trailer kits, bikes for low decile communities, organise free repairs, and run New Zealand's first fossil fuel-free multisport event.
Read more here:
http://can.org.nz/media/2012/best-cycling-projects-and-champions-announced
Changes to Give Way rules coming up on 25 March
At 5 am on Sunday 25 March, two of the give way rules are changing to make New Zealand's roads safer. Whether you cycle for fun on the weekends or if you're a cycling commuter, you'll need to know about the changes to stay safe on our roads. It's important not to use these rules too early, so remember that until 5 am on Sunday 25 March the current rules apply.
Change 1: The left-turn versus right-turn rule
From 5am on 25 March 2012, this new rule will require all traffic turning right to give way to a vehicle coming from the opposite direction and turning left. This applies at cross roads, T-intersections and driveways where both vehicles are facing each other with no signs or signals, or the same signs or signals.
Change 2: At uncontrolled T-intersections
At an uncontrolled T-intersection, all traffic from a terminating road (bottom of the T) will have to give way to all traffic on a continuing road (top of the T). This will bring it into line with T-intersections where there are Stop or Give Way signs on the terminating road. So the new rule here is: "Top of the T goes before me."
Other give way rules will remain as they are now.
For more detail on the changes, visit http://www.giveway.govt.nz .
The official New Zealand code for cyclists and the Cyclist skills training guide are being updated to reflect the new rules. They will be available on http://www.nzta.govt.nz after 25 March 2012.
Clarification of CAN policy on helmet law
Fierce debate broke out recently over the mandatory bicycle helmet law, following the publication of an article in the New Zealand Medical Journal.
In media reporting of the study, CAN's spokesman Patrick Morgan said that the helmet compulsion was a failed experiment and that "it does more harm than good and our policy is that it needs an independent review. Helmets can be useful but cycling is no more risky than things we do every day like gardening, like walking, like driving a car."
These statements do not reflect the current CAN position on this issue and Patrick has apologised for the additional work his comments have created for the CAN committee, which has been responding to concerned members who queried the report.
It is CAN's policy that a review is needed, but such a review is not currently a high priority for CAN. When we have polled our membership in the past on helmet-wearing legislation, the response has been very evenly split for and against. In the same polling, helmet legislation was also the lowest-ranked issue on which members thought we should be campaigning.
You can read the complete policy here:
The original report can be found here:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/6395656/Helmet-law-halves-cyclist-numbers
Situations vacant at CAN
If you're interested in contributing some time to help CAN make NZ a cycle-friendly place, keep an eye on the Situations Vacant page on the CAN website:
http://can.org.nz/situations-vacant
Currently there are vacancies for CAN committee members, a merchandise coordinator, and portfolio group members. If you have a few spare hours, and any of these positions grab you, let us know.
Bike racks trial underway on Waiheke Island buses
2 February 2012- The Waiheke Bus Company has become the first public service bus operator in Auckland to trial bike racks on its buses.
The American-imported racks were installed last week on three separate buses, capable of carrying three bikes each.
Waiheke ferry customers can already take their bikes for free on the ferries and this has been extended to the service’s buses, mainly on the Onetangi routes, for a trial period up until Easter.
Read more here:
http://www.waihekegulfnews.co.nz/other-news/island-buses-trial-cycle-racks.html
Tour of New Zealand: 14-12 April
Mark your calendars, 14-21 April 2012 the inaugural Tour of New Zealand cycle ride hits the road.
The Tour of New Zealand is an 8-day, epic road ride taking in km after km of iconic NZ scenery, described by organisers as, "the most dramatic, accessible multi-day cycling stage race ever to hit New Zealand. It's an 8-day amateur event designed to celebrate everything good about cycling, scenery, competition and community, played out on some of the best roads the country has to offer."
Tour organiser Peter Yarrell wanted to create an event that not only showcases New Zealand's incredible cycle touring potential, but ALSO puts all its pedal power to good use. If you ride for Hikurangi, 100% of the money you raise will go directly back to enabling better and safer cycling in New Zealand, supporting community-led cycling projects and innovative transport solutions.
Read more here:
http://www.hikurangi.org.nz/action/tourofnz/
http://www.tourofnewzealand.co.nz/
BikeNZ's Bike Plan
BikeNZ has a new Bike Plan, with their vision of where cycling in NZ should go over the next five years.
The BikeNZ team will be travelling around the country in March 2012 to share the Bike Plan, talk about what it means for you and listen to your ideas.
For more information, go to:
http://www.bikenz.org.nz/customdata/index.cfm?fuseaction=CustomItem&ItemID=47898
Safekids campaign workshops on cycling safety
Every year Safekids New Zealand conducts workshops in partnership with communities across New Zealand. The focus of the 2012 workshops is Child Cycling Safety and Safety Out and About, and will commence in April 2012. The official launch of the Safekids Campaign is July 2012.
For workshop information, including updates and requests for workshops, contact Vikki Jarvis, Safekids Campaign Administrator, victoriaj@adhb.govt.nz.
Confirmed workshop venues and dates can be found here:
http://www.safekids.org.nz/index.php/page/Workshops
IPENZ Transportation Group conference: 18-21 March
The IPENZ Transportation Group's annual conference, "New Zealand's premier forum for the traffic engineering, road safety and transportation planning community," will be held in Rotorua, 18-21 March.
For more information, visit the conference website:
http://hardingconsultants.co.nz/ipenz2012/
UK MPs call for 'cities fit for cycling'
23 February 2012- Around 80 MPs filled Westminster Hall yesterday to declare their support for cycling and to press the Government to do more to make it safer in the light of the Times' campaign.
The Prime Minister has also endorsed it and the two chairs of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group, the MP for Cambridge Julian Huppert and Ian Austin, MP for Dudley, both gave brilliant speeches, which were followed by dozens from other MPs in a sitting that had to be extended to accommodate the demand.
Read more here:
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/?CMP=KNGvccp1-times+safer+cycling
Parisian cyclists allowed to run red lights
7 February 2012- A new government decree has just authorised cyclists in the French capital to go through red lights, after road safety experts deemed the measure would cut road accidents.
It follows a fierce three-year campaign by cyclists' associations.
Under the new system, which will be first tested on 15 crossroads in the East of the French capital, cyclists are allowed to turn right or go straight ahead even when the lights are red.
They must, however, make way for pedestrians and incoming traffic on the left and will be held responsible in the event of an accident.
Read more here:
Cycle like the Danes to cut carbon emissions, says study
13 December 2011- Europe could cut its transport greenhouse gas emissions by more than 25% if every population cycled as regularly as the Danes, according to a pioneering study which tracks the environmental impact of cycling down to the extra calories consumed by riders.
If the EU cycling rate was the same as it is in Denmark, where the average person cycles almost 600 miles (965km) each year, then the bloc would attain anything from 12% to 26% of its targeted transport emissions reduction, depending on what forms of transport the cycling replaced, according to the report by the Brussels-based European Cycling Federation (ECF).
This figure is likely to be a significant underestimate as it deliberately excludes the environmental impact of building road infrastructure and parking, or maintaining and disposing of cars.
Read more here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/dec/12/cycle-like-danes-cut-emissions
Weblinks
Cyclists who text and ride risk $80 fine:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/6518497/Cyclists-who-text-and-ride-risk-80-fine
The man who lived on his bike: including eating, sleeping, cooking and playing tennis (do not try this at home):
The Pushbike Song: a blast from the past, 1970 in this case:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WmhMKWt8DI
Ireland: the land of cyclists?: cycling making a comeback in the Emerald Isle:
http://www.ecf.com/news/ireland-the-land-of-cyclists/
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 email: secretary@can.org.nz
website: http://www.can.org.nz