Simon Barnard – Cycling in Christchurch

Flashback Friday: Council Rates and MCRs 101

Simon Barnard — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 00:57:06 +0000

No surprises that cycleways are one of the hot topics in this coming election, and will no doubt get some airing at the Mayoral Forum next Thu 4th Sep. A news article last week looked into the supposed extravagance …

Flashback Friday: National’s Transport Dystopia

Simon Barnard — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 09:40:10 +0000

Any day now, we should be getting news of the finalised National Land Transport Programme, which will then inform Councils about what projects they will get funding subsidy for. Not that we should be getting our hopes up too …

Flashback Friday: Cycling Missing in the Neighbourhoods

Simon Barnard — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 06:28:00 +0000

A growing group in Christchurch for discussing key urbanism issues is Greater Ōtautahi; last night they had the latest in a regular series of catch-up meetings. Land use and housing tend to be a big part of the conversations …

Flashback Friday: The Orthodoxy of the Highway

Simon Barnard — Thu, 19 May 2022 21:40:27 +0000

It’s been an interesting week for transport policy, both nationally and locally. For a start the Government’s first Emission Reduction Plan was finally released on Monday, which personally was a bit underwhelming but at least makes some signals about further …

Better Consultation

Simon Barnard — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 00:48:45 +0000

As Submissions Convener for Spokes Canterbury for 12 years, now retired, I have some thoughts to share on how consultation might work better. The links are to Strong Towns which offers a rich source of articles on urban planning and …

ECan Forgets about Bicycles

Simon Barnard — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 00:15:40 +0000

ECan’s Annual Plan is up for consultation until 25 March.

Spokes Canterbury has their draft sub up for those with an interest. http://www.spokes.org.nz/2020/03/ecan-annual-plan-2020/

With the new elected ECan Board there is the chance to get cycling back into their consciousness. …

Christchurch Annual Plan and More Community Boards

Simon Barnard — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 01:32:53 +0000

Nb: Papanui Innes residents and riders your Community Board only gave 11 days for submissions. It is due on Monday March 2nd. The rest vary from 6 to 9 March. The Annual Plan gives you to 2 April.

The consultations …

Community Board Plans 2020

Simon Barnard — Sun, 16 Feb 2020 01:38:11 +0000

The children and a lot of us adults need a few minutes of your time.

Community Boards are now seeking input on what their priorities should be for the next 3 years. Draft plans will implement what they want as …

Council Rates and MCR’s 101

Simon Barnard — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 04:41:55 +0000

With the local elections the issue of rates has been raised. What raises or lowers rates? What impact have the Major Cycle Routes(MCR’s) had on rates. Councillors Mike Davidson and Vicki Buck have offered some information.

Mike Davidson FB post …

Local Body Elections 2019

Simon Barnard — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 02:42:38 +0000

This is not the final word from “on high”. Please contribute what you know in the comments. After all, elections are all about community. Let’s hear from the cycling community. updated 26/9

Thanks to all who have commented. Please read …