News

Why don't cyclists have compulsory licencing, training and insurance? Because it would be utterly pointless.

It doesn't really matter what you write about on the bike blog, at some point a reader will emerge with the same irascible complaint: why, oh why, they ask, should cyclists expect any sympathy – let alone special treatment – when they don't need a licence or insurance? What about number plates?

Sometimes, of course, this is mere provocation. But often it's serious. So I'm going to try and give a serious reply, however obvious this might all seem to fellow riders....

NZ cycle crash fatalities since 2006

This map shows the locations and details of 44 fatal cycle vs motor vehicle crashes occurring in NZ between January 2006 and May 2010.

Data as extracted from the Ministry of Transport's Crash Analysis System (CAS) in Dec 2010.

Put together by Steve Southall.

"My boy was also in the group - he was the next bike behind."

The driver of a car involved in a collision with a group of cyclists in which three people died last month has admitted causing their deaths.

In Morrinsville District Court today, 23-year-old Kristy King, of Matamata, pleaded guilty to three charges of careless driving causing death.

She has been remanded on bail and will appear in court for sentencing on February 14.

King was driving a car when it collided with the group of cyclists on the Walton-Morrinsville Rd on November 14.

The...

As some of you will have read in the media, the New Zealand Conservation Authority has now approved the Partial Review of the Kahurangi National Park Management Plan.

CAN made a submission on the draft plan.

Attached is a fact sheet which details the main changes to the management plan.

Mountain biking has been approved as a monitored 3 year trial, to be reviewed at the end of 2013, on three tracks - the Flora to Barron Flat Track, Kill Devil Track and seasonally from 1 May until 30 September on the Heaphy Track.

There are also new provisions in the plan to...

November 13, 2010. Robyn and I biked with our friend Marita across Seattle to get our Undriver Licenses at a Liveable Streets event held at the University of Washington, with lots of groups tabling there, low-cost helmets, and more. We made a beeline for the Undriver Licensing station.

We were greeted by Undriving founder Julia Field and her team of volunteers. Since we’ll be taping a conversation with Julia, I wanted Robyn to videotape me and others getting our Undriver Licenses for that show.

Chelsea took the lead, explaining Undriving’s goal — to reduce car...

Cyclists are in more danger on Wellington roads than throughout the rest of New Zealand.

Figures revealed in Greater Wellington regional council's Regional Land Transport Strategy annual monitoring report show a "worsening trend" for cycling casualties on the Wellington region's roads.

For every million hours travelled, a Wellington cyclist is 12 times as likely as a vehicle occupant to be injured in a road crash, compared with 3.5 times nationally. The report says the figures were based on a small sample size, but still show a concerning trend.

"When comparing the...

Bikes are considered an important part of the solution.  Here was me thinking no one in officialdom cares about peak oil.  The story was carried on the National Programme today (just before 9am news) where the new Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull, said basically get on your bike, weather is not a problem for cycling (all weather is good for cycling), as he had personally cycled to and from school in Invercargill.  (like Simon told me he did too, I think he even said he hid behind lamp posts to escape driving hail and sleet).

When your Mayor says all weather is good for cycling (even in...

After three days the new Manners St bus route has a qualified tick of approval from cyclists.

Cycle Aware Wellington spokesman Patrick Morgan said prioritising public transport was a good thing for Wellington, on balance.

"However, we are not especially happy about losing access to Manners St."

Manners St between Willis St and Victoria St is bus-only westbound at all times and eastbound between 6am and 7pm on weekdays. Cyclists travelling from the north to Willis or Boulcott Sts must use Dixon St and turn right on to Willis St.

Wellington City Council infrastructure...