Chainlinks

Go By Bike Day highlights the benefi ts of pedal power

ISSUE 1 March 2008 NEWSLETTER OF THE ADVOCATES NETWORK (NZ) tion Auckland is still struggling to get Editorial walkers and cyclists across the Auck- Speedbumps for the Mind land Harbour Bridge (p19). A Dutch engineer straddles para- The cycling year has well and doxical worlds. truly launched with Go By Bike We welcome two new groups to CAN, Waiheke and Hawke’s Bay (and con- Week — all over the country Hans Monderman was removing traffic gratulations to Central Hawke’s Bay calming devices while the rest of the everyday cyclists have gathered which won an accolade as a ‘cycling world was putting more in. for breakfast, in record numbers mad city’). There a many benefits from belonging to CAN, and these He rejected the isolation solution according to BikeWise. are spelled out on page 15, but one of which measured efficiency on the Meanwhile the advocates’ work con- the most wonderful is the network of number of vehicles that could be tinues, making submissions on local committed, resourceful and knowl- moved, and the accommodation op- and government policy, pointing out edgeable people who are willing to tion which slowed traffic by putting the unsafe and the unsuitable to those share and support other groups. impediments in place. who have the power but not always the Sadly, we farewell Simon Kennett, will to fix things. His approach is that the traffic must whose knowledge, support and good accommodate the social life of the sense will be much missed. It is not an easy job: requiring a mix street, not the other way around. ÿ of skills and attributes that includes I include one last foray into ‘Speed- Continuing with highlights from “Mental knowledge, clear thinking, writing, a bumps for the Mind’ in this issue willingness to challenge, persistence, Speed Bumps: the smarter way to tame before releasing it for someone else traffic”, written by David Engwicht, which public speaking, encouragement, syco- to borrow from the CAN library. My tells us how to tame traffic without speed phancy, and a refusal to allow discour- driving awareness has shifted after bumps or traffic signs. You can buy your agement to get you down. Encourage- reading this book: I now think of copy for $30 Aus: mentalspeedbumps.com. ment and knowledge in these pages: streets as places where people live, shifting the balance of power between rather than corridoors down which I Cycling Advocates Network (CAN) motorist and cyclist in the UK, what drive or cycle. has worked in other European cit- PO Box 6491, Wellesley St, ies. And did you know you can move Opening motorist’s eyes and minds is Auckland, New Zealand house by cycle in Portland (p19)? as essential as cycleways and stop box- Tel 04 972 2552 es. We need to be seen as part of the [email protected] We know how to do just about every- social life of the street, not as just an- www.can.org.nz thing to promote safe active trans- other roadside hazard (as in the Road port — but we are still a long way from Code). We are all just people moving Chainlinks making it real on the ground, partly from one place to another, some in from a lack of political will and partly a metal box, some on a metal frame. [email protected] because we haven’t suffered enough Some feeling enclosed and safe, and Editor: Miriam Richardson yet in pursuit of the car. Even in Auck- some feeling exposed and vulnerable. Contributions manager: land where car use is so incredibly We need to “share the road” and “give Stephen Wood inconvenient, the alternatives are not a damn.” More on that next issue. n Web page: yet attractive enough and Cycle Ac- can.org.nz/chainlinks/links Next Quarterly Issue: June 28 Letters to the editor Contributions by 28 May The Heaphy Track the track with trampers during the Email content to: off-season. During the peak season [email protected] Dear Editor trampers would have sole use of the Pictures: 1024 x 768 pixels preferred We’d like to congratulate Ground Heaphy. Advertising: [email protected] Effect for supporting the campaign Like the Ground Effect folk, we also to allow seasonal use of the Heaphy enjoy walking and are aware that, The views expressed in Chainlinks Track by cyclists. That track has a long while there are hundreds of mountain are not necessarily those of CAN. history of use by cycle tourists and bike tracks in New Zealand, there are mountain bikers prior to the forma- thousands of walking tracks. We are tion of Kahurangi National Park. The blessed with bush tracks in this coun- tour from Picton to the West Coast try, however there are none as grand and back via the Heaphy is superb! at the Heaphy for cyclists seeking an Cover picture: ©2008 Stephen It should be noted that Federated overnight trip in our beautiful conser- Wood. NIWA staff on the Otago Mountain Clubs and Mountain Bike vation estate. Central Duathalon New Zealand both support a compro- Happy trails, mise which would see sharing Paul, Simon & Jonathan Kennett ISSN 1175-9364 2 Chainlinks 1 2008 Competing in an eco-friendly way: Highlights this issue • Go By Bike Day: frocks, (p5) Ministers (p5), breakfasts (p5. zero-CO2 duathlon teams p7, p16) Stephen Wood • Auckland Harbour Bridge, p19 • 2 groups join CAN: Hawke’s This year the NIWA Lauder staff steams decided to try something Bay (p11) & Waiheke (p19) different and challenging — to take part in the Otago Central Rail • Simon pedals on, p11 Trail Duathalon without • Moving house by bike, p19 burning fossil fuel. • Cycles and texting, p6 Most of you will have heard • NZ’s first bike station, p16 of the Otago Central Rail • Technological innovation, p9 Trail which runs 150 km The govt has people on bikes from Clyde to Middle- • and helmets on heads, but march. The trail is close to still sees us as a kind of tree. NIWA’s small atmospheric pole or drain, p4 research site at Lauder. Since 2002, NIWA Lauder • Fleet bikes for Northland staff have competed in the DHB, p7 two-day Otago Central • Share the road p7, p4 rail trail duathlon. They’ve Making cycling irresistible, p8 become concerned, how- • ever, about the heavy use of their best. Once the final bikers for • Warm showers for touring vehicles to transport team members the day were underway, all of the re- cyclists, p19 between transitions. Was there an maining team members assembled at • What CAN can do for local alternative? the last transition — a place called Au- groups, p 15 ripo. This group included people who New brochures and cards for This year, the group decided to try • had already run and biked from the CAN and local groups, p12 something different and a bit more start at Clyde, and some who’d only challenging — to take part in the race ridden 12km and been at without burning fossil They decided to use Auripo for a few hours. Contents fuel. They wanted to be a genuine “zero-CO₂” tandems to get the Then there was 37 km 2 Editorial team. Each competi- runners to and from to ride to Ranfurly (the 3 Competing in an tor would cycle to the overnight stop). This was eco-friendly way start of their section their ‘legs’ the one section when a head 4 Government news of the race, compete in wind made things difficult for a 5 Go by Bike Day! their run or bike leg, and then cycle while. Some people weren’t think- 6 International snippets on. They decided to use tandems to ing nice things about the bright spark 7 New Zealand roundup who’d first suggested the zero-CO₂ get the runners to and from their legs. 8 Making cycling irresistible The group had enough people to form idea. The only consolation was that 9 Indicators for your bike two teams of four competitors each, he appeared to be suffering as much 9 Technology with an extra support person in each as anyone! Things quickly got better; team riding a tandem. Early on in the a stop at Oturehua helped with fluid 10 Simon pedals on planning it became clear that cycling continues p15 11 Cycle Aware Hawke’s Bay all the way home from Middlemarch off to a fine start would be a big challenge, and take 11 Marketplace an extra day or two, so the zero-CO₂ 12 CAN updates teams used a vehicle powered by 100% 13 Backpedalling bio-diesel to pick them up at the end. 15 Supporting local groups The first day was made slightly easier 16 Regional groups because team members lived rela- 17 Join CAN tively close to all of the transition 18 European Transport points. This was just as well as most Conference of the first day was very slightly uphill. 19 Auckland Harbour Bridge Everyone got to their starts in time, 19 2008 Dates and gave their competitive run or ride 19 On the web

Chainlinks 1 2008 3 Furthermore, they do a national for cars, so there are no representa- Government news survey every year: the percentage of tives there for cyclists or pedestrians. cyclists using helmets ranging from Miriam Richardson “Road crashes are almost always 88% to 97% since 2000. You will be in- multi-factor events involving the terested to know that primary school driver, vehicle and/or the environ- children have a 1% better rate at wear- ment, including the road. Th ere are Th e update to the Government’s 2002 ing them than adults, and secondary many elements of the road that Sustainable Transport strategy was re- pupils a 5% worse rate. Dutch cycling leased for discussion at the end of last contribute to safety outcomes year. Submissions closed at the end of We can compare local gov- experts … including its width, alignment, ernment regions (Northland the presence and type of inter- February — and there wasn’t anything adamantly very sustainable about their submis- worst at 77% and Taranaki sections, and roadside haz- sion form, a pdf document which was best at 98%) or by Police oppose the use ards such as trees, poles and impossible to edit and therefore im- District (Northland 77%, drains.” Canterbury 96%). of helmets, p8, possible to return via email. Perhaps cyclists and pedestrians Th e update aims to: Th ey don’t include in their survey the are “environment” — roadside hazards information that 92% of those killed along with trees, poles and drains. • provide direction for the transport while cycling were wearing their hel- sector until 2040 in the context mets. Cyclists on the front page of the government’s sustainabil- ity agenda and other government Th ere’s no obvious interest in the Transit has put cyclists on the front strategies in the areas of energy and percentage of cyclists wearing visible page of its January newsletter, with energy effi ciency clothing, or using lights at night — not their ‘Share the road’ campaign. Th ir- • translate that direction into high- even in their death statistics. Still, it is ty signs were put up in Central Otago level targets for the transport sector probably nice to have a little measur- before Christmas, using the signs and intermediate targets for sub- able something you can report on each already installed along the roads for sectors (air, sea, road, vehicle fl eet, year. ice/grit, which are blank in summer. rail, freight, public transport, walk- Th ere is often some resistance to signs ing and cycling) to help achieve the designed to improve the situation for high-level targets cyclists, but a Transit project engineer found just the right tone to ensure that • provide clearer guidelines for deci- non-cycle road users would not feel sions about funding allocations singled out: “Cyclists have the legal • contain an action plan, including right to ride two abreast, but at the accountabilities for actions, refl ect- same time, they need to be considerate ing how we intend to reach the of passing-by motorists and cycle in transport targets. single fi le.” CAN made a submission on this Strategy. Just another roadside Th e campaign has been well received Deaths on the road 2007 hazard: cyclists by both cyclists and motorists, so may well be repeated next summer when KiwiRAP, the New Zealand Road As- Th e annual report on deaths on the ice and grit warnings are again un- sessment Programme has a nice new roads came out in January from the necessary. An on-the-ground report website. It is a road safety partnership Ministry of Transport. on p7. n between the Automobile Association In the 12 months to the end of January and New Zealand’s main transport 2008, 419 people were killed on our agencies: Transit New Zealand, Min- roads. Fourteen cyclists died, 12 males istry of Transport, Accident Com- and 2 females. pensation Corporation, Land Trans- The age range (yrs) port New Zealand, and New Zealand <15 15-24 25-34 45-54 55-64 65-74 Police. 2 2 1 2 3 4 “Th ese organisations have an interest 92% were wearing a helmet. in achieving the aims of the govern- ment’s Road Safety to 2010 strategy. Measuring helmet use Th e strategy aims to reduce road casu- alties to no more than 300 deaths and It’s amazing how focused the MOT is 2,200 hospitalisations a year by 2010.” on cycle helmets. Its a major heading on their website on a par with Cyclists, Th ey don’t seem to have discovered Pedestrians, Fatigue and Alcohol and that roads are for moving people and drugs. goods. Th ey seem to think roads are

4 Chainlinks 1 2008 Go By Bike Day highlights benefi ts of pedal power Thousands of New Zealanders are getting on their bikes for Frocks on Bikes Day fi tness, recreation and getting around — and Go By Bike Day is the annual celebration of every- day cycling.

Go By Bike Day events celebrated cycling in 49 centres around New Zealand, supported by Land Transport New Zealand’s BikeWise team. In Wellington a thousand people pedalled to Civic Square to share a breakfast, music, prizes and to hear from speakers. “We don’t know if it’s the great weath- Wellington cyclist Celia Murphy, at right, was one of seven women er, climate change concerns or a desire supporting the Frocks on Bikes movement — proving that you don’t to get into shape, but there are more have to don lycra to ride. bikers than ever,” says Cycle Aware Wellington’s Patrick Morgan. She says, “I did a little jaunt around Oriental Bay before turning up for breakfast. It was really nice to be smiled at by so many people! It was quite the nicest way to “Go By Bike Day aims to reward those start the day.” n who are already cycling regularly, and to encourage others to give it a go,” he says. Annette King supports “Kiwis are concerned about climate change and are looking for ways to Go By Bike reduce their carbon emissions,” he Annette King called for a moment of says. “Transport is New Zealand’s silence “for those Wellingtonians who fastest growing source of greenhouse are stuck in traffi c on their way to the gases, but cycling is practically carbon Transport Minister Annette King (right) and gym to ride an exer-cycle” when she neutral. Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick at Making addressed the Wellington Go By Wellington’s “Go By Bike” event “Bagels, fruit and coff ee Bike event in February. cycling mode’ trips people take, and affi rmed are the only fuel cyclists “Today though,” she said “we are that “the more people who cycle to need to get to work.” irresistible here to celebrate all those people work, the more we will improve urban Speaking at the breakfast, p8 who regularly commute to work by air quality, and the more visible and Minister of Transport An- cycle in Wellington safe cycling will become.” n nette King said more than a million … and those of you We know we New Zealanders ride bikes regularly. who usually go to need to do more work by car but “But while recreational riding is in- have climbed out to make cycle creasing, commuter cycling is stag- of your comfort commuting safe nating. We know we need to do more zone to bike to this and enjoyable to make cycle commuting safe and morning’s event.” enjoyable. Th e Minister noted “the hard work go- “Recently the government proposed ing on around the country to encour- an ambitious target to almost double age cycling as the transport of choice” the number of cycling, walking and and the way in which commuter cy- other ‘active mode’ trips as part of our cling is not increasing in the same way commitment to promote more sus- as recreational cycling. “We know we tainable forms of transport. Th e more need to do more to make cycle com- people who cycle to work, the more muting safe and enjoyable” she said. we will improve urban air quality, and the more visible and safe cycling will She pointed to the Government’s become.” http://tinyurl.com/3ca3oj n target to double the number of ‘active Chainlinks 1 2008 5 International snippets London mayor unveils TV show in UK stopping programme to transform the traffi c cycling and walking in Creative problem solver, Kris Mur- London rin is on a mission to stop traffi c for just one day in three of England’s A £500 million package of measures most congested locations. She has to will create a new network of quick, convince local councils to get behind simple, and safe routes for cyclists and her campaign and then change the be- pedestrians that will change the profi le haviour of car-users who rely on their and priority of walking and cycling on vehicles to get from A to B daily. London’s streets. Her lesson after the fi rst town: “If you With the introduction of a central Crap Cycle Lanes make it easy for people and explain the London bike hire scheme (6,000 bikes) logic, most people will give something Probably the worst cycle lanes in making bikes available every 300 me- new a go. But you have to hit them at the world (well, the UK, at any rate), tres, cycling will be accessible and will the right time. If they are not ready exposed in full colour. Off ences from become a fully-funded part of the pub- then no matter how much all over England and Wales. Local au- lic transport network for the fi rst time. thorities are named and shamed, you push or encourage they Send us your Th ese radical measures ensure the won’t shift.” with photographic evidence and needs of cyclists and pedestrians are http://tinyurl.com/yqmbut photos: let’s sentencing recommendations. given a higher priority on the streets Buy your copy for £4.99 start a NZ list http://tinyurl.com/33afau. and aim to have one in 10 Londoners Share the road with making a round trip by bike each day. bicycles — or pay in http://tinyurl.com/2kfr7g Probation offi cer on bike Chicago A San Francisco probation offi cer is Government seeks UK’s Reckless drivers who endanger doing great work with little more than fi rst cycling city riders would pay fi nes of $150–500 a bike, a helmet and mirrored sun- if there’s a bike crash, under a crack- glasses. tinyurl.com/3yrybs Th e UK government launched a £47m down proposed by Chicago’s No. 1 quest to establish a British “cycling cyclist, Mayor Daley. [Chicago Sun city” that would get more people on Times] http://tinyurl.com/3746ov to two wheels, and cut congestion and pollution. Th e winning metropolis will join London, which has already Texting UK driver jailed announced a cycling and walking pro- for bike death gramme. A 25 year old woman motorist who Six new “cycling towns” will also be was texting on her mobile phone when selected to share the fund with the she hit and killed a cyclist has been chosen city. [Th e Guardian ] sentenced to four years in prison. She Climate Emissions by http://tinyurl.com/ypl2mx failed to see the cyclist who was cross- ing the road having gone through a red light. http://tinyurl.com/2stum8 Lock bike and text Th e bicycle owner locks up their bike The Benefi ts of Bicycling and sends a text to a security offi ce which triggers a system to guard it. If From Cascade Bicycle Club comes someone then moves or tries to move an enjoyable 11 pages on the ways the bicycle a sensor in the lock emits that bicycling helps address climate a silent alarm which triggers a CCTV change, even while it saves money and camera to zoom in and take a picture, boosts our health. It’s a nicely read- sends an alarm to security staff and able summary of the best thinking in fl ashes up live images from the camera favor of two-wheeled transport. (Plus, Type on to their monitors. After a 3 week it’s chock full of charts and data that Greenhouse gas emissions vary by test in the city centre it is now freely prove the point.) Download the pdf vehicle type and occupancy rates. Th e available to cyclists at the University http://tinyurl.com/3cdtb3. best strategy for reducing your impact: of Portsmouth. http://tinyurl.com/3xhlom walk, bike, or fi ll up a seat that’s al- 6 Chainlinks 1 2008 Fleet Bikes Trial at NZ Roundup Northland District Health Board Yellow no stopping lines Paul Doherty, Bike!Whangarei coming back to Christchurch Beginnings Spokes Canterbury DHB champion Brian Harris, Injury Prevention Coordinator, said, “Hey — Spokes have heard that Christchurch we could do something on this! Let’s Go By Bike Day: Wanaka City Council has recently decided to walk the Healthy Eating: Healthy Ac- mark yellow no stopping lines again tion talk! And here we are! The trial is in cycle lanes that are adjacent to the for an initial three month period, and kerb, a change Spokes has long been in there are two bikes being used. favour of.

Share the road in Central Otago Alexandra Stephen Wood

In several places in Central Otago, black and white “Share the road” signs were put up on some State Highways this summer. They were mounted on signboards that are used to warn of Hybrid bikes slippery conditions in the winter. The The Cycle Touring Company have pro- sign pictured is on a stretch of State vided the bikes. They are a comfort- Highway 85 between Alexandra and style hybrid bike, with mudguards, a Cromwell Omakau. The cutting you can see rear rack and pannier, handle-bar bag, often remains frosty throughout the lock all fitted. The bikes have an easy- day in winter and it is sensible to warn mount, unisex aluminium frame and road users of this, but in the summer convenient 8-speed rear-hub gears the cycle message is more relevant. (Shimano Nexus for the techies)! The one cycle commuter that uses this piece of road was most impressed. He Staff reaction is not the only beneficiary as the road Really positive. The bikes are at the is often used as a training ride by road DHB’s city office location (80 staff) cyclists based in Alexandra and Clyde. and there is already talk about getting Queenstown Similar signs are also on busier roads bikes at the hospital (2,000 staff!) Brian was persistent in having each in the region, such as State Highways of the barriers dismantled (parking, 6 and 8. The challenges The biggest problem was that cycling wet weather, helmet hygiene, booking was perceived as re- system, servicing) and we are now “all ally really dangerous systems go!” by DHB manage- After the trial ment. “Do we really If the project is deemed to have been want to be putting a success, then the plan is to roll it our staff out on the out to include the hospital site, plus road on bikes?!!” And installing permanent parking for the of course the follow- bikes and maybe even encouraging a on liability implica- comprehensive travel plan as part of tions. the hospital’s expansion. To counter these Car-parking, for staff and visitors to fears cyclist educa- the hospital is a BIG and expensive tion has been offered issue. Bear in mind that Whangarei to staff and good did not have a public transport service guidelines developed for a number of years and the current around using the bikes. continued p15

Chainlinks 1 2008 7 Cycling has a key role in Making Cycling Irresistible public transport Public transport systems and city Lessons from the Netherlands, Denmark, and planners in northern Europe have in- Germany creasingly recognized the key role that bicycling plays as a feeder and distrib- John Pucher and Ralph Buehler utor service for public transport. Separate cycling facilities Motorists are legally The key to achieving high levels of responsible in car-person cycling appears to be the provision of collisions separate cycling facilities along heav- ily traveled roads and at intersections, In general, motorist training in the in the mid 1970s that cycling was re- combined with traffic calming of most Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany vived to its current successful state. residential neighborhoods. is far more extensive, more thorough, While history, culture, topography, and more expensive than in the USA. Make driving expensive and climate are important, they do not Motorists are legally responsible for and inconvenient necessarily determine the fate of cy- collisions with children and elderly cy- cling. Government policies are at least clists, even if they are jaywalking, cy- In addition to their many pro-bike pol- as important: transport policies, land cling in the wrong direction, ignoring icies and programs, the Netherlands, use policies, urban development poli- traffic signals, or otherwise behaving Denmark, and Germany make driving cies, housing policies, environmental contrary to traffic regulations. expensive as well as inconvenient in policies, taxation policies, and parking central cities through a host of taxes policies. Coordinated and restrictions on car ownership, use, implementation is a key and parking. Cycle helmets are bad for to success Roadway and parking supply has been cycling deliberately reduced in many Dutch, The key to the success of cycling poli- The Dutch cycling experts and plan- Danish, and German cities over the cies in the Netherlands, Denmark, and ners interviewed for this paper ada- past few decades in order to discour- Germany is the coordinated imple- mantly opposed the use of helmets, age car use in the city center. The mentation of a multi-faceted, mutually claiming that helmets discourage cy- many restrictions on car use and park- reinforcing set of policies. Not only do cling by making it less convenient, less ing reduce the relative speed, con- these countries implement far more of comfortable, and less fashionable. venience, and flexibility of car travel the pro-bike measures, but they great- compared to cycling. At the same time, helmets might re- ly reinforce their overall impact with duce the consideration motorists give highly restrictive policies that make Land use favours active cyclists, since they might seem less car use less convenient as well as more vulnerable if wearing helmets. expensive. It is precisely that double- transport barreled combination of ‘carrot’ and Moreover, strict land use policies fos- ‘stick’ policies that makes cycling so Car-free zones in the n ter compact, mixed-use developments irresistible. that generate shorter and thus more central city Bevan Woodward has extracted key points bikeable trips. It is the coordinated Related to traffic calming, almost ev- from a report by John Pucher and Ralph implementation of this multifaceted, ery city has created extensive car-free Buehler. mutually reinforcing set of policies zones in their centres, mainly intended The document is quite long, but well that best explains the success of these for pedestrian use but generally per- worth the read: pdf 874kb three countries in promoting cycling. mitting cycling during off-peak hours. http://tinyurl.com/28mwz5 The combination of traffic calming The moment we enter a village or city Massive urban and of residential streets and prohibi- we cross the threshold from traffic world tion of cars in city centres makes it transport policy change into social world. Here the motorist is a virtually impossible in some cities welcomed guest in the social world, they is required for cars to traverse the city centre can no longer behave as they did in the to get to the other side. Cars are Cycling was not always thriving in the traffic world. Instead they become part Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark. forced to take various circumferen- of the social world where the rules of Cycling levels plummeted in all three tial routes instead, thus mitigating engagement are the absolute inverse of countries from about 1950 to 1975. It the congestion, pollution, and safety what they were in the traffic world — un- was only through a massive reversal in problems they would cause in dense predictable, full of diversity and demo- transport and urban planning policies city centres. cratic. ÿ

8 Chainlinks 1 2008 Indicators for your bike Technology Review Cyclehoop Martin Roberts The cyclehoop bolts on to existing street posts and requires no con- This morning I had a set of creting-in. Designed by a UK design Bicygnals lights with flash- student, they will soon go on trial in ing indicators to signal on my London. behalf.

My commute starts with a fast indicators flash. They can also be downhill followed by a right turn onto left unlit, only flashing periodically a cycleway at the start of the next hill. to indicate that they remain on. The What does the car behind me think front unit dominates the handlebars, as I sit in the fast lane, pedaling hard? stretching across from thumb to There is no ‘road’ to turn into, and the thumb, so displaced my usual light. tighter the traffic the less I’m willing Fortunately the 5-LED front lamp was to take my hands away ... the tighter the similarly strong and suitable from the brakes to signal. for well lit suburban streets. With the Bicygnals I felt traffic the less Installation on my bike was confident that nearby I’m willing to simple, requiring only a 4mm A brake for one hand cars noticed the indica- hex key. Both units have ef- tors in traffic, particularly take my hands fective quick-release mount- The bike brake lever combines both at night, and they shone away from the ings for removing the lights the front and the back into the same brightly on a quiet street. when you park. lever handle using linkages, a design brakes to signal inspired by the needs of a nine-year- Targeted at commut- The front mounting bracket old girl with a malformed hand. Engi- ers, the Bicygnals system adjusts in three directions for optimal neering students from the University provides front and rear lights flanked positioning, but works best on flat of Guelph won a national design com- by indicators. Buttons bars. My riser bars required extending petition with their brake. near your thumbs control the quick release mount well out http://tinyurl.com/39mevo the signaling, and the rear from the main bracket, which lights are coordinated wire- markedly increased vibration. Bamboo bike lessly. The indicators turn Dropped and highly curved bars off when either button is won’t work. A carbon fibre or metal frame might pressed or after 30 seconds. be lighter on the road, but, from a If you want to send clearer green perspective, nothing treads The central lights can be signals to drivers, or are look- more lightly on the planet than a set (independently) to flash ing for new lights as daylight sav- bamboo bicycle. Bamboo’s vibration or shine continuously, but ings ends, consider the distinctive damping and stiffness make it per- will switch to steady mode while the new option of Bicygnals. fect for frame construction. A high- $120 from www. end design has been sold in boutique bicygnals.co.nz. shops for the past 3 years. The de- signer is now working at the extreme Product tested other end of the spectrum (price and over 24 hours methods) in Africa. n only. http://tinyurl.com/ywxm5j n

When you see traffic problems as a traffic problem you will only ever get traffic solutions.

Traffic per se is not the problem. The real problem is that motorists feel divorced and islolated from their social surroundings.

The primary design challenge is to force motorists into eye contact with the other users of the space. ÿ Photo: Matt Pacocha

Chainlinks 1 2008 9 Simon Kennett pedals on Robert Ibell

Simon Kennett, CAN’s inaugural Project Co- ordinator, leaves us in early April to get stuck into other projects such as the latest revi- sion of the Kennett Bros Classic NZ MTB Rides book, and riding in the Great Divide Race in North America to raise funds for Medecins Sans Frontieres.

In the eighteen months he’s been in the job, Simon has put his formidable energy, drive, skills and experience at CAN’s disposal, and we’re a lot better off for it. It’s sad that we won’t have him in that role, but he’s not saying goodbye to CAN. Some of his fellow CANners pay tribute to his work: “One of my first experiences of Simon was “He had an Exec meeting, something I was a wee bit hesitant about … however he had supplied supplied chocolate raisins for the meet- chocolate ing, so I knew things were going to be alright. Simon has been a great sound- raisins for the ing board for things that I needed meeting, so I clarification on or help with, and was always willing to lend a hand, or an ear! knew things “With help from Fiona and others, Si- were going to mon has been instrumental in booting be alright.” the networking project off the ground and into a new orbit. Shaping the initial ideas and then giving the project direction, structure, goals, achievements and a future. “Simon gave the networking project fabulous cross over linkages between different parts of the cycling commu- nity. He is always moderate in his advice, and explains things in a way that allows others to have insights into different perspectives. His diplomacy is fabulous and he has opened all sorts of doors not only for CAN, but also the networking project.” Illona, Deputy Chair. “Simon is well respected in the cycle community with amazing cred. He is fun, practical and smart.” “Simon has been a friendly, calm and very knowledge- able boss. It has been lovely getting to know him and seeing his passion both for cycling and for his new role as Miro’s dad.” The other CAN staffers. “Top Geezer” “Wouldn’t mind cloning that one” “At no stage while working with Simon over almost two years, was it anything but working with a friend. Straight forward, honest and speaking his mind, re- freshingly direct and quick to understand a point of view, always accepting and listening to what is impor- tant to a person and always willing to try things out; I have enjoyed tremendously working with you Simon continued p11 10 Chainlinks 1 2008 Cycle Aware Hawke’s Bay Market place off to a fi ne start Last October a small band of Hawke’s Bay cyclists gathered to dis- cuss the possibility of forming a cycle advocacy group for everyday riders in the area.

Many CAN mem- bers were present and naturally were keen on the idea. So it came to be that a few of those people met in a Napier cafe during the Getting Th ere cycling confer- ence a month later to discuss the aims Bernie on a cycle path near Clive and name of such a during an exceptionally high tide group. the local paper to run 1.5 metre pass- Bernie Kelly and Jeremy Dunningham ing gap messages which complement put their hands up to lead the group, the signs that Bike Hawkes Bay lob- and a few others signaled their will- bied to have put on key roads popular ingness to play an active role. Fortu- with road riders. Th ey have also com- nately, experienced campaigners like pleted a well-received submission on Don Kennedy, Jenny Baker and Max the proposal to include cycleways in Neumegen are amongst those ready Transit’s Northern Arterial project. to pitch in. Th e group, now known as CAHB, already has 10 CAN members Th ey have their sights set on a cou- and several e-members. ple of key issues — driver behaviour around cyclists, and safe routes over Although just a few months old, the rivers between Napier and Hast- CAHB has been successful in getting ings. Here’s hoping the region’s ev- eryday cyclists get in behind their The Spacemaker new local group and we continue $15 / $25 to enjoy hearing about successes 30cm plastic safety fl ag n with refl ectors. from the Hawke’s Bay. Hinged to fold when parked. Claim your space!

Th ank you Simon, for your con- tribution to CAN over the past Advertise your product 18 months. We have been very or service here: fortunate to have your skills and [email protected] abilities to foster groups, organise events, and progress the network- Keep tabs on Simon at Prices ing project. You have left the www.greatdividekiwi.blogspot.com Member / Non member organisation in a stronger posi- Three ways to order Simon Kennett pedals on, continues tion, with loads of achievements 1 :: Deposit money in Kiwibank and will miss you greatly. I can only under our belt. All the best for 38-9005-0922435-01 feel sorry for the poor guy/girl having your adventures in the near future and :: Email order, contact and de- to step into your shoes when it comes we look forward to working with you livery details to [email protected]. to communication skills. Also greet- again in a diff erent capacity. ings and wishes of good luck from 2 :: Send cheque to CAN, PO Box And from Simon himself: “ I wish 6491, Auckland Kapiti Cycling Core Group members. CAN the best of luck and will contin- :: Include order, contact and CAN’s loss is your family’s gain, I delivery details. ue to be involved as a volunteer.” know you are a super-dad.” 2 :: Credit card: can.org.nz/shop Exec members. Pedal on! n Chainlinks 1 2008 11 Press releases CAN Media Guide to Cycling in New Zealand 05 March 2008 Th e one-page guide is designed to give media a brief, factual overview of cycling to help ensure accurate report- ing. It addresses a number of myths CAN’s new postcard and misperceptions of cycling often relayed in the media. and membership pdf 200kb http://tinyurl.com/37284v

fl ier out now Two wheels rule on Use these to sign up local mem- Go By Bike Miriam Richardson bers to your group or to e-mem- 21 February 2008 Editor, Chainlinks bership of CAN. Profi le New 30% Target for Th e postcard off ers free e-member- Walking and Cycling I grew up in Christchurch where and ship, giving access to CAN’s regular when a bicycle was as essential as your e-news bulletins; the fl ier has info on 17 December 2007 shoes. Most of us biked, rain or shine, CAN, the local groups and the benefi ts frost or nor’ wester. I graduated from a Th e government’s new transport tar- of joining. 3-speed to a 10-speed when I went to get to increase cycling and walking to [email protected] university. Email (North Island 30% of all trips by 2040 is welcome, fi [email protected] groups) or (South but needs to happen much sooner. My biking days got left behind in Island groups) for your copies. Christchurch, and many years later I re-learned to cycle on a mountain bike; it took a while to stop being afraid of every little stone, and to realise that shingle was not going to tip me off . After 6 weeks of practising I did Th e Big Coast: whew! it is one thing to know how to cycle shingle (and walk through sand) and another thing entirely to sit on a bike seat for 3 hours at a stretch. Sitting — you have to practice the sitting too. I live in Kapiti, and belong to Kapiti Cycling and the Cycleways, Walkways and Bridleways Advisory Group of the District Council. Th is partnership of Council with local pathway users is exemplary. But there are so many parts of Council that have to line up to get cycleways working — recently the road “safety” team spent thousands re- marking a major local road such that it was suddenly dangerous for bikes (but safer for turning cars) — and no, there is no money to fi x it again; cyclists can live (or die) with the danger. I fi nd this an exciting time to be in- volved in cycling as global warming and peak oil engender a mind and policy shift from the grassroots to the top level of government.n 12 Chainlinks 1 2008 Contact CAN $1500 for local Back pedalling :: Chair, Robert Ibell, [email protected] :: Deputy Chair, Illona Keenan, Chainlinks in years gone by [email protected] group projects Summer 1998 saw Chainlinks increase :: Secretary, Adrian Croucher, [email protected] Liz Mikkelsen, Treasurer yet again in size and scope. There :: Treasurer, Liz Mikkelsen, was a large amount of overseas news, [email protected] CAN has established the “Local ranging from Sustrans rail trails to the :: Membership secretary, Group Fund” which this year has Dutch dominant vehicle law. Adrian Croucher, [email protected] Sustrans acquired over 200 miles of :: Submissions co-ordinator, $1500 to assist local cycling ad- [email protected] former railway routes to be incorpo- [vacant], vocacy groups affiliated to CAN. :: Policy co-ordinator, rated into the UK National Cycle Net- Graeme Lindup, [email protected] work. While NZ railways were never Local groups may apply for up to $200 :: Technical advisors: developed to the same extent, relics [email protected] for projects where the local group is Andrew Macbeth, , available to cyclists can be found in Axel Wilke, [email protected] prepared to contribute a minimum Nelson, Central Otago and the Rimu- :: Urban design champion, 20% (e.g., claim $200 for a $250 proj- [email protected] taka Ranges, with more on the way. Todd Simmiss, Examples: ect) or apply for 100% :: Cycle Training co-ordinator, funding of projects up to Another article noted that 1,300 peo- Patrick Morgan, [email protected] displays and $100. ple died on Dutch roads in 1996. Four :: Media & marketing co-ordinator, membership [email protected] hundred of those were pedestrians or Stephen McKernon, Download the application :: Webmaster, Thomas Schwarz, campaigns, cyclists. This sad statistic prompted [email protected] form: 64kb pdf the drafting of a ‘dominant vehicle law’ help towards http://tinyurl.com/2828ro :: Merchandise co-ordinator (to take force in 1999). The law made [email protected] Karen Hun, making a film, 47kb Word motorists automatically at fault and :: http://tinyurl.com/2ejf2j Advertising coordinator, liable for damages in the event of a :: e.CAN editor, events; Adrian Croucher, [email protected] Send or email the car-bike collision. CAN can help :: Chainlinks editor, completed form to Closer to home, there was a piece by Miriam Richardson, [email protected] n CAN. Dave Kelly on the demise of the hum- :: Chainlinks contributions manager, Stephen Wood, [email protected] ble pedestrian crossing (in favour of :: Mailouts co-ordinator, raised crossings, which offer no legal Ritsuko Ogawa, [email protected] rights to pedestrians) and a bit about :: Fundraising coordinator, CAN provisional the merits of helmet use in cars (which [email protected] Andre Cymbalista, some claim to exceed the benefits of :: Meetings co-ordinator, helmet-wearing by cyclists). Jane Dawson, [email protected] :: Awards co-ordinator, policies heading The next issue in March was a whop- Gaz Sanvicens, [email protected] ping 24 pages long. This could have Staff, project officers been a reviewer’s nightmare, but for :: Fiona Whero, fi[email protected], for final adoption the fact it was largely focused on one Christchurch: 03 366 2645 / 027 449 1845 These policies will be reviewed in issue — the ‘Better Transport, Better :: Wellington Project Officer, March in the light of submissions and Roads’ strategy. It proposed radical 04 385 4967 / 027 449 1844 will then go to the CAN executive for changes in the funding of roading, :: Anne Gummer, [email protected] Auckland: 09 378 0953 / 027 449 1848 approval. including the possibility of tolls on :: [email protected] new roads, the creation of ‘TransFund’ Andre Cymbalista, You can download the provisional 021 773 839 (Digital Strategy manager) and the removal of rates as a funding policies: Working groups and conveners source for roads. The strategy prom- :: Model Communities: Paul de Spa Compulsory Third Party Insurance ised reduced congestion, improved :: Research: Andrew Macbeth http://tinyurl.com/28dnru 112kb pdf safety for cyclists, and improvements :: Media/Communications/Marketing: in public transport. Sound too good to Health and Fitness Stephen McKernon be true? Well, we didn’t get to find out :: 112kb http://tinyurl.com/yo5omr Information Centre: Thomas Schwarz for sure, as National was voted out at :: Digital Strategy: Andre Cymbalista Speed Tolerance Reduction the next election. Representing CAN http://tinyurl.com/yvxtxa 187kb This issue also contained some ‘Bike to :: Cycling/Walking Steering Committee (HSC): Robert Ibell Once adopted, policies will be re- Work Day’ reports for 1998 — all very :: LTNZ Research Reference Group: viewed annually to ensure they remain positive. The free breakfasts attracted Andrew Macbeth cogent.n 400 riders in Auckland, over 100 in :: Getting There: Jane Dawson, Andrew Mac- Wellington, and ‘hundreds’ in Christ- beth, Stephen McKernon, Thomas Schwarz church. See this issue’s ‘Go By Bike Day’ :: Cycle Skills Training Advisory Group: n Illona Keenan and Jane Dawson. report for a comparison a decade on.

Chainlinks 1 2008 13 14 Chainlinks 1 2008 Competing in an eco- friendly way Supporting Local Groups continues from p3 We’re often asked what support CAN has to offer local cycle advo- replenishment and soon after that the cacy groups. The following list is a summary. If you’d like to know wind and the gentle slope of the rail more, or make a request for assistance, please contact one of CAN’s trail were both favourable again. Ran- project Officers (p13). furly was a welcome overnight stop. membership form for their region’s Micro funding Groups can ap- On the second day, everyone had to • group. complete the distance from Ranfurly ply to CAN for up to $200 per year Training to Middlemarch. But it is gener- to assist with specific projects. This • Each year we run train- ally slightly downhill, and there was comes from the ‘Local Group Fund’ ing workshops at the CAN Do mini- a gentle tail wind for most of it. A and is allocated by the CAN executive. conference (which is heavily subsi- dised by CAN). CAN also subsidises group set out an hour and a half before Resources Existing resources • the registration of local advocates to the race start and dropped people and include hundreds of publications attend the biennial Cycling Confer- bikes at each transition. By the time available for loan from the CAN li- ence, and the more regular ‘Funda- the tandems got to the final transition, brary. Cycle facility design guides are mentals of Planning and Design for the race was rapidly catching up with particularly popular. Also, we have Cycling’ course run by ViaStrada. This them and the early competitors were give-away pamphlets on cycle safety, year we will also run a presentation on doing their legs of the race. Those cycle-friendly employer guides, ‘How submissions in each town where the people all started cycling to Middle- To’ guides aimed at councils, and extra local group requests it. march in their copies of Chainlinks for own time. promotional purposes. • Advice One of the greatest strengths of the Cycling Advocates’ A few lessons Website The CAN • Network is that it is a network of expe- were learnt about website is currently being rienced experts in cycle advocacy (as what did and upgraded, but it is already it should be). Local advocates can ask didn’t work. The a great mine of informa- for advice via one of the email discus- tandems were tion. See www.can.org. sion groups or the staff. A member in great, but on the nz. We can host a local Dunedin might be faced with a tech- rail trail surface group’s website on ours if nical issue that somebody in Taupo they were more NIWA Wellington Bike Wise team that makes life easier. vulnerable to overcame a year previous, or vice- Membership drive material punctures (5 in all for the weekend). • versa. In most cases we simply try and sign It was important to watch for people Promo We’ll promote our local up new people as free ‘e-members’ • who hadn’t eaten or drunk enough to groups through Chainlinks and our in the first instance. They then get e- go the distance, especially in the hot website, and forward individual cy- CAN and are encouraged to become sunny conditions. One added bonus clists to the local group where appro- financial members if they like what of doing the event this way: the “zero- priate. CO₂” teams avoided the frightening they see. We promote the e-member- rush and traffic jams experienced by ship with our postcard prize-draw • Entertainment Want a slide support crews of other teams who each summer. If a local group has show or a speaker to help draw a were travelling by road. Many thanks their own email group, we forward crowd to one of your local group to NIWA for its support of the teams, the details to them. We also provide meetings? Just let us know and we’ll including purchase of the bio-diesel, a generic CAN membership form for sort something out. We can do this and to the Ranfurly Squash club for a signing up financial members and as- once or twice a year. great place to stay. n sistance for groups to create a custom • Administration We offer an optional administration service to lo- 2008 Mini cycle NZ Roundup continues from p7 cal groups. This includes the process- conference in ChCh ing of membership fees and mailing of one is a “skeleton” at best and has only Spokes Canterbury Chainlinks. been going for a few years! A condensed (2hr) version of the 2007 • News Through press releases, Advice to others National Cycle Conference was suc- Chainlinks, e-CAN, CAN Forum and Tenacity! Talk to Brian Harris (09 430 cessfully offered in Christchurch in our website, we alert local groups to 4101, ext. 7867) as he talked to every February. national issues which might affect other fleet bike operator in New Zea- Opened by the Mayor it attracted a them. Examples include the proposed land! Keep putting it before the right large and diverse crowd including changes to minimum driving age, the people (the oily wheel syndrome) and several city and ECan councillors: cy- Bike Wise Community Partnership use keen cyclists within the organisa- cling is obviously still alive and well in Programme, and National Transport tion to keep the pressure on! Chch. http://tinyurl.com/ytfgkmn Strategy. n Chainlinks 1 2008 15 Regional groups Cycle Action Waiheke joins CAN! North Taranaki Cycling Marie-France Duhamel Advocates Cycle Action Waiheke Graeme Lindup, NTCA Chair Cycle Action Waiheke was created in December 2006 and has just become a CAN affi liated group. We presently have just under 100 mem- Cycling on Waiheke bers. Council and the Auckland Regional Th e group’s main goal is to create a Transport Authority, developing a safe and easy cycle route through the business model for a bike station proj- most populated portion of the island, ect. New Plymouth between Matiatia ferry landing and Traffi c calming the village of Onetangi. Pedestrian and cyclist safety is the NTCA had regular monthly meetings driving force behind a new proposal to throughout 2007 and attended the NZ Th ere are about 8,000 permanent slow down Queen St traffi c in Auck- Cycling Conference and the CAN-Do. residents on the island, but numbers land’s CBD. Auckland City Council is We shifted our membership with CAN swell to 30,000 in summer. Th e bulk of asking for public feedback on a plan to to become an ‘Affi liated Group’ in Waiheke tourists are day-trippers cut the speed limit to 30km/h. order to take advantage of the benefi ts from Auckland who should feel in terms of income to the group, and encouraged to take their bikes across Traffi c calming and speed limit re- assistance from CAN employees. We on the ferry — Waiheke is such strictions are something that CAA developed a group logo and launched a beautiful island to cycle! sees as essential components of a our website: www.ntca.org.nz. cycle and pedestrian friendly city and we would like to see these measures NTCA completed cycle audits of three implemented widely through residen- areas in New Plymouth and featured tial areas and city centres. in Endurance Magazine, Chainlinks, Th e Daily News and Th e Midweek “Share with Care” culture on community newspaper. our roads We made submissions on the Ta- Cycling on Lake Rd, North Shore RoadSafe Auckland’s latest campaign, ranaki Regional Council Walkway and on the way to the Go by Bike breakfast “Hey, we’re all on the same road” was Cycleway Strategy, the New Plymouth launched mid-February. Spokesman District Council Budget for 2007/2008 Cycle Action Auckland Peter Kippenberger says, “Cyclists and the preliminary draft of the are legitimate road users entitled to NPDC Cycling Strategy. Mark Bracey, CAA secretary mix with other traffi c.” Cycle Action Auckland was on the working group Our advocacy work continues on the- Bike racks on Buses for this project which aims to raise the New Plymouth District Council Cycle CAA is actively pursuing options for a awareness about the care that motor- Strategy — NTCA is on the Steering bike racks on buses scheme in Auck- Group overseeing the implementation land. We have received some interest of the strategy— and Transit, where from Auckland Regional Transport we have been lobbying hard to see Authority who are seeking to have a improvements in cyclist safety on the pilot scheme funded in 2008/09. Waiwhakaiho River Bridge. http://tinyurl.com/yqzbbk Bike Stations in Auckland Cyclists who bike into Auck- land’s CBD now have the option of a hot shower and somewhere safe to store their bike thanks to the recent opening of a Bike Station in the Britomart pre- cinct. www.bikecentral.co.nz John Baldwin, Liz Mikkelsen and Rosemary Meanwhile CAA is on a steer- McCarthy (behind) of KCI on a proposed ‘cycle’ New Plymouth ing group with Auckland City track on a new development at Pekapeka. 16 Chainlinks 1 2008 ists need to take around cyclists and Spokes Canterbury pedestrians. Join online Cycle Action Waikato or clip this form John Meekings Join online at We are pleased with a much more www.can.org.nz/join cycle friendly intersection after major OR post this form to us with your changes to the northern entrance to cheque: Hamilton. We put in lots of consulta- tion time on this. “Good on Transit for Name listening, well done.” We are currently looking at the plans for a completely new approach to Address the city via a Te Rapa Bypass. Hope- Check out Spokes’ new website spokes. fully Transit will continue with their org.nz. Th e people who made this web- current cycle friendly attitude on this site are making our new CAN website. project. n Phone Contact the local group nearest you Email

Bike! Whangarei Cycle Aware Palmerston North ® Please email the e.CAN Paul Doherty 09 436 0033 Christine Cheyne Ph 06 356 3588 email news fortnightly. [email protected] [email protected] ® Please send me information Cycle Action Auckland Kapiti Cycling kapiticycling.org.nz about ‘cycle safe’ insurance. caa.org.nz [email protected] Liz Mikkelsen 06 364 8187 Bevan Woodward 021 1226 040 [email protected] Occupation: Hamilton Cycle Action Waikato Cycle Aware Wellington How did you fi nd out about CAN? Rob Davidson 07 856 5217 caw.org.nz [email protected] [email protected] Alastair Smith 04 972 2552

Cycle Action Waiheke Nelson Tasman Bicycle Nelson Bays We respect your privacy and will Tom Ransom Richard Butler 03 539 0355 not give your details to anyone not [email protected] [email protected] affi liated with CAN. Bike Taupo Bike West Coast biketaupo.org.nz Helen Gillespie Richard Balm 021 919 851 03 756 9037 | 027 273 8303 Membership fees per calender year [email protected] [email protected] Unwaged $15 Cycle Action Tauranga Christchurch Spokes Canterbury Waged $30 Iris Thomas 07 578 7025 www.spokes.org.nz Family $35 [email protected] Paul de Spa 03 942 2939 Supporting organisations $75 [email protected]

Cycle Aware Hawke’s Bay Timaru Squeaky Wheel Membership fee $ ......

Bernie Kelley Hamish Milne 03 686 6302; Donation $ ...... [email protected] Daniel Naudé [email protected] Total $ ...... New Plymouth Spokes Dunedin North Taranaki Cycling Advocates Make cheque payable to CAN Dick Martin 03 453 6667 www.ntca.org.nz [email protected] [email protected] CAN Graeme Lindup 06 757 2062 Freepost 147092 PO BOX 6491 Wanganui Bicycle User Group Harbour Cycle Network Wellesley, Auckland Anne Mohrdieck 06 345 6959 www.hcn.co.nz Niki Bould 03 472 8947 [email protected] [email protected] Chainlinks 1 2008 17 Supporting European Transport Conference Organisations October 2007, Leiden, the Netherlands 21 Century Transport By Bevan Woodward zone-based road pricing schemes in Abley Transportation Engineers operation in Europe. They are London Adventure South Ltd This overview covers the plena- and Stockholm who have each expe- Auckland City Council ry speakers, focussing on 3 key rienced a reduction in traffic in the Auckland Cycle Touring Association topics: road pricing, holistic ap- vicinity of 20%. Auckland Regional Transport Authority proach to transport and sustain- Avanti Plus Cycles Mt Eden Holistic approach to Canterbury District Health Board ability issues. In all, 270 papers transport Central Otago District Council were presented over the 3 days! Crank It Cycles A number of keynote speakers talked Cuthbert Ashmore Consultants Ltd about transport and the need to take Cycle Touring Company Ltd Road pricing a holistic approach, in particular an Cycle Trading Company The opening speaker of the conference American consultant, Gary Lawrence Dunedin City Council was Wim Kuijken, Secretary-Gen- of ARUP who showed this slide of Engineering Outcomes eral of the Dutch MoT. He explained Whack-A-Mole: Environment Canterbury how they were planning a complete Francis & Cambridge He talked restructuring of the way motorists pay Greater Wellington Regional Council about motoring taxes: the Dutch will pay for Ground Effect transport using their cars, not owning them. Hamilton City Council planners’ Living Streets Aotearoa Road pricing will apply to all residents tendency to Makara Peak Supporters for the entire country based on: solve one Massey University • When you drive problem but Mountainbiking Otago inadvertently cause other issues and MWH NZ Ltd • What you drive likened this to Whack-A-Mole, a pop- Natural High • Where you drive. ular arcade game in the USA where Nature’s Highway Consequently, you would be well ad- once you whack one mole, another Nelson City Council vised not to drive your Hummer into North Shore City Council immediately pops up! For example, Amsterdam on a Monday morning! Pacific Cycle Tours reducing traffic congestion but causing Palmerston North City Council The Dutch officials see road pricing as increasing CO₂ emissions through in- Papakura District Council the most effective technique to reduce duced traffic, or improving access for Pedaltours congestion, but realise it is indeed a cars but making it less safe for walking Rotorua District Council “political hot potato”. Hence they were and cycling. Rotorua MTB Club promoting road pricing as revenue- A number of speakers encouraged SafeKids neutral and that most motorists would transport planners to take a much Sport Waikato pay less (especially the older genera- Tasman District Council broader view of the impacts of their tion who don’t drive very often but are Taupo District Council projects and find solutions that solve a significant voting group). Instead, it NZ multiple issues, including energy use, is the high users and peak time users University of Canterbury land use, air quality, inclusion, health, US National Center for Bicycling and Walking (predominately business users) who employment, economy, form and ViaStrada will pay more, but for that they will get space, quality of life, etc. Vorb improved travel times. Waimakariri District Council During his opening presentation Wim Sustainability issues His first effort surprised him. “When we do Kuijken also mentioned that their There was a notable amount of concern traditional traffic calming with speed bumps target for rail patronage was a at the conference over the rapid increase we typically expect about a 10% drop in growth of 5% pa. In the Q&A in CO₂ emissions from transport. speed. But with no disincentives, the speed session that followed I asked was down by almost 50% — down form 57km/h him what the forecast growth in Professor Jeff Kenworthy of Perth’s to under 30km/h. I could not believe my eyes traffic was, he replied: “Growth?! Murdoch University presented on their study of 100 cities and how those … All we had done was make the village look We want a reduction in traffic!” cities with strong rail networks have more like a village.” Point taken. much lower emissions and more walk- He replicated the results in 30 villages, was The subject of road pricing ing and cycling than cities with weak consultant on another 17 and the European seemed to attract the most in- or no rail networks, as highlightedcontinues inp19 Union is funding 5 demonstration projects terest at the conference. There this slide: across Europe (www.shared-space.org). n were presentations on the two

18 Chainlinks 1 2008 European Transport Conference 2008 dates continues from p18 On the web Healthy Cities and Communities Short Course Christchurch Warm Showers 7–10 Apr An international First time in NZ, by Healthy Christ- offering hospitality to touring church this course is relevant to cyclists. From simply a spot to anyone with an interest in taking pitch a tent to meals, a warm (hot!) action towards creating healthy Other speakers reported on their work shower, and a bed. on social impacts of traffic, in particu- and sustainable cities and com- 41 New Zealanders are currently munities. lar noise and community severance. It seemed to me that there was a much offering hospitality. http://tinyurl.com/276y2l greater awareness and understanding www.warmshowers.org of transport’s contribution to these is- NZPI Urban Design sues than what I typically encounter in Monkey Dust — New Zealand. The Cyclists Workshop Course www.aetransport.org “We are The Cyclists. The interme- Hamilton Any questions, e-mail Bevan at [email protected] . n diate stage between humans and 17–18 April pure energy.” video Presentations and practical hands- http://tinyurl.com/2xskek on workshop exercises based Cycling and walking on local case studies. Places are limited. over the Auckland Moving house by bike http://tinyurl.com/26vobt A herd of cyclists help a woman move her household goods in Harbour Bridge Portland, Oregon. Video. Double the feet on the Mark Bracey, CAA secretary http://tinyurl.com/355ezo street NZ’s walking conference The latest efforts to push for a walk- Making it hard for bike Auckland way and cycleway over Auckland Har- 4–5 August bour Bridge are continuing to make theives http://tinyurl.com/2sscfq positive progress. Or lock it and still lose it? I bought a bunch of expensive locks and Cycle Action Auckland believes Tran- watched two burly ‘bike thieves’ sit’s suggested design for a cycle/walk smash into them within seconds. 100k’s way over the bridge, costed at $35 But it’s possible to make life dif- When I hear we are heading for Scargill million, was “gold plated”. Instead the ficult for professional thieves: I think, craggy with fish fossils. CAA’s campaign team, in talks with there are locking techniques that Peter Spies of Transit, have come up Seventy kilometers on will make your precious harder to with a cheaper — $5 million — solu- I am the salt encrusted one pinch. tion. This option would involve slightly http://quickrelease.tv/?p=327 rutting sealed beds of bitumen narrowing the width of the clip-on with tyres and muscles smelting. lanes of the bridge in order to make The flensing south wind space for a cycleway on the western Armchair cycling good friend for the first fifty side of the bridge and a walkway on Spend some time in Adventure Go to the Chainlinks webpage the eastern side. Cycling’s online Ride Registry: now bulliesfor links into myto these side. events you’ll find great reading posted Antarctica trembles. Auckland City Council, North Shore List your event here: City Council, Auckland Regional by cyclists who have taken trips I long to [email protected] into water to virtually every corner of the skin fish floating. Council and the Regional Land Transport Committee have all passed globe. From a self-guided tour At Scargill, how ever, resolutions in support of a walkway/ from Vienna to Dresden, pedaling a snug stone house cycleway. And the Additional Har- along ancient Inca trails in Peru, to cycling at the roof of the world built hand over hand, bour Crossing Executive Implementa- in Nepal. Add your own rides to with fire bath, blossoms, tion Team have undertaken to look at the register or plan your next one. smooth green hills. CAA’s proposal. http://tinyurl.com/3x8ux6 n Nicola Easthope n getacross.org.nz for the latest news n can.org.nz/chainlinks/links Chainlinks 1 2008 19