These days, using your smart device for wayfinding seems almost second-nature to many, even when on a bike. But seven years ago, it was pretty cool when the traditionally car-centric Google Maps first provided directions for biking around Christchurch (albeit …
Author: LennyBoy
Biketober’s almost over – what’s up in Nov 2019?
It’s been another fantastic Biketober with lots of activities across Christchurch over the past month. If you’re quick, you can still listen in on the “Reclaiming the Streets” seminar at Tūranga this evening (5.30pm) or take part in tonight’s Halloween …
New City Council gets underway
Following the recent local body elections, it hasn’t taken long for the new Christchurch City Council to get stuck into their business. A first Council meeting is happening this Thursday 31st Oct, and already there are some interesting developments …
It’s the final week of Biketober 2019!
Have you been getting involved in Biketober events around Christchurch this year? I’ve seen some great photos of activities to date (even if the weather hasn’t always behaved…). You’ve only got a week to get involved in the remaining activities …
Flashback Friday: Is Anyone Out There?
Cycling in Chch has been running for over 7 years now; it’s been a fun ride. Over that time we’ve delivered 838 posts to you, but blogs should be a two-way process with the reader. So it is gratifying that …
What the recent elections told us about support for cycling in Chch
So the local body elections are over for another 3 years. In Christchurch, that has seen six new City Councillors, plus the return of the remaining ten incumbent Councillors and Mayor Dalziel.
So what does that mean in terms …
Photo of the Day (Night) – Bike Rave Chch style
It’s hard to believe that we’re already almost halfway through Biketober for 2019. Already there have been about 25 events so far this month, with about as many again still to go. The weather this year has been a bit …
Flashback Friday: I Like / I Don’t Like…
At times, cycling can feel like “one step forward, one step back”; for all the nice things to like about what’s happening around Christchurch, there are still a few frustrations. This post, originally from Sep 2012, was designed to …
“No-one bikes into town, it’s not practical…”
With the news the other day that cycle numbers in Christchurch are continuing to climb, it was inevitable that the naysayers would jump onto social media and grumble about how cycling is not at all practical for a certain …
Do cycle counters only count bikes?
The recent news article about the growth in Christchurch cycle numbers was great to see (even better to see such a good-news story on the front page of The Press too…). It looks like the investment in cycling infrastructure …
Flashback Friday: Public Bikes for Christchurch?
With all the car/bike/scooter sharing schemes available these days (partly thanks to clever apps on our smartphones), it’s hard to remind ourselves that only a few years ago these were all pie-in-the-sky ideas, certainly in NZ. As reported back in …
Biketober 2019 is Here!
It’s about that time when I usually preview what’s coming up biking-wise over the coming month. However, when that particular month is October then it’s no ordinary month – it’s Biketober! Yes, for the third year running, you’re in …
Flashback Friday: Eastern Visions
The battle cry “what about fixing the East?” has been a constant in recent years since the earthquakes. While a lot of it seems focused on the state of the roads (despite over $1.2 billion having already been spent on …
Elections: Why are Cycleways always the Easy Beat?
It’s local election time! Chances are you have your voting papers by now and are pondering which boxes to tick. Simon Barnard has provided a useful summary of some of the punters who have put their hand up. I also …
Flashback Friday: Going our separate ways…
They might be rather commonplace now around Christchurch, but seven years ago there weren’t too many separated cycleways of any form (Tennyson St being the notable exception). But trials were starting of simple forms of separator like posts and low-rise …
Flashback Friday: Is cycling a part of the new Central City Plan?
It’s almost hard to believe that it was seven years ago when we were pondering how to rebuild our transport networks in Christchurch after the earthquakes. Christchurch City Council had a go first, but then the Govt Agency CERA took …
Passing in cycleways
When I visited the cycle-friendly city of Portland (Oregon US) nearly a decade ago, I remember being intrigued to see a “bike overtaking lane” on the climb up to a bridge. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised for a route …
Photo of the Day: Heathcote Expressway river path
Last month, we introduced to you the new section of cycleway along Ferry Road that forms part of the Heathcote Expressway route from town out to The Tannery in Woolston, and ultimately Heathcote Valley. One more piece of the puzzle …
Biking Events for Sep 2019
Welcome to spring! Wow, the weather is certainly quite stunning at the moment (let’s just ignore those warnings of some looming Antarctic stratospheric thingamybob…). I’m seeing heaps of people out and about on bikes, especially on the weekends …
Bike Racks on Buses – a key for integrated transport
Bike racks on buses have been a feature of Christchurch for over a decade, with them being standard on all city buses for almost five years. It’s a great way to provide true integrated transport (especially as a viable …