Chainlinks

Summer : what’s it like out there on the road? CHAINLINKS 2009 I ssue 1, F ebruary 2009 ISSUE 1, February newsletter of the cycling advocates network (NZ) deaths in 2010 is a nice target? Not in The work of Editorial my book. One of the most meaningful safety advocacy — measures that the authorities could implement is reduced speed limits. locally and Many European countries have suc- cessfully implemented area-wide 30 km/h in their towns and cities, with nationally crashes reducing by about one third. Next issue: articles by 1 April; And the default rural speed limit of local group reports by 29th April. 100 km/h in NZ has always amazed Due out May 23rd Down with Speed me, as I come from a country where a Axel Wilke, CAN Co-chair rural speed limit is posted according to the speed environment (and this Another year has gone by. 2008 was a might change frequently). Many of our good year, as we read in the media that rural roads in NZ were not designed only 359 people died on NZ’s roads – for such fast travel, however the of- the lowest road toll since 1956. In my ficial belief is that the speed limit is opinion, this is by no means a good just a guide and the motorist will drive news story. to the conditions. Statistics, however, show that the crash rate reduces by 2% In 2000, CAN submitted on the draft for each km/h speed reduction. Huge Road Safety Strategy (RSS) 2010. I numbers of lives could be saved with have just re-read the 19 page submis- more intelligent speed management. CAN: Cycling Advocates Network sion, which was a most thorough piece PO Box 6491, Wellesley St, of work (http://can.org.nz/rss-2010). In fact, the surprising 2008 drop in , New Zealand. Most of our suggestions were not tak- road deaths has been partly explained Tel 04 972 2552 en up by government. For example, we by Ministry officials as being a result [email protected] asked for Sweden’s “Vision Zero” ap- of reduced speeds during the period of www.can.org.nz proach to be adopted, which has at its high fuel prices. core the concept that no road deaths Chainlinks Officials have for some time been whatsoever are acceptable. [email protected] working on the Road Safety Strategy Editor: Miriam Richardson The RSS 2010 the government did 2020. Our 2000 submission would Contributions manager: publish in 2002 had 400 and 300 road make some useful background mate- Stephen Wood n deaths in 2004 and 2010, respectively, rial for them. as their targets. The first one we have Next Quarterly Issue: May 23 already missed, and it is my prediction Articles by 1 April that we will also miss the second one. Local group items by 29 April The graph below demonstrates this. Email content to: But either way, even 300 road deaths [email protected] is morally unacceptable. Imagine any- Pictures: 1024 x 768 pixels preferred body wanting to introduce a new tech- Advertising: [email protected] nology that would bring huge benefits Webpage to society, but as a downside, there can.org.nz/chainlinks would be a few hundred fatalities each year – what are the chances of this The views expressed in being acceptable? But somehow, 300 Husband of the year award, honourable mention Chainlinks are not necessarily those of CAN.

CAN receives financial support from

Cover photo: Central Otago ©2009 Stephen Woods

ISSN 1175-9364 (print) 1174--3409 (pdf)

2 Chainlinks 1 2009 Chainlinks 1 2009 3 Highlights this issue

n Touring in Taranaki, this page n What’s involved in cycle touring, p18 n The social side of cycle touring, p5 n Starting out with day trips, p19 Taranaki Detour n Day trippping in Central, p8 Patrick Morgan n Frocks on bikes, p9 The back roads of Taranaki are a good way to distance n What IS cycle advocacy and yourself from holiday traffic. Here’s a ride I took a few what will it do for you?, p16 years ago from Stratford along the Forgotten Highway be- n Join CAN and join your local fore getting sidetracked by boggy farm tracks. group, p17 n Bikewise month Taranaki is wreathed in cloud as I tuck Tahora Saddle. Elena, a Russian emi- into a hearty breakfast of home-baked grant runs it. She has a samovar by the n CAN news and actions, p12 bread, marmalade, applesauce, muesli, till and dolls by the counter. Poached n Road safety — down with currant buns, and leaf tea made in the eggs and a cuppa for me. speed, p2 pot. I’ve been staying with friends who The road takes me through the Ohura appreciate the biker appetite. True n in the tunnel, which is signed ‘Hobbit Hole’. country hospitality is a treat. North Wet of the USA, p4 n I pause at an intersection to check the From Stratford it’s a rolling 63 km east map, and talk to a young cow cocky, on Highway 43 to Whangamomona. who gives me the lie of the land. De- I cross three saddles. The railway Taranaki is ciding to forego the pleasures Contents follows the road most of the way, of Taumarunui, I point the 2 Editorial but cuts through tunnels under bike west again, down Moki wreathed in 3 Taranaki Detour the hills. Trains have it easy. Rd towards SH40 at Kotare. cloud as I tuck 4 Pacific Northwest sustainable But I change my mind again Lunch is taken at the school transport tour into a hearty after consulting the Ken- at Huiakama. The trampoline netts’ mountain bike guide, 5 West Coast hospitality — a makes a comfortable picnic table. breakfast and set off for the Rerekapa reason to cycle There’s a pit stop at Te Wera for a Track. It starts near the Moki 6 Government news ride along the arboretum track, featur- Forest at a lush patch of regenerating 6 International snippets ing 80 tree species. bush, full of birdsong and the bones of 7 New Zealand roundup Whangamomona is dead quiet. steam boilers used by woodsmen. 8 February Bikewise week Historic building signs point to the grows into Bikewise month The Rerekapa starts with an easy former butcher, baker, Post Office and cruise up a farm track. The going is 8 A different Central Otago trail churches. The café is shut. Motor- slower past a waterfall, over boggy 9 Frocks on bikes bikes, old utes and a disused Welling- animal tracks, and past the shabby 11 Marketplace ton city bus bound for Happy Valley Boys’ Brigade hut. Some sections are 12 CAN news and profile are parked along the main street. unrideable. It’s tough work carrying 13 Kisten Shouler joins the team Horse trekkers have booked out the the bike through the slippery papa soil. 13 CAN trains the trainers pub, so I check into a cabin at the do- Clingy seeds attach themselves to my 15 A brief history of cycle main for a few dollars. Back at the pub leg hairs. commuting I look for milk. The woman offers me 2 Wonder where I’ll end up tonight? 16 Regional groups litres, explaining it was about to expire 16 What is ? and go to the pigs. The pigs’ loss, my Route finding is a bit tricky once over 17 Join CAN gain. the saddle, pedalling through boggy paddocks, but I eventually make it to a 18 Getting started cycle touring Steady rain sets in overnight. rusty old barn at Kiwi Rd. I’m thirsty, 19 Summer cycling The next day dawns still and dry. I set but don’t like the look of the streams. 19 2009 Dates off for Taumarunui. There’s an easy 19 Cycling conference 2009 hour to Kaieto Café, at the top of continues p12 19 On the web

2 Chainlinks 1 2009 Chainlinks 1 2009 3 Pacific Northwest Sustainable Some useful websites n 700 photos from around the Pacific Northwest: http://picasaweb.google. Transport Tour co.uk/GlenKoorey by Glen Koorey n ProWalk/ProBike 2008 con- ference: http://www.bikewalk. For many of you, North America The Pacific org/2008conference/ Northwest of may not strike you as an obvious n Post-conference website for USA and Canada: ProWalk/ProBike 2008, includpre- place to seek sustainable trans- British Columbia, sentation: http://www.bikewalk. port enlightenment – this is the Washington and org/2008conference/vconference (my “home” of the automobile after Oregon presentation mine’s in session 80). all! was “in the neighbourhood”, I decided But, while you may indeed find better also to check out some of the high- The best cycle routes I saw had no sustainable examples in Europe and lights in adjacent Oregon state (home cycle facilities! “ boulevards” other parts of the world, the pragmatic to Portland, Eugene, and a fantastic were common in a number of cit- fact is that NZ derives much of its coastal cycle route!) and across the ies I visited. Generally they looked transport inspiration and policy from water in Victoria, British Columbia like ordinary streets, usually within a the likes of North America. (home of sustainable transport expert grid network. The key to their suc- Todd Litman). All up, I spent two cess was the removal and calming of Therefore, if you want to convince peo- packed weeks travelling about 2000km motor traffic along the routes, usu- ple here to change their ways, you may by a variety of travel modes visiting ally through features such as one-way have to try to win them over with “but dozens of interesting communities. entrances/exits, intersection splitters look what they’re doing in the US...” It is difficult to distil the many things and mini-roundabouts. These gave the First, some background: Following the I encountered into a brief article, but advantage to cyclists, who maintained visit to NZ by Bob Chauncey (keynote here are a few of the more pertinent unrestricted two-way connectivity speaker for 2007 NZ Cycling Confer- cycling-related observations that could throughout. ence), I was inspired to pay a visit in be useful for NZ: I don’t think I saw an urban bus that return to the 2008 ProWalk/ProBike didn’t have bike racks on the front. Ac- Conference in Seattle (Washington The Town-making tour was a well- tually, the one exception was Eugene’s state, US) last September. This is organised non-stop affair, covering a free EmEx Bus Rapid Transit, but North America’s premier walking and lot of different kinds of communities that’s because you could wheel them cycling conference and I thought that and providing access to a lot of the straight in the back. And that was a visit could help to answer a ques- key people behind them. A common pretty much the same for all “street- tion that has been doing the rounds in theme was places wanting to reinvent cars” and other light rail systems. NZ — should we be holding combined themselves, e.g. from being a “dormi- walking and cycling conferences here? tory” suburb to a place in their own continues p10 right. Generally this entailed mixed Attached to this conference was a land-use and higher (not high) density pre-conference “Town-making tour” living, walk/bike-friendly communi- of communities around the greater ties and great urban design. The tour Seattle area and Vancouver (British reminds us all that the first step to get- Columbia, Canada), hosted by Dan ting more people biking is to get the Burden of Walkable Communities. land-use right! A great way to learn Some of you may remember Dan from by seeing and doing (and walking and Bikes on public transport everywhere his visit to NZ last July. So I decided biking…). to sign up for that as well. And while I

4 Chainlinks 1 2009 Chainlinks 1 2009 5 Intersection treatments along bicycle boulevards Derek came across West Coast Hospitality — to see if I was ok; be- fore I knew it, bike, belongings and me a reason to cycle were off to the Hoki- tika bike shop. What Illona Keenan a lovely man — while One of the fabulous ways to use a bicycle is to driving to the bike shop he kindly of- explore this wonderful country of ours. During offering me cups of tea, others chat- fered me a place to ting about their cycle experiences in November I went on a 3 week cycle tour of the stay and even men- various countries, people in cars tell- West Coast, South Island. tioned what was for ing me that cycling is how it should be tea. I had to accept, especially with the And I highly recommend a tour there, done (someone even said bravo!), and offer of a bath — I was a bit cold and of whatever length you can afford. My sneaking into a café that wasn’t open shook up! After meeting his wife, Jane, adventure started by being dropped for a coffee — bless! who works as a stone off by a tramping club van, a couple weaver, making won- On top of all these of kilometres north of St Arnaud, in derful stone mats, and people interactions Nelson Lakes National Park, a quick a short tour of Hoki- there was the beauti- ride down the hill to a nice bed. After tika, I was into a hot ful scenery, consider- trying to get used to pedalling with bath and dry clothes ate motorists, great cleats (I highly recommend practicing and the wet ones were stories and wonderful on grass) … I was off. drying by the fire. One memories … and I One of the things that I love about of the most memorable think I am fitter now cycle touring is what the things seen moments was when too. on the side of the road tell you about Derek was talking to As a post script the where you are. In Provence — sun- friends on the phone, New Zealand Trans- flowers, in Southland — giant escapee and mentioned that port Agency are cur- swedes, in Otago — Speights bottles “he had picked up rently upgrading the and going through the Buller Gorge I some roadkill on the Arahura Bridge and saw lumps of coal — which made me Arahura bridge, … it will soon no longer laugh! yes, she was a cyclist be a road/rail bridge from ”. But and there will even Another thing that I love the West Coast hospital- One of the things be a joint cycle/ facility on is the people you meet. ity went further the next it. n I had a couple of gems, that I love about day, when after picking but the best one was my cycle touring is up my bike — with new knight in a shining car, the things on the wheel — it started to hail. by the name of Derek Derek said that Hutchinson of Rimu, near side of the road — I shouldn’t cycle Hokitika. I had the hilar- sunflowers, giant in this weather ity of riding across the and if I stayed Arahura Road/Rail bridge swedes, Speights another night, in the rain, unfortunately I bottles, coal … he would cook was going a bit fast… didn’t whitebait for tea! take the rails at the right angle You guessed it — I and surprise surprise came off my had to stay another night. I bike. Luckily I wasn’t injured, however would like to publicly thank my rear wheel was banana shaped. I Derek and Jane Hutchinson also needed a new helmet! While I was for welcoming roadkill into working out that I was all in one piece, their house, and being truly amazing hosts. Other inter- actions I had included en- joying people’s congratulations for making it up the Crown Range, people

4 Chainlinks 1 2009 Chainlinks 1 2009 5 Intersection treatments along bicycle boulevards ticket of 2009 (a seated one at that!). International snippets It would seem like everything I could have dreamed came true. I must say India sprouts green Cycling 3rd most popular adult that this entire endeavour — acci- In just one year, the Delhi Bicycling sport in the UK dents, frustrations, and pain aside — was quite possibly the most positive Club of New Delhi, India, has grown Interim surveys from 2007 suggest the thing I have ever been involved in. To from one member to five hundred. number of adults cycling for at least cap it off, I was able to sit with every- Nalin Sinha, the original lone member, 30 minutes once a week (not includ- day people involved in the campaign says half of Delhi’s population trav- ing commuting or utility trips) has way up near the front of the crowd.” els less than six kilometres per day, increased by over 130,000 to 1.77 mil- a distance easily covered by bicycle. lion people since 2005/6. Cycling is http://tinyurl.com/ Pedal-power supercomputing The Times of India: the third most popular sport amongst a6mfob adults after football and swimming In a demonstration of energy efficien- and the second fastest growing sport cy, the University of Maine, Depart- Cycling’s impact on climate after athletics. ment of Computer Science (USA), change unveiled the first cyclist-powered Fit as a Fiddle “green” supercomputer. Powered by Almost as much CO2 could be saved 10 cyclists, the eco-friendly super- The UK’s CTC has been awarded by doubling cycling (0.6 million tonnes computer successfully ran a program funding to deliver a pilot cycling per year) as could be saved by switch- demonstrating glacial melting for 20 project ‘Fit as a Fiddle’ for Age Con- ing all air travel from London to Scot- minutes. http://tinyurl.com/pedalCom- cern. They will deliver cycle training, land to the rail network, according to puter n The Committee on Climate Change basic bike maintenance courses and report on interim targets to cut green- confidence building sessions, lead house gas emissions. rides and organise a ride supporters’ course. Age Concern is targeting those Government news over 50 (Ed: !). Supermarkets loan cycle trailers Recent publications from NZTA give a boost to A supermarket in England is trying Which group endangers to encourage more of their customers the most… cycling to shop by bike. During January and Economic Evaluation Manual February, 23 branches of Waitrose are Cyclists or drivers? According to UK figures released in January there have loaning customers cycle trailers, so Updates to this manual,give increased been 364,082 pedestrians injured by they can carry their shopping home by composite benefits for cycling. Hope- drivers over the last ten years, com- bike. Customers will then have three fully this will result in some new cy- pared with 2,623 injured by cyclists. days to return the trailers and large cling projects being put forward: http:// canvas shopping bags. Waitrose Man- The same data shows that, as a pedes- tinyurl.com/dbvc5g pdf 1.1mb ager said, “shoppers using the trail- trian, you are 263 times more likely to ers will probably get their food home be killed by a driver than a cyclist — A stocktake of walking and cy- quicker than most, not to mention this despite the fact that cyclists and cling strategies saving fuel and transport costs!” pedestrians often share the same space and much of motor vehicle mileage is This was published October last year, made on motorways, where pedestri- which shows that councils are taking Terrorism and cycling advocacy ans are prohibited. significant steps forward in planning http://tinyurl. When the MP for Central Croydon, for walking and cycling: com/am6k3r pdf 300kb Andrew Pelling, decided to take some Biking for Obama photographs of dangerous cycle lanes In December, Californian Ryan Bowen Regional Land Transport in his constituency, he was stopped began a cross-country cycling trip Programme Guidelines and searched by police. According to to Washington for the inauguration. the Telegraph, officers stopped him on Dubbed “Biking for Obama,” it was a These signal that greater emphasis suspicion of being a terrorist because 6,400 km journey across the country needs to be placed on the planning, he was taking photographs near East from Los Angeles, California to Wash- prioritisation and delivery of walking Croydon station. ington. and projects. The guidelines establish a hierarchy of “I’ve crossed an entire continent on London children get bikes interventions to be used when devel- my bicycle; received international oping regional land transport plans. Sales of children’s bikes in London media attention for what I’ve done, The first two items in the hierarchy were three times higher than 2007 in met countless amazing individuals are demand management, and walking the run-up to Christmas, according to along my journey; been welcomed into and cycling: http://tinyurl.com/agm83t a London bike seller. DC by Congressmen; got the hottest pdf 600kb n

6 Chainlinks 1 2009 Chainlinks 1 2009 7 NZ Roundup Wellington News: Ngauranga to Petone safety measures NZTA is making improvements along State Highway 2 to ensure cyclists are more visible. Green cycling zones have been installed between Ngauranga Gorge and Petone. They are expected to clearly define the path that cyclists use when travelling along SH2 and help both cyclists and motorists share the road. Electronic cyclist-activated warning signs will also be installed to alert mo- Cycle route to Petone crossing a side tad on SH2. torists that cyclists are ahead. BikeNZ launches Naked riding in paradise RideStrong The is hap- RideStrong is a new cycling pening in Golden Bay: on Saturday Memorial ride community run by BikeNZ, March 14 there will be lots of fun and Welcome changes, long awaited dedicated to promoting a safe lots of prizes to be won and enjoyable environment for all It is a global clothing-optional event Changes to highlight the existence of cyclists. that belongs to all earthlings that cyclists on this cycle route are very advocate pollution free transport. A welcome and long overdue. Police The RideStrong programme is centred balance to working on submissions, Superintendent Steve Fitzgerald was on a community website ridestrong. petitions, and policy design, and gets killed at the Petone exit in June last org.nz. Anyone will be able to sign up excellent press for our issues. Naked- year (and a truck driver appeared in to the site to join the RideStrong com- ness is as optional as clothes: most court in January charged with careless munity and have their voice heard, and participants do in fact wear clothes. driving causing death). by paying an annual fee of $24 or $49 you can get enhanced website access “Unlike the recent Boobs on Bikes A memorial ride from Parliament to and discounts and deals from suppli- which is a blatant marketing gim- Petone roundabout was organised by ers. [CAN welcomes RideStrong: read mick by an exploiter of women, the cycling advocates to honour both Su- CAN’s press release on p12] perintendent Fitzgerald and Des Eyre, WNBR takes place in an atmosphere another cyclist killed in the Hutt Val- of lighthearted meaningfulness and ley the same week after being forced New maps for Auckland the body is honoured and celebrated as the world’s most efficient form of into the path of a truck by a careless cyclists motorist opening their car door. transport” said Victoria Davis of Bicy- cle Lanes in Paradise (BLIP), the local The Auckland Regional Transport Au- Cycle Aware Wellington has been cycling group. working for over a decade for im- thority has launched a set of five free provements for commuter cyclists regional cycle maps that allow cyclists “When we were first approached by between Wellington and the Hutt, of varying ages and ability to navigate the global cycling underground, we including the stretch between Wel- their own routes. Each of the roads on sought legal advice re the nudity bit, lington and Ngauranga which is not the maps has been ridden by mem- and ascertained that it was not a crime covered by these improvements. bers of Cycle Action Auckland and to ride one’s bicycle naked, providing is graded in Greater Wellington Regional Council no ‘lewd or inde- terms of safety recently adopted a Cycling Plan which cent’ behaviour and whether includes actions to ‘improve driver takes place.” Vic- it is a quiet or n and cyclist awareness’ and ‘encourage toria added. busy route. participation in cycling’. After strong moonbow@gold- The gradient of submissions on the draft plan from enbay.net.nz the roads and . cycling advocates, the Council has also whether they pledged to support the development have a cycle of the ‘Great Harbour Way’ — a route lane is also de- which includes this stretch of coastline. picted.

6 Chainlinks 1 2009 Chainlinks 1 2009 7 Biking Goes Wild in February: BikeWise Week grows to Taranaki Hold onto your handlebars: The Wild BikeWise Month West Bike Fest is coming to Taranaki! BikeWise is a nationwide month of fun cycling events to encour- A variety of bike-themed events are on age people to enjoy the summer sun and get out and about on throughout February to mark Bikewise their bikes. Last year over 100,000 people around New Zealand took Month, to encourage people of all ages to hop on a bicycle and have fun. to their bikes to participate — so this year it has been extended to the whole month. Events include mountain bike orien- teering, a bike sell and swap meet, Mayoral Challenge 2009 and be in to win great prizes for your- mountain bike races (beginner and ex- self and your team. Are you up for it? perienced), a women’s mountain bike In February 2009 New Zealand towns skills workshop, a downhill race, an and cities compete for the title of Cy- Registrations can be made at any time after-dark mountain bike ride, Critical cle Mad City by getting as many peo- from now until the end of February Mass ride , and the finale is The Stam- ple as possible to follow the Mayor on but remember, the sooner you start pede: a leisurely costumed ride along a fun bike ride. A point will be earned logging trips, the more chances you the Coastal Walkway. n for each participant, and bonus points have to win great spot prizes! http://tinyurl.com/BikingGoesWild will be given for celebrities. Go By Bike Day Helm-art Bike Wise Battle Has your old bike helmet seen better On Wednesday 18 February 2009 New days? Take it to the Govett-Brewster The Battle is back and bigger than Zealanders are encouraged to ditch Art Gallery event in BikeWise month to ever, running for the whole of Bike vehicular transport and ‘go by bike’ recycle it into a fantastic wearable art- Wise Month 1–28 February 2009. instead. work and receive a new one in return (age 8-12 yrs only!), It’s easy to be part of the Battle. Just Just as in previous years, people will get as many of your colleagues as pos- bike to their local event where they sible to hop on a bike during the Battle will be rewarded with a scrumptious period. They can ride wherever they healthy breakfast. feel comfortable for just 10 minutes or The events are co-ordinated 2 km. The organisations Check in your by local and regional councils, with the highest per- sports trusts, cycle groups centage of participation local area to see and other organisations with will win vouchers for a what is on. an interest in biking, and will scrumptious morning tea take place in over 50 centres shout (and don’t forget throughout New Zealand. n the bragging rights!). http://www.bikewisebattle.org.nz/ Register now for the Bike Wise Battle A Different Central Otago trail Stephen Wood It was an idea conceived while looking at some photographic cards depict- ing local Central Otago scenery. One of the cards had pictures of nine showed them the nine-pub card. They historic hotels. When two friends were keen. from dropped in to ask The three of us left home mid-morn- for ideas for a week of cycle touring ing to scoot up the to Lauder, in Central Otago, I told them I had to be there when the pub opened at the ideal day ride as a warm up, and

8 Chainlinks 1 2009 11am. Then it was on to the White www.frocksonbikes.org Horse Hotel at Becks, and then up a Frocks on Bikes side road to St Bathans and the Vulcan Do you rock the frock? Do you Hotel. There was a summer fete on Patrick Morgan participate in frock o’clock? Are in the little village so we lingered a There’s a new wave in the bike you forever sashed with your while to look through the stalls and combination lock? Have you buy lunch. From there, it was a fair advocacy movement and it’s abundant chain lube in stock? drag out to SH85 and on to Wedder- wearing a frock. It is for women burn and its tavern as we were riding Introducing Frocks on Bikes – a into a slight head wind. From Wed- of all ages who love dashing frockalicious way to avoid the derburn we turned around, joined the clothes, , high heels and climate changing. Let’s frock the rail trail and had a great downhill and other glam accessories. planet! tailwind run to Oturehua and the pub there. We were expecting the tailwind Frocks on Bikes is a network of wom- where bikes predominate, women tend to hold for the ride along the long Ida en — and a few supportive gents – to cycle as much as or even more than Valley but it switched to a westerly, who have adopted the bike as a vehicle men. Women have a key part to play slowing us down again. By the time for change. in encouraging more cycle-friendly we were at the Poolburn tavern it was cities. Research shows women cyclists more evening than afternoon, we were Climate change festivals in Wellington experience a few different barriers to getting tired and were glad of their and Auckland in December hosted men including greater concerns about toasted sandwiches for tea. Then it Frocks on Bikes rides to highlight bik- safety. The social and fun aspects of was over the hill to the art-deco Blacks ing’s green credentials. cycling are especially appealing to Hotel at Ophir followed quickly by the Auckland organizer, Jasmine Cargill women. Commercial Hotel in Omakau. It was said, “Frocks on Bikes is about foster- getting late in the evening by then and ing a culture of cycling and showing Frocks on Bikes is part of a global we arrived at the last pub on the list, people that bikes can be both everyday network of stylish cyclist movements Chatto Creek, to find it had already and glamorous accessories. Cycling such as and shut for the night. I knew the proprie- in Auckland isn’t always easy but we California-based Riding Pretty. tor well and so went want to show that cycling can be a Organisers received a $750 grant from around the back safe, viable and even stylish option in the CAN / Living Streets Walking and and asked if she’d the city. It can be fun, it’s good for you Cycling Micro-Fund in 2008, but most sign our postcard as and it’s great for the environment.” of the work has been done by a net- the other publicans work of volunteers. had done. Frocks on Bikes aims to bring about momentum for better cycle routes in Frocks on Bikes rolled into 2009 with It was a big day ride our cities, and demonstrate that there a January lunchtime ride in Welling- — about 130 km — is a groundswell of people wanting to ton, and the next multi-city Frocks on but a fun one. We ride. Riders may even lure SUV driv- Bikes extravaganza is planned for Go went in and bought something to eat ers to thinking that actually, bikes are By Bike Day on February 18. Plans or drink at all the pubs except the last. a more sexy and fabulous way to get are also afoot to celebrate Bike Wise They all have their own history and around. month with a Frocks on Bikes pres- character. Even though we’d only used ence at the Cuba Street Carnival, cycle the rail trail for two small parts of the The idea was born at last summer’s training sessions and a weekend Froc- journey, five of the pubs we visited are Go By Bike Day, said Wellington co- knic ride in the Wairarapa country- on the Otago Central Rail Trail and organiser Jude Ball. side. n the others would make excellent side “Our aim is to cel- trips from it. n ebrate both the glam- 200 frocked bikers rode through orous and everyday Wellington to Parliament at the 350 use of bikes. Biking Climate Change Festival in December. doesn’t have to be about lycra and sweating. Rid- ing a bike in your everyday work clothes or in a pretty frock is an ideal, safe and stylish way to get around the central city.”In European cities

8 Chainlinks 1 2009 Pacific Northwest Sustainable Transport Tour continues from p4

Active warning signs for bikes Oregon is the home of active bike warning signs, particularly on its famed coastal bike route. At every tunnel or narrow bridge, there would be a push but- ton for cyclists to acti- vate a flashing warning sign to let motorists know you were up ahead. This cost-effective treatment has many poten- tial locations in NZ where full widening is impractical, including narrow winding roads with no shoulder. The ProWalk/ProBike Conference was a fairly big af- fair, with about 800 delegates; after all the activity of the previous 10 days, it was almost a let-down to have to sit down and listen to presentations. But there was an interesting range and also a lot of excellent field trip offerings throughout the three days. I gave a presenta- tion showing many NZ walk/cycle-friendly features and reminding them that it’s not just about walk/cycle facilities. As for the merits of a joint ped/bike event… well, I’m not convinced that it necessarily offered a lot of extra benefit. Maybe for those who work in both fields, but there did seem to be a distinct split of peo- ple and sessions, with cycling somewhat dominating both. That’s just a snippet of what I saw; more useful web links on page 4. It’s important to remember too that most places I visited were developing broad-ranging packages in terms of sustainable transport; not only were they doing clever things for cycling, but also for walking, public transport, land-use planning, and so on. Doing it all together created a better general “vibe” in the place for supporting these initiatives. It seems an age away now (in fact I’m finally writing this four months later on my next trip to the other side of North America), but I will certainly cherish the wonderful memories I had on my Pacific Northwest trip. More pertinently, half a century after borrowing many car-centric principles from the Americans, it might be time to revisit them again and borrow a few more ideas… n

10 Chainlinks 1 2009 Chainlinks 1 2009 11 Market place

$45 / $55 Sizes: S M L

Reflective pack cover $25 / $35

Spacemaker $15 / $25 Hinged to fold when parked

Prices Member / Non member Three ways to order 1 :: Deposit money in Kiwibank 38-9005-0922435-01 :: Email order, contact and delivery details to [email protected]. 2 :: Send cheque to CAN, PO Box 6491, Auckland :: Include order, contact and delivery details. 3 :: Credit card: can.org.nz/shop

10 Chainlinks 1 2009 Chainlinks 1 2009 11 Taranaki Detour continues from p3 I set off on quiet Kiwi Rd, facing zero traf- Executive fic. There’s a sweaty climb past Makino Forest and out to the other end of Moki update Rd. I scoff my last sultanas to power me over Uruti hill, through the earth tun- • held an end-of-year nel and back to farmland. I find a water party to wish Anne Gummer tank at the ‘Uruti Country Club’ and gulp good luck for the birth of her away. baby and to farewell Canadian After the quiet roads it seems a shame to intern Christina Burns hit the speedy traffic of Highway 3. I am • worked with BikeNZ on a joint tiring as I head for Urenui, but my luck submission to Parliament’s re- CAN in the media is in: Mike’s White Cliffs brewery is open view of the Emissions Trading for refreshment. Scheme CAN welcomes RideStrong looked at options for achieving The motorcamp at Urenui is a welcome • Dec 22 long-term financial sustainabili- sight after a long day pedalling. They ty, including commercial activity The Cycling Advocates Network squeeze me in to a whiffy caravan down (CAN) welcomes the launch of by the river. A shower, a feed and White made funding application to the • BikeNZ’s recreational member- Cliffs mild ale restore some vigour, but Ministry for the Environment’s ship programme, RideStrong. the body is sore from lifting the bike. The Sustainable Management Fund RideStrong is dedicated to pro- sounds of the surf serenade me. made funding applications to the • moting a safe and enjoyable Department of Internal Affairs’ I head off towards , plan- environment for all cyclists, who Digital Strategy for the next ning to head around the coast towards RideStrong notes, “for too long, stage in CAN’s website develop- Opunake. But heavy rain starts, and my have travelled at the whims of fast ment and for a cross-NGO web riding desire ebbs. traffic, slow bureaucracy and idle platform (the former application ignorance”. A bunch of racing cyclists speed by. The has been successful) 3-day Tour of Taranaki is on. I wait near • participated in strategic plan- Cycling advocates support the finish line to see my mates Jamie and ning for Bike Wise new cycling and walking Peter go by, then head into town to find • started work on a CAN policy guide the last bed at the backpackers. It feels on parking Dec 23 good to dry out. I have one set of dry participated in CAN’s first Bike- clothes left, but my shoes are soaked. I • The Cycling Advocates Network ability ‘train the trainers’ course squelch off to the Govett-Brewster gallery congratulates the Ministry of in Wellington to see ‘Drive’, an exhibition devoted to the Transport on its recent release of dubious pleasures of motoring. How long • co-ordinated meetings of the a new guide for improving cycling till cars hang in museums as a reminder 2009 NZ Cycling Conference and walking facilities in New Zea- of an old-fashioned technology, I wonder. Co-ordinating Committee land. Called “Raising the Profile n • continued to add material to the of Walking and Cycling in New More info: CAN website Zealand: A Guide for Decision- held an Exec meeting on Dec 10 Makers”, the guide is the first of its Taranaki Heritage Trail SH43 leaflet, available • type and represents a milestone for from information centres in Taranaki • began planning for the Exec/ n Staff get-together in late Febru- New Zealand. The Kennett Brothers’ guide, Classic New ary 2009 Zealand Mountain Bike Rides • met withNZ Transport Agency walking and cycling staff • held regular monthly meeting with Ministry of Transport of- ficials (along with Living Streets) • attended inaugural meeting of Health & Active Transport NGOs in Wellington • followed up on the General Elec- tion by writing to Stephen Joyce, the new Minister of Transport • prepared end-of-year accounts. n

12 Chainlinks 1 2009 Chainlinks 1 2009 13 Contact CAN :: Chair, Axel Wilke and Glen Koorey, [email protected]

:: Deputy Chair, Illona Keenan, [email protected] :: Secretary, Adrian Croucher, [email protected] :: Treasurer, Liz Mikkelsen, [email protected]

staff :: Networking Project Co-ordinator Patrick Morgan, [email protected] Wellington: 04 385 4967 / 027 563 4733 :: Networking Project Officer, South Island Fiona Whero, [email protected], Christchurch: 03 366 2645 / 027 449 1845 :: Networking Project Officer, Upper NI [email protected] Kirsten Shouler, On-street instruction is a Auckland: 09 378 0953 / 027 449 1848 key part of cycle training Tues–Fri 9am–2.30pm :: CAN Administrator Claire Metcalf, [email protected] Wellington: 04 385 4967 CAN trains the trainers :: Digital Strategy Coordinator CAN’s cycle training project took a significant step forward Andre Cymbalista, [email protected] in December with the first workshop for instructors held in 021 773 839 Wellington. some Executive roles Seventeen CAN members received NZTA subsidises approved organi- :: Membership secretary, three days of training from expe- sations, such as local authorities, [email protected] Adrian Croucher, rienced trainers Tabitha Langford, 75% for providing cycle training, but :: Email & DNS Server Administrator, Thomas Marilyn Northcotte and Patrick there are few trainers able to teach [email protected] Schwarz, Morgan. Training is based on the the new guidelines. CAN’s workshop :: Media & marketing co-ordinator, new Cycle Training guidelines being is aimed at meeting this need. Stephen McKernon, [email protected] developed by NZTA’s Cycle Training More workshops are planned for Auck- Other CAN roles Advisory Group. land and Christchurch this year. n :: e.CAN editor, Adrian Croucher, [email protected] :: Chainlinks editor, Miriam Richardson, [email protected] Kirsten Shouler :: Chainlinks contributions manager, North Island Project Officer Stephen Wood, [email protected] :: Mailouts co-ordinator, Ritsuko Ogawa, [email protected] Kirsten Shouler has been ap- ::: Merchandise co-ordinator pointed as CAN’s North Island Karen Hunn, [email protected] Project Officer, based in :: Awards co-ordinator, Auckland. She takes over from [email protected] Gaz Sanvicens, Anne Gummer, who is on ma- :: Cycling Conference Committee Chair ternity leave. Magdalena Lorenzo [email protected]

Working groups Kirsten has a strong background :: Model Communities:vacant as a project manager and in creat- :: Research: Andrew Macbeth ing effective relationships between community interest groups and other :: Media/Communications/Marketing: Stephen McKernon organisations. She has worked with :: Information Centre: Thomas Schwarz Cycle Action Auckland on cycle network and mapping projects, and :: Digital Strategy: Andre Cymbalista comes to CAN from the New Zea- More land Transport Agency. local and national networks. I look For the full list of CAN roles: forward to working with her.” can.org.nz/can-roles Project Manager Patrick Morgan says CAN welcomes Kirsten. “She has Contact CAN: can.org.nz/contact Kirsten takes up her appointment on a central role in strengthening our 2 February. n

12 Chainlinks 1 2009 Chainlinks 1 2009 13 14 Chainlinks 1 2009 Chainlinks 1 2009 15 Cycles (with cycle races) had appeared A brief history of cycle commuting in New Zealand in the late 1860s, not long before the Land Wars ended. The Part 2: The opportunity first cycle factory opened in 1876, the same year all males over 21 were given Stephen McKernon the vote. By the mid-1880s, there were In the popular imagination of the early 1800s, mass personal trans- enough cyclists for local councils to be regulating their behaviour. The car port promises a much better life in the burgeoning cities. really didn’t feature till the first decade But the inventor’s imagination is focused most on the problem of of the next century — two decades power supply. Without a horse, how can a person generate enough away. power to move easily above walking speed? Look again. It’s a photo of wealthy young men. Up to the mid-1880s, cy- It’s a fresh, hot morning in 1885, and a with descriptions of hills, hotels and cling had been a well-off male leisure group of uniformed cyclists assembles places of interest. Cycle touring had pursuit. Second-hand and cheap cop- for a photo on the dusty upper slopes helped launch the new leisure pursuit ies of the bikes had made their way of College Hill, Ponsonby, Auckland. of tourism (with some help from the into the lower classes, but cycling had It’s the ‘Scorcher’ , proud railways). Racing fostered rapid devel- retained a strong male, elitist flavour. representatives of a thoroughly mod- opment of technologies, venues, spe- In spite of all its successes, it hadn’t re- ern phenomenon — the mass pro- cialised clothing, events, heroes and alised its dream of everyday personal duced bicycle — and perhaps you can promotional stunts, such that cycling transport for all. see the fierce pride in their faces. was a popular mass entertainment. And cycling provided owners with a A year after this photo is taken two Cycling had flourished in Europe and radical new form of personal mobility things would happen. First, the now- its colonies for over two decades. and frequent opportunities to display proven safety cycle — designed with The problem of power supply had the latest cycling fashions. wheels of the same size, a drive chain been solved by adding pedals to the and pneumatic tyres — would be front wheel of a two-wheeled vehicle, All of this was achieved by the time launched in England. Second, the safe- and the size of this front wheel grew the first motorcar patents were lodged, ty cycle will appear in New Zealand rapidly to provide greater speed. The and some two decades before the car the same year. result was the penny farthing, which appeared regularly in cities worldwide. now ranged over every kind of terri- In fact, many car and aeroplane manu- Cycling worldwide was about to tory worldwide. facturers started as cycle factories change forever. Women and the lower as cycle technologies were the most classes would start cycling in huge It had also achieved phenomenal com- advanced of their day. It made sense to numbers. Everyday cycling for all mercial success. Innovative factory put an engine on a bike frame and call would be realised, but in an entirely production methods had improved n it progress. different world. such that cycles were available in un- precedented numbers. Cycling media, But there’s something the cyclists in catalogue-based marketing methods, this photo couldn’t know. selling techniques and world- wide distribution systems were so well-developed that a cyclist in Auckland could buy the latest English model in the year of its release. The bicycle had become one of the world’s first truly modern products for mass inter- national consumption. Cycling was also socially suc- cessful. Well-organised cycle clubs had a strong culture, in- cluding uniforms and their own code of behaviour for bunch riding. They had advocated with local councils to improve roads, road signage and road user rules (albeit in their favour). They had designed the first detailed road maps, complete

14 Chainlinks 1 2009 Chainlinks 1 2009 15 Regional groups

‘ Bike ride’ planned by Rotorua Cycle Action, 18 Feb Kapiti Cycling members sharing coffee at Harrison’s Garden Cafe at Pekapeka during a ride from Paraparaumu organised by Liz in 2008. Liz, centre back. The idea behind it all is to claim back Sport Bay of Plenty to celebrate ‘Go By centrate on her other life interests. the street and to reinstate the com- Bike Day’. Cycling has been a major component muting cyclist as an integral part of of Liz’s life for very many the traffic scene. The ride has been years. She started Otaki planned to be part of the national Bike Thank you Liz — Kapiti Cycling Cycle and Environmental Wise month. enjoy your Network (OCEAN) back Kapiti Cycling Inc lost The ride ends at the City Focus for a “retirement” years! in the mid-90’s with a few one of its founder mem- ‘free healthy breakfast’ organised by like-minded friends. This bers, Liz Mikkelsen, group blossomed into Kapiti recently when she resigned to con- Cycling and then KCI when we gained incorporation. Why it is a good idea to support cycling advocacy We have always been an advocacy/ By a long time CAN volunteer lobby group and helped drive the formation of the Millennium Cycle So many good causes to support, why should you choose to support and Walkway — looking for tourism CAN? Why donate your hard earned dollars or become a member dollars for the region and, we hoped, and help us change the mindset of people from car dependency to as a SH1 alternate commuter route. active transport choices? Liz then had a big hand in forming the cycling component of the Cycleways Why donate your hard earned dol- that you will be saving on your tax Walkways and Bridleways strategy lars in a time of insecurity and need, and local council rates for road to help us change the mindset of the maintenance and new roads. National people in power from building more health costs will be reduced too. Ac- roads and motorways to building cident reduction will reduce all the cycling pathways, to promote cycling costs connected with crashes. and to convince business to provide n facilities? And then there is air pollution, emissions, noise and the break-up of Because helping us helps you communities connected with driving and your family in so many instead of cycling. ways! How? And yes, walking has all those ben- n Better, safer cycling facilities will efits too, but did you know how much ensure that you will feel good about faster you get to your destination on a letting your child cycle to school bike? If you know – tell others. and will save you dollars otherwise What we would really like you spent on petrol and maintenance. to do is join us and tell others about CAN and what we do n Better, safer cycling facilities . through towns and on the highways n Join us at CAN on our website or will make it safe enough to cycle to use the form at the right. work it will save dollars and you n spent on petrol. Sometimes all that is Wear our T-shirt. needed is a 30 km/h speed limit to give n Send an email to our secretary, get for Kapiti which Kapiti Coast District all the benefit at practically no cost. more magazines to hand to people Council has been implementing over the last few years and is currently in n Television programmes to educate you think might be interested; the process of reviewing. motorists how to behave around cy- n Give people our website address clists will make the road safer. CAN is www.can.org.nz. Liz’s early commitment and enthusi- lobbying the people in power for just asm for cycling has gained many ben- n that. Make a donation on our website or efits for Kapiti’s cyclists. n use the form at the right. n n More people choosing the cycle over the car to get to work will mean

16 Chainlinks 1 2009 Chainlinks 1 2009 17 What is cycle advocacy? facilities such as showers, cycle cross- How you can help ings, signals, road surfaces, car-driver Join online education, lighting, visibility, safety, Cycling advocacy is the behind- black spots— these are the kinds of the-scenes work that inspires things advocates know about and talk or clip this form local councils, government, about with those who can make the Join online at schools, businesses and trans- improvements. www.can.org.nz/join port agencies to cater for cy- At the national level CAN, the Cycling OR post this form to us with your clists. Advocates Network, advocates for cheque: cyclists with government and national It’s the mundane end of cycling — but agencies. It also supports local advo- Name without attention to details cycling cacy groups throughout the country. can be discouraging, difficult or even Your support of CAN gives CAN more dangerous. strength in its discussions. Address Cycling advocates are on the road; n Find out who your local cycling ad- they have the experience, and know vocates are in the list below. how cycling is working on a particular n Join your local advocate group or route, in a particular area or for a par- pass on your experience to your local ticular purpose. advocates. Phone Cycle paths, signs, cycle lanes, cycle n Join CAN and or donate to CAN. parking and storage, education, cyclist Email

Contact the local group nearest you Please email the e.CAN Bike! Whangarei email news fortnightly. Cycle Aware Manawatu Paul Doherty 09 436 0033 Please send me information [email protected] Julie Dalziel 06 357 6962 can.org.nz/mana- about ‘cycle safe’ insurance. watu [email protected] Cycle Action Auckland caa.org.nz [email protected] Kapiti Cycling Barbara Insull 027 473 1831 Janet McDonald [email protected] Occupation: www.caa.org.nz www.kapiticycling.org.nz How did you find out about CAN? Cycle Action Waiheke Cycle Aware Wellington Tom Ransom 09 372 3215 Alastair Smith 04 972 2552 [email protected] www.caw.org.nz [email protected] We respect your privacy and will Hamilton Cycle Action Waikato Nelson Tasman Bicycle Nelson Bays not give your details to anyone not Rob Davidson 07 856 5217 Richard Butler 03 539 0355 affiliated with CAN. [email protected] [email protected] Membership fees per calender year Rotorua Cycle Action Bicycle Lanes in Paradise Golden Bay Unwaged $15 Mark Dyer [email protected] Victoria Davis 03 525 9298 [email protected] Waged $30 Bike Taupo Family $35 Richard Balm 021 919 851 BikeWalk Marlborough Supporting organisations $75 [email protected] www.biketaupo.org.nz Paul Millen [email protected] Cycle Action Tauranga Bike West Coast Membership fee $...... Phil Browne 07 544 3123 [email protected] Jack O’Conner 03 768 0775 027 438 6285 [email protected] Donation $...... Cycle Aware Hawke’s Bay Total $...... Bernie Kelly 06 356 3588 Christchurch Spokes Canterbury [email protected] Matthew Cutler-Walsh 03 385 6306 Make cheque payable to CAN [email protected] New Plymouth www.spokes.org.nz CAN North Taranaki Cycling Advocates Freepost 147092 South Canterbury Squeaky Wheel Graeme Lindup 06 757 2062 PO BOX 6491 [email protected] Jon Harris 03 614 8777 Wellesley, Auckland www.ntca.org.nz [email protected] Or pay by direct credit: Wanganui Bicycle User Group Spokes Kiwibank 38-9005-0922435-01 Hadi Gurton 06 345 5048 Dick Martin 03 453 6667 [email protected] [email protected]

16 Chainlinks 1 2009 Chainlinks 1 2009 17 Supporting Getting started in cycle touring Stephen Wood Organisations Summer is a great time to get out on the bicycle a bit more. Abley Transportation Engineers Have you tried cycle touring? Adventure South Ltd ARTA It’s one of those things that’s best to The following table is a checklist for Auckland City Council build up to in stages, getting used to helping decide what things you might Auckland Cycle Touring Association recreational day rides , then perhaps pack and take on a day ride or tour. Canterbury District Health Board trying an overnight trip or two before Central Otago District Council tackling a bigger trip. Crank It Cycles Length Every ride Day rides Overnight trips longer trips Cuthbert Ashmore Consultants Ltd of trip Cycle Touring Company Ltd Cycle Tour Operators NZ Clothes riding extra warm Polypro/wool top more clothes to Dunedin City Council clothes; top; rain or jersey (or 2) ; cope with wet, Ecoassist Sustainable Solutions (shorts, jacket; knee- polypro long- cold? ; casual Engineering Outcomes top, shoes, warmers or johns, polypro clothes for off Environment Canterbury gloves) hel- longs? balaclava and the bike, spare Francis & Cambridge met, light gloves; spare footwear Greater Wellington Regional Council jacket socks Ground Effect What to backpack, or add rear carrier add front pan- Hamilton City Council carry gear saddlebag and panniers niers as well Herriot & Melhuish Architecture Ltd in Living Streets Aotearoa Tools pump, punc- tire boot, spare bolts (for spare spokes, Massey University ture kit, spare tube carrier) ; chain chain links, Mountainbiking Otago MWH NZ Ltd tire levers, adjustable oil; duct or elec- cables, tools for Natural High multi-tool or spanner, chain trical tape bottom bracket, Nature’s Highway allen keys tool, spoke cranks, cone Nelson City Council tool spanner North Shore City Council Food food, water more food, more food, Containers or Pacific Cycle Tours cooking energy food stove, billy, bags for food; Palmerston North City Council spoon, bowl Frisbee (=chop- Papakura District Council pocket knife ping board), Pedaltours wooden spoon Rotorua District Council Sleeping sleeping bag & Rotorua MTB Club liner, sleeping SafeKids mat, tent Sport Waikato Tasman District Council Extras Money, sun- first aid kit; cord, clothes Taupo District Council glasses, sun- lighter/matches; pegs; small ra- Ultimo Clothing block; map, torch; toilet dio; bike bag? University of Canterbury compass? ; paper, toiletries; water filter ViaStrada camera, cell- pack towel Vorb phone Waimakariri District Council Wellington City Council This is just a guide to get you started, don’t hear from you, and being able to so don’t think you’ve got to take every- cope with bad weather or emergencies thing suggested. Every trip is differ- such as a bike failure. ent. Is it back country or on roads? One of the great things about longer Will there be shops on the way? Are trips is that they can be adapted as you there houses? Is there cellphone cover- go. If the weather is bad or you or the age? What’s the best and the worst bike aren’t working as well as planned, weather you could expect? Are you you can shorten days to suit. Even if traveling alone or in a group where you’re planing on camping, aiming for you can share gear? a commercial campground (or bet- The more remote the area is, the more ter) gives you a dry place and a warm you should be thinking as you do for shower, so it helps to know which tramping, letting people know where towns have them. On a longer trip you you are going and what to do if they might take a short continues next page

18 Chainlinks 1 2009 Chainlinks 1 2009 19 Getting started cycle touring On the web 2009 dates continues break to catch up on rinsing or drying The bike snob offers a Bike Month clothes. “Seal of Disapproval” Business Bike Battle Build up to a longer trip, with day “The front wheel Mayoral Challenge trips ad then short overnight trips as a and the frame “shakedown” test. you can get a feel for are locked to the 1–28 February how the bike handles differently with pole, and the rear a load. If the idea of full touring seems wheel is locked to Go By Bike Day too daunting, some of the most enjoy- the frame. Done, able cycling holidays are from basing and done. The saddlebag is Wednesday, 18 Feb yourself at one point and doing day ripe for the picking, though I’ll rides from there, avoiding the need to give the owner the benefit of carry large amounts of gear. n the doubt, since it’s possible World Naked Bike Ride he owns an apiary and the Saturday 14 March, Golden Bay bag is filled with bees.”http:// bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com. Summer cycling Spot the difference Stephen Wood Here’s an exercise in aware- ness, can you spot the differ- Cycling Work, living or recreation: sum- ence? (video) http://tinyurl.com/ mer is a great time to experi- spotDiff Conference ment with cycling. Work: Summer is an ideal time to try The MOMBAT 2009 riding to work. There’s less clothing The Museum of Mountain Bike to cart along, and you won’t need to Art & Technology (North Caro- think about lights. Experiment with lina) preserves and chronicles New Plymouth different routes to find the ones with the evolution of mountain less traffic and nicer views. biking. Over 250 mountain bikes, hundreds of vintage Short rides: 12–13 November Use your bike for short parts thousands of pieces of trips, and go exploring: literature. There’s a Bottom New Plymouth has been confirmed Bracket Museum; a Brake Lever • ride to the dairy for an ice cream or as the venue for the 7th New Zea- Museum; a Crank Museum; a a newspaper land Cycling Conference. The con- Museum … ference will be held on 12 & 13 No- • ride to a weekend market www.mombat.org vember 2009 (Thursday & Friday). • explore to find different routes you could use — any off-road paths? The conference will be preceded by Return of the Scorcher by shortcuts? interesting places to ride a meeting of the Australian Bicycle by? Ted White Council (ABC) on Wednesday, 10 Day trips: A must-see for anyone who November 2009. Get out of town for an morning, afternoon or day: loves bicycles or has any inter- On the weekend following the con- est in transportation reform. ference (13 & 14 November 2009), • ride to a country café or pub Telling interviews and first CAN will hold its annual CAN Do. • ride to a swimming hole class footage of bicycle use from the US to • go exploring — in lifestyle block A call for papers will be issued in to China. The Critical Mass areas or anywhere where there’s a March 2009. Conference registra- movement got its name from choice of roads tions will commence in July 2009. a fascinating scene in this • try going off road — just explore, or documentary. 1992. More info: If you wish to receive further infor- ask your local group where the easy http://tinyurl.com/scorcher1 mation at this point in time, please off road paths are. You can download it in 3 parts contact the chair of the organising as .rar files: committee. Check your bike regularly http://tinyurl.com/scorcher2 • Are tires, brakes, chain and gears There is information available on http://tinyurl.com/scorcher4 this website about the previous 6 are in good working condition? http://tinyurl.com/scorcher5n NZ Cycling Conferences. n • Apply some oil or lube to the chain, and other moving parts. n can.org.nz/chainlinks/links

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