News

From CAN spokesman, Patrick Morgan
Caption: Celia Wade-Brown MP speaks at Cycle Wellington's 30th birthday celebrations
Today I feel a storm of emotions.

Pride at the successes of our cycling advocacy community. I recently visited Auckland to meet with Bike Auckland members and talk with bike industry people. I'm impressed with what I saw, although there is still much to do. Our local group, Cycle Wellington marked 30 years of credible and persistent campaigning. On Saturday it was my honour to ride the completed Island...

Ōtautahi Christchurch, 22-23 March 2025
Welcome to CAN Do, CAN's get-together. The weekend includes workshops, training, rides, plenty of food and drink, and a chance to catch up with fellow bike advocates from around New Zealand.

You will supercharge your advocacy skills, with training on effective messaging, networking, and campaigning.

The critical component is networking and making connections with other like minded people from across the motu. This is an excellent opportunity to share stories, learn and become a better advocate! 
Programme TBC...

Safety advocates appalled by harmful speed advice from NZTA
Road safety advocates are shocked at new advice from NZTA for people to drive at unsafe speeds.

NZTA's social media post reads “In good conditions you should be travelling at or close to the speed limit. Slow down when conditions such as bad weather or traffic make it unsafe to travel close to the speed limit.”

Patrick Morgan from Cycling Action Network...

September 2024
CAN is aware that people riding bikes are unfortunatly being subjected to higher amounts of verbal and physical abuse, risking worsened safety outcomes.

The social conditions seem to have soured significantly since the new government has come to power with some clearly anti-cycling priorities. When infrastructure is being built, such as with the Wellington Bike Network, it is understandable that the disruption can be especially difficult and stressful for some.

Poorly communicated, unhelpful policies from our leaders can escalate a permission...

Cycling Action Network submissionKey pointsCAN strongly opposes the draft Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024 Lower speed limits reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes.Traffic crashes in New Zealand disproportionately affect pedestrians and cyclists.Greater perceived (and actual) safety conditions including from lower speed limits can increase the amount of cycling uptake.A large proportion of New Zealanders would choose to cycle for more of their journeys if conditions on our streets and roads were safer.The proposed rule disempowers local communities to have a voice...

Raising speed limits under the government’s new proposals will cost lives and should be strongly rejected by communities around the country, says Cycling Action Network.

Cycling Action Network campaigns to enable families to be able cycle safely around their own neighbourhoods safely, including kids being able to ride safely to school and back. 

The draft Land Transport Rule – Setting of Speed Limits 2024 would reverse many instances of safer speeds in rural areas, force local authorities to raise urban speed limits to 50 km/h, and make variable low speed zones...

NZ’s Great Integrated Rides
Research Paper
March 2024
Paul Callister and Heidi O’Callahan

Abstract
Aotearoa New Zealand has a superb network of cycle trails. Travelling to these by train is a way to experience the best of Aotearoa’s natural beauty, enjoy some healthy recreation, and to do so in style, while feeling good about your carbon choices. Other trails can potentially be reached by coach, and combining coach and train can open up another raft of holiday options.

Trains, supported by coach travel where trains...

Have you ever had a hard conversation with someone about bike lanes? How did it go?

I've learned a few things over the course of our bike advocacy work. Try these ideas.

1. Listen. Try to understand the other person's point of view, even if it seems illogical or wrong. Jumping in with facts e.g. https://cyclingfallacies.com/en/ rarely works if someone feels disrespected or unheard.

2. Respect their experience. Everyone has their own lens through which they view the world. They may not have experienced the joy and convenience of biking, or maybe they had...

Submissions for feedback on the disastrous Draft Government Policy Statement on Transport close at noon (12.00pm), Tuesday 2 April 2024 – the day after Easter Monday. There is much to dislike about this proposal. In short, it signals a drastic turn away from active and public transport and rail, and a frenzy of road building - exactly the kind of infrastructure that we apparently can’t even afford to keep well maintained!

CAN supports Transport For All, a new coalition of transport and climate advocacy groups, including: All Aboard Aotearoa, Climate Club, Free Fares...