NEW YORK, NY (BRAIN)—The number of commuter bike riders in New York City increased 14 percent compared to last spring, according to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, who has been the subject of vitriol for her strong advocacy of bike lanes and other cycling amenities in the nation's most populous city.
Commuter cycling has increased by 62 percent when compared to spring of 2008 and by 262 percent overall since 2000, according to data released by the city. The data is collected by counts of actual cyclists...
News
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DAMIAN Walsh is convinced of the financial windfall that cycling to work provides; it has helped pay for his home renovation and will pay his son's private school fees.
While Mr Walsh, a Collins Street lawyer, cycles to work from Brunswick, his wife, Junko Kobayashi, uses the family car for errands and school drop-offs. They have been a one-car household since 1997.
Mr Walsh said the money they have saved has helped pay for a $450,000 energy-efficient renovation to their home.
''Car insurance alone would cost us $1000 a year,'' he said.
Figures out today in...
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Aug
The first cycle touring routes under Nga Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail (NZCT) will be opened this month.
The cycle routes will be the first in a series of new cycle rides, comprising of largely on-road cycle routes around New Zealand.
"The initial focus of the NZCT project has been to develop a series of 18 Great Rides, which are largely off-road cycle trails. The opening of these first cycle touring routes means that the longer term plan to expand the NZCT to also include a wider selection of existing scenic back country roads and cycle paths is now underway," NZCT...
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The Government Policy Statement on Land Transport Funding (GPS) sets out the government's priorities for expenditure from the National Land Transport Fund over the next 10 years.
It sets out how funding is allocated between activities such as road safety policing, state highways, local roads and public transport.
Read Transport Minister Steven Joyce's statement on GPS 2012 (Beehive website)
Download GPS 2012 (PDF, 290kb)
Read questions and answers about GPS 2012
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NZTA Safer Cycling Programme
Since early 2011, the Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN) and Cycling New Zealand (formerly BikeNZ) have been working with the New Zealand Transport Agency on three projects, aimed at creating a safer environment for cycling.
The projects are:
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2 Walk and Cycle Conference, 22-24 Feb 2012
The first ever joint NZ Walking and Cycling conference was held in Feb 2012 in Hastings, with nearly 200 delegates attending. Over 70 speakers presented - Presentations are now available to view.
From 22 to 24 February 2012 the first ever 2 Walk and Cycle Conference will be held in Hastings at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House in the Opera House Theatre.
Whilst planning the next NZ Cycling Conference the organising committee agreed it was time to...
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We've created over 25 kilometres of new cycle lanes connecting our iWay commuter routes and making it safe for cyclists and motorists to use our roads.
A good cyclist will:
- Make eye contact with drivers and communicate with hand signals
- See and be seen
- Use lights at night
A safe driver will:
- Ease the pace and give cyclists space
- Look for cyclists before opening car doors, and
- Keep cycle lanes clear
http://www.iway.org.nz/sharetheroad
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Study says vast majority of Britons won't cycle on urban roads as they are now. So what's the answer?
From The Guardian:
A major academic study has spent the past couple of years looking in depth into why people cycle (or don't cycle) in four English towns. I won't go into the research too much here, simply as I've written a separate news story on it, which will be up soon - I'll link to it when I can.
But I wanted to consider its main conclusion: the UK will never get anything close to a European-style mass cycling culture without some major (and to me,...
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Jun
Jun
Cycle Friendly Awards 2012
Pre-Nominations Announcement
Nominations to open 15 August 2011
Was there a bicycle project or initiative which impressed you over the last year? How about a group or individual who worked hard to promote cycling? Help them receive recognition by nominating them for a Cycle Friendly Award.
Nominations will be accepted for cycling projects / person carried...
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The Ministry of Economic Development is planning to expand the New Zealand Cycle Trail.
It intends to add a number of back country routes to the 18 predominantly off-road trails being built.
The first expansion ride will be on State Highway 43, known as the Forgotten Highway, which runs through the King Country and Taranaki.
Ministry of Economic Development spokesperson Sarah Berry says other routes will follow.
While there's no set funding for these routes, local authorities and the Transport Agency are likely to pay for signs and minor road improvements, such as...
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Jun
Jun
If you are new to cycling, bunch riding is an excellent way to get started, learn riding skills and meet other people on bikes. Generally, the route chosen will take account of the weather and road conditions. Ask at the local bike shop, as they will usually know of regular rides, or contact one of the cycling clubs and groups.
When the fun ride season gets underway, we often see a rise in bunch riding cycling crashes. Common causes include sudden braking, wheels touching and cyclists not being seen by drivers.
Here are some tips to make it through to your bunch ride...
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Background: Bicycling has the potential to improve fitness, diminish obesity, and reduce noise, air
pollution, and greenhouse gases associated with travel. However, bicyclists incur a higher risk of injuries requiring hospitalization than motor vehicle occupants. Therefore, understanding ways of making bicycling safer and increasing rates of bicycling are important to improving population health. There is a growing body of research examining transportation infrastructure and the risk of injury to bicyclists.
Methods: We reviewed studies of...
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by Jace Hobbs
You love to bike, always glad when you arrive home from that bike ride, but still you don't get out as much as you would think.
My theory is that it's that one big hill that you have to huff over, that one part where the wind just slows you to frustration, or that narrow patch of road that you must pedal along where the cars are just too close for comfort. How true is that for you? I've known folks that wanted a view from the house, built up a steep driveway, and positively hate having to push the bike up that hill, their hill! What if you could take that...
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In spite of encouraging people to report bad driving, police have failed to keep track of the data.
Story includes comments from Atom Emet, Patrick Morgan and Kevin Hague; and video from Vexatious Litigant and Atom Emet.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/cyclists-claim-police-ignoring-road-safe...
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What would it be like to have a "Spidey sense"? Or radar senses just like superhero Daredevil, who could acrobatically get through a small space full of traps ready to kill, in spite of the belief that he's entirely blind? As scientist Dr. Bradley Voytek of U.C. Berkeley suggests, it wouldn't be much different than the super senses you already have available, should you ever choose to develop them.
How we get the mega abilities
There are super senses that humans can acquire, according to U.C. Berkeley neuroscientist Dr. Voytek. He said humans have always had...
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Jun
The Transport Agency says a programme which promotes cycling as a fun, healthy and safe way to travel will continue, despite it losing Government funding.
The agency has told Radio New Zealand News that the Ministry of Health has withdrawn about $150,000 from the Bike Wise programme, and is instead putting money into injury prevention.
Transport Agency spokesperson Andy Knackstedt says the agency will still commit $300,000 to the programme next year.
The Cycling Advocates Network says withdrawing funding is short sighted, because getting people on bikes cuts congestion...
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Cycling Advocates Network (CAN) and BikeNZ have issued advice for drivers and cyclists following two crashes involving cyclists in Hamilton this afternoon, one of which was fatal.
Although the details of the crashes have not yet been released, CAN spokesperson Patrick Morgan has reiterated advice to all road users about proven ways to reduce the chances of a crash.
"We know that reducing speeds is an effective road safety measure. Safer speed limits save lives."
"It gives people more time to respond to the unexpected and avoid a crash. It also reduces the consequences if...
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Jun
The draft Land Transport (Road user) Amendment Rule [2011] is available for comment.
The main proposal is to change the give-way rules at uncontrolled intersections or when opposing signals or signs are the same to simplify decision making at intersections and improve safety.
Other proposals in the amendment Rule will either:
be necessary as a consequence of changing the give-way rulesalign road user requirements with other legislation, orstrengthen and clarify provisions on existing road user requirements.Apply bus signal provisions to riders of motorcycles, mopeds and cycles...1
Jun
Jun
Wellington City Council are getting a shipment of the new style sump gratings (the ones with a wavy grid, rather than parallel bars that act as an instant bike stand). They'd like suggestions of where to put them. Simplest thing is to email cycling@wcc.govt.nz with the details of your (un)favourite grate location. I'd suggest telling them:
The nearest street intersection (e.g. Bunny/Featherston)The distance from the intersection.The street the grating is actually onThe side of the street (e.g. north)
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May
** under construction **
Children love biking but need more places to ride. This guide aims to help you get a bike track in your local park. Good for adults too!
1. Commit to making it happen.
Ask your friends for support. Form a small team and set yourself a target.
2. Talk to your local council and biking groups
It helps having a champion on the council. Staff at the parks or recreation department should be able to help.
3. Plan
Write a plan with the objective, budget, a timeline, and who does what.
4. Fundraise
for both money...