Chainlinks Summer cycling: what’s it like out there on the road? ebruary F ssue 1, I 2009 CHAINLINKS 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 Auckland, 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 Sustainable transport 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 cycling advocacy? 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! “Bicycle 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.
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