News

Review of:
Williamson, Laura (2016) The Bike and Beyond: life on two wheels in Aotearoa New Zealand. BWB texts. $15 softback, $5 eBook.

Wanaka based, but of Canadian origins, Laura Williamson has been writing about biking in NZ for a couple of decades, including contributing to the MTB magazine Spoke. She's concerned that despite the growth in recreational cycling, we're still wedded to our cars for commuting and utility trips. "Biketivism", or social action that challenges the primacy of the car, has been around...

Share the Road, the campaign that puts truck drivers and cyclists in each others’ shoes, has received a prestigious industry award.

Campaign Manager Richard Barter was delighted to accept the Trafinz Leadership award, saying it confirms the value of the research that went into creating Share the Road workshops and activities.

"Behaviour change on New Zealand’s roads is critical in encouraging more Kiwis to cycle. Understanding the demands on our heavy vehicle drivers is a big part of that."

Richard said the award, from the New Zealand Local Authority Traffic Institute (...

Tim Williams, CEO Committee for Sydney

Tim Williams presented to a meeting of transport advocates, experts and local Councillors recently in Wellington on the subject of Keeping Sydney Moving. Truly competitive global cities have the transport infrastructure to match their aspirations. While Sydney’s transport offering continues to improve, we need a step-change in provision if we are to equal the performance and accessibility of our competitors. The momentum towards a modern public transport system for Sydney needs reinforcing as vital to economic...

CAN's Share the Road Campaign is about raising awareness and empathy between cyclists and the drivers of large trucks and buses.  To learn more, Campaign Manager spent a day in a Southland Logging truck on the 19th Oct.

It was a large "H for High Productivity" vehicle (50 tons loaded up). The trips involved delivering a load of logs to the Port at Bluff, picking up a load from a forest to the west of Invercargill and delivering it to a saw mill in Invercargill. It was an eye-opening day.

Drivers face the relentless pressure of ensuring the safety of other road users in a...

Christchurch City Council is rolling forward with its ambitious network of good-quality cycle routes known as the Major Cycleways.  Routes primarily serve commuting trips into & out of the CBD.  But progress hasn't always been easy...

There is some resistance to change and the usual difficulties with providing parking for cars where residents have become used to roadside parking.  Advocates at Spokes Canterbury are appealing for our help in supporting such schemes as the Quarryman's Trail, now open for consultation here, and the 'mysocialpinpoint' tool...

Cyclists urged to light up on dim mornings

Early morning cyclists need to make sure they are well lit, say cycling advocates.

"The start of daylight saving means more people on bikes, but some may be caught out by morning twilight," said Cycling Action Network spokesperson Patrick Morgan.

"Lights, reflectors and high-visibility riding gear make you easier to see," said Mr Morgan.

With popular events such as the Taupo Cycle Challenge just two months away, many people...

Share the road Blind Zone Workshops

People who cycle and people who drive trucks get to know one another: It is only when the drivers go for a ride, and when the cyclists jump up into the cab of a truck that they can understand each others position. Share the Road blind zone workshops show cyclists what it's like to be in the truck driver's seat.

We can tailor make a workshop format to suit your conference or seminar. These could include getting participants out on bikes, or may just involve exercises around a...

Cycling advocates say safe cycling routes are needed to head off the obesity epidemic.

New research from Auckland University researchers shows that three quarters of obese children are at greater risk of long-term heart disease.

CAN spokesman Patrick Morgan says that telling people what to eat or to exercise more won't solve the problem.

"Education alone can not work. We also need to redesign our physical environment to make physical activity easy."

He says the Government's $350 million investment in the Urban Cycleways...

by Vanessa Davis

While these may be obvious, like stating an organisation’s mission at the beginning of a meeting, it can be a healthy reminder to stay focused on the task at hand.

1.     Meet people where they are, not where you want them to be.

All people in all stages of the shift have a place in the active transport effort.

I have a friend who wore button that read, “I woke up today.” Slightly infuriating as an attitude but honestly, this is where we all start.  That is all we can assume. At an instructor training for the Pedal...