Featuring:
• Cruise the Waterfront
• Thorndon Quay parking changes
• Bus’n’Bike workshop
• Bike parking – have your say
• Bikes on trains update
• Mt Victoria and The Terrace tunnel refurbishments
• Active a2b gets more people on bikes
• Tea party
Welcome to Windy Wheels – the Cycle Aware Wellington newsletter that is back in
action for 2010. There has been lots of exciting biking-related activity going on
around the city, with the following items a selection of the most recent and upcoming
projects. We always welcome new enthusiasm and inspiration so if you’ve got an
idea, some feedback or a strong desire to do something positive for the cycling
community – put your thoughts up at www.caw.org.nz. We also really encourage
people to come along to the tea-party brainstorm extravaganza in a few weeks (details
below).
Happy riding!
Claire Pascoe
Cruise the Waterfront
Cycle Aware Wellington had a great time last month with the Cruise the Waterfront
courtesy campaign. In partnership with Wellington Waterfront Ltd, we created the
campaign as a fun way to promote courteous cyclist behaviour around the shared
space of the Wellington Waterfront. The aim of the campaign was to reduce conflict
between cyclists and pedestrians in this area and ensure that everyone using the
waterfront is in 'cruise' mode.
The Cruise the Waterfront courtesy code, and a promotional, light-hearted video that
demonstrated the ‘cruising’ techniques were distributed as part of the campaign. We
also gave out more than 300 bike bells during a series of events down on the
waterfront during commuting hours. Sherman Smith was the lucky winner of our
campaign competition, winning an overnight stay for two with Kapiti Island Alive.
The campaign received positive feedback from local politicians and councils, New
Zealand Transport Agency, and the wider public. It was a great opportunity to spread
some cyclist good will, strengthen some key relationships and get some bells on
bikes. Thanks to all our great sponsors!
Check out the website
Thorndon Quay parking changes
Wellington City Council voted in April to change the parking along Thorndon Quay,
a dangerous road for cyclists. The angle parking on the southbound side of the road
will be replaced by a clearway between 7am and 9am, making more space for people
on bikes and reducing the conflict between parking, turning cars and cyclists.
Increasing the safety of Thorndon Quay has been a top priority for Cycle Aware
Wellington for many years so these changes are very welcome improvements. A
cordon count undertaken by CAW a few months ago recorded 383 people cycling
along Thorndon Quay between 7-9am. In addition to the benefits to these cyclists, the
safety improvements may encourage more people to take to the road on their bikes.
The clearway will be implemented at the end of June.
Bus’n’Bike workshop
Last week, Greater Wellington Regional Council and CAW volunteers ran a
workshop at Waterloo bus depot for Valley Flyer and Go Wellington drivers. WCC's
Emma Hope came along too.
We switched seats: drivers on bikes, and cyclists behind the wheel of the bus.
Key lessons for bikers:
- keep out of the driver's blind spot behind the bus
- ride predictably – if a bus has to stop suddenly to avoid a bike, 50 passengers get
thrown about. Signal, use eye contact.
- if riding up the Glenmore St bus lane, pull over if there's a string of buses behind
you.
- keep out of Bus Only lanes such as Willis St and by the Wellington Railway Station
- use lots of reflective gear and lights at night
Key lessons for drivers:
- sometimes bikers need to occupy the lane for their safety e.g. Adelaide Rd
- advance stop boxes, such as those in Newtown, help cyclists get through an
intersection quickly
Drivers were keen for the workshop to be repeated in Wellington.
Dominion Post and TV3 came along and Campbell Live aired the piece on Thursday
3rd of June. Thanks to David Laing, Simon Kennett and all the volunteers for making
this happen.
Bike parking – have your say!
Wellington City Councillor Celia Wade-Brown is asking cyclists where they want
bike parking. Here’s a map for you to put your suggestions on.
Bikes on trains update
• Currently it looks like bikes will not be carried on trains during peak travel periods.
• Folding bikes will be treated as luggage, not as bicycles.
• Bikes may be carried on trains in contra-peak direction during peak travel
periods.
• During off-peak travel periods there is the possibility of allowing more than two
bikes per unit.
• Bikes on trains are currently free --- this will hopefully remain the case.
Mt Victoria and The Terrace tunnel refurbishments
Yvonne Weeber represented CAW at a meeting with the Tunnel Alliance (made up of
NZTA and consultant contractors) this week. The main points from the meeting were:
• Mt Victoria and the Terrace Tunnels will be closed from around Boxing Day
2010 for 5 weeks to improve air quality and fire hazard safety.
• There are 1,000 people walking or cycling through the Mt Victoria Tunnel
each day (300 cyclists and 700 pedestrians). They are looking at perhaps
having a free shuttle bus through the Mt Victoria tunnel for these pedestrians
but cyclists will have to use alternative routes.
• The Tunnel Alliance would like to know if there are any pinch points between
road users where street car parking could be removed that would free up road
space during this time on the alternate routes through Newtown or Evans Bay.
For instance they are asking emergency services if they need to stop road side
parking around Newtown and the hospital so that they can get through. This
could make it better or worse for cyclists and should be considered.
• CAW could talk to the Wellington Tunnel Alliance and put forward a
programme (with budget from the Alliance) to encourage people on to bikes
over this time.
• CAW will be invited to future meetings.
• On a positive note, the Tunnel Alliance are also looking at seriously upgrading
the current pilot tunnel (that got tunnelled through years ago) for
cyclists and pedestrians. This is conceptual at the moment and requires
structural, budget and other design considerations.
Active a2b gets more people on bikes
More than 50 workplaces in Wellington CBD signed up for Greater Wellington’s
health and wellbeing programme, Active a2b, which encouraged people to get active
by walking or cycling to work. Almost 900 people registered and the recent
evaluation survey showed some fantastic results, with a strong increase in cycling to
work trips. The bike buddy scheme saw new riders matching up with experienced
riders and commuting to work on a bike for the first time.
If you’re interested in signing up as a bike mentor, email your commute details (where
from, where to and what time) to active@gw.govt.nz and your name will be added to
the list.
Tea party June 27
To ponder, plot, plan and then prioritise CAW’s projects for the upcoming year.
Illona’s house, 12 Carlisle St, Island Bay, Sunday June 27 1-4pm.
Steaming cupcakes promised.
Directions to Illona’s house: Turn off The Parade onto Avon St. Go right on Clyde.
Go left on Thames. Go right on Melbourne. At the end, go left up the steep bit.
Push your bike up the zigzag to Illona's place.
Map here
News
More news from CAW at www.caw.org.nz