Ilam Road Project – submissions due now

Anyone who uses Ilam Road to access the University or other nearby facilities might be interested in what the City Council is proposing to do to it in the near future. This project was first looked at nearly three years …

Is cycling a part of the new Central City Plan?

Last Monday, CERA’s Central City Development Unit (CCDU) released their Central City Recovery Plan, promising a more compact central area, bounded by a green “frame” and home to a number of designated precincts for different activities. Having had a …

Cycling in the News

There have been a flurry of cycling-related articles in the local news lately; looking at the online versions, they have also attracted a fair amount of discussion (and rant, vitriol, …):

  • Christchurch City councillor Aaron Keown waded into the helmet

Vancouver: Neighbourhood Greenways

Some of the best cycle routes I encountered in Vancouver had virtually no cycle facilities on them… The City of Vancouver (pop.600,000 within the 2.2million Greater Metro area) has about 450km of bike routes. While some of that is conventional …

Vancouver: Separated Bikeways

Greetings from Vancouver! Actually I’m about to head home after a busy week exploring the city and meeting up with many of the world’s foremost experts on matters cycling at the VeloCity Global 2012 cycling conference.

The conference was …

What can we Learn from Vancouver?

Nearly three years ago, our mayor Bob Parker went on a fact-finding visit to America’s “Pacific Northwest” to check out public transport in San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. The light rail debate continues to rage on back in here …

Winter Solstice Ride – Thursday 21st June

In Portland, Oregon, each February they have a Worst Day of the Year Ride, where they “celebrate” the depths of winter with a ride around town. Here in Christchurch, we want to mark the shortest day with something a …

Cycling and Snow: It’s the Little Details

The big thaw is now underway in Christchurch, and it’s time to go back to work as well. So off on my trusty steed I headed this morning. Cycling after a snowfall is “interesting” because of the potential ice hazard …

Starting with a Solid Base

For anyone who has spent the past 20-odd months living in Christchurch, the importance of a solid foundation is pretty obvious. Otherwise sturdy homes and other buildings were no match for ground conditions that turned into quicksand when the big …