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In the early 2000s the Cycling Advocates Network (CAN), formed in 1997, spearheaded the cycle lobby. It lobbied local councils and transport authorities for cycle-friendly amenities such as cycle lanes and designated cycle paths, and organised ‘bike to work’ days to encourage cycle commuting.

from Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Don't forget to check out Charlie the Chimp demonstrating safe cycling practice here

A record turnout for the Golden Bay World Naked Bike Ride indicates a "sea change in attitude towards transport", says ride organiser Bike Lanes in Paradise representative Victoria Davis.

Wearing little more than helmets and shoes, 110 people pedalled the two kilometres from Tarakohe to the Totally Roasted Cafe at Pohara for the seventh annual naked bike ride on Saturday. Similar rides also took place in Sydney and Brazil in the global event.

Far more bikers were totally nude in the clothing-optional ride this year, possibly encouraged by a High Court ruling just two...

This map shows the percentage of people who biked to work in various New Zealand cities on Census Day, 2006. Nelson (5.5%), Christchurch (5.1%) and Palmerston North (4.6%) had much higher percentages of bike riders per population than other cities.

source: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/bicycles/4/4

SYDNEY will never be a bicycle-friendly city until it develops a ''second cycling culture'' which encourages relaxed European-style riding without the compulsory use of helmets, experts have warned.

Instead of advocating racing bikes with drop handle-bars, or mountain bikes with flat bars, cycling groups should encourage the use of traditional upright European styles, often called Amsterdam bikes, to make cycling a mass, utilitarian activity where bikes are used for shopping, running errands and commuting.

John Pucher, a US professor at Rutgers University in New...

Presentation to the Australian Cycling Conference by Bob Perry – Director SCAPE strategy:

Over the past five years, SCAPE strategy has researched the relationship between Transit Oriented Development and bicycles in the world’s most transit-rich city, Tokyo. Staggering differences between Japanese and Australian obesity statistics can be substantially attributed to differences in urban form. The bicycle is an intrinsic component of the Tokyo lifestyle, fundamental to the upbringing of children and the ability of people to age in place. … Ultralocal Cycling engages virtually...

High quality public transit consists of service sufficiently convenient and comfortable to attract travel that would otherwise be by automobile. This report uses data from U.S. cities to investigate the incremental costs and benefits of high quality transit service. It indicates that high quality public transit typically requires about $268 in additional subsidies and $104 in additional fares annually per capita, but provides vehicle, parking and road cost savings averaging $1,040 per capita... ...This indicates that residents should rationally support tax increases if needed to create...

The official opening of Bikes in Schools was a great day for all the children, teachers, parents, and guests that attended.It was great to have Sarah Walker, the double world BMX champion, attend and also ride the different bike tracks.The PM John Key had a great time also. He even got on a bike and rode around the 550m bike track. It was great that he choose St Marys School to this for the first time ever.

View a video of the day here

Some people have probably seen this, but for those that haven't this is a promo video Rotterdam has produced as it will be the Le Grand Départ of the Tour de France. Don't worry, it has little to do with cycling racing.

Warning, some content may offend.

Rotterdam video on YouTube

In mid January 2010 guidance was released to Approved Organisations (AOs) seeking expressions of interest in becoming a walking and cycling model community.  Applying to be a model community is a two stage process and as part of stage one, 22 proposals were received from interested councils.

Overall, the majority of the proposals were of a high standard and clearly demonstrated their commitment and passion to become a model community.  It is also evident that there are many communities through-out New Zealand that are already demonstrating the...