In my time being involved in cycling advocacy for CAN, I got to know Liz (Solveig Elisabeth) Mikkelsen, who was based on the Kāpiti Coast and provided many years of sterling service for CAN’s Exec Committee (including several years …
Category: Benefits of cycling
economics, health, fitness etc.
Flashback Friday: What if… cycling was (already) safer than driving?
Today is of course Anzac Day, when we come together to honour those who have sadly died in various battles around the world. Closer to home, tragically we have also lost a few people cycling this year including two in …
Flashback Friday – Photo of the Day: Grocery Shopping by Bike
Bike parking is on my mind at the moment. Last night we went to a concert and some pubs in town and, despite the chilly night, biked there and back. There was some pretty good bike parking at some venues, …
Cycling: the Efficient way to get around…
The Press have been running a series of articles over the past week or so about transport issues in Christchurch; you might have seen the one last week looking at the hassles of getting our cycleway network completed (by …
In the Spotlight: Steven Muir, showing us the way
Flashback Friday: Solutions to traffic queues
I’ve had two occasions recently where I had to bike to locations across town right at the peak start and end of the day when commuters are trying to get to or from work, mostly in their cars. Often I …
Flashback Friday: Highlights from #2WALKandCYCLE Conference Auckland
Next week sees the return of the 2WALKandCYCLE Conference, hosted in Wellington. Partly due to lockdown disruptions, it’s been three years since the last one in Dunedin – quite the wait. Unfortunately I won’t be attending this one – …
Flashback Friday – The GPS: Govt Pro-roads Statement on transport
So, after much bluster and talk, the new Government has released its draft GPS on Transport and it’s perhaps not surprising that it’s mostly roads, roads, roads. I’ll make some more comments on this in a future blog, but it …
Flashback Friday – Photo of the Day: East Frame Pump Track
It’s always nice biking through town using some of the cycle-friendly corridors like the East Frame and the Avon River. Nearing Margaret Mahy Playground from the south, it can be fun to take in a little diversion via the pump …
What cycling means to me
A recent accident has meant a few months off cycling for me. As you might expect, it has been enormously frustrating, and dented both my confidence and my mood. It also got me thinking about how important cycling is to …
Cycling is on the Up in Chch – and even the World is recognising it…
Last week, the Chch City Council released the latest cycle count stats showing that cycling numbers in the city are continuing to climb, up 6% from the same time last year and 30-40% up since 5+ years ago. As the …
Confessions of a Newbie Cycle Commuter from Jafa-land
What’s it like to take up cycling to work when you’ve never done it before? That was the interesting test when my partner Tracey landed a new job at Christchurch Main Hospital and decided that commuting there by bike was …
Flashback Friday: Money galore for cycleways
The Government’s latest Budget was just delivered; given the current political environment it was no surprise to see it focus on “the basics” and cost of living. On the transport front, there were lollies for public transport services and fares…
Flashback Friday – Guest Post: Statistics, Dollars, and the Intangible (Priceless) Benefits of Cycling
We’re all becoming a bit more acutely aware of the cost-of-living crisis, as inflation keeps pushing many prices hard. For many people heavily reliant on their motor vehicles, the recent fuel prices haven’t helped – the impending prospect of the …
Flashback Friday – Mythbusting: The business benefits of bikeways
It’s that time of the year when everyone is getting a bit busier doing their final arrangements for Christmas gifts and gatherings as well as also enjoying various parties and other end-of-year celebrations. For retail and hospitality businesses that can …
Lots of safer speed street consultations out for review
We’ve mentioned before the importance of lower speed limits for improved encouragement and safety of active modes like walking and cycling. Around the country, we’re starting to see more of this happening, especially on the back of the new 2022 …
AA adds new bike breakdown service
I’ve been a member of the NZ Automobile Assn for many decades. While I don’t always agree with their policies in some areas, I appreciate the support when my car has broken down (could probably count on one hand the …
Flashback Friday: Bikes on Buses
I’m back home again in Christchurch after a long stint away, although ironically I’m heading out of town again this weekend, so back to the airport I go… As mentioned previously, my short jaunts away typically involve a combination …
Flashback Friday: Do the economics of Chch’s cycleways stack up?
Expenditure of public money sometimes brings out some very odd understandings of how the system works. For example, recently one local Councillor (ironically a chartered accountant) was claiming that scrapping a $20 million local cycleway would enable some petrol tax …
Flashback Friday: Cycling and making sense of life
Mental health seems to be getting a bigger airing these days, with more and more people realising that we don’t all have good days (or weeks, or months…) and sometimes we need to talk to someone about that or find …