More Posts – Cycling in Christchurch

Further Post Listings

Flashback Friday: New northern cycleway to Waimakariri comingLennyBoy1 Mar 2024Cycle infrastructureSo, if we’re to believe the intentions of the new Government, get ready for a lot more roads, roads, roads in the coming years. That also seems to be reflected in the recently consulted on Regional Land Transport Plan, which is looking to prioritise things like the SH1 Northern Link Woodend Bypass, Brougham St corridor, … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: New northern cycleway to Waimakariri coming” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Roger wants cycling in the city too…LennyBoy23 Feb 2024Bicycle politics / Cycle infrastructure / General A2B by bikeThis week, we’ve just had the 13th anniversary of the devastating earthquake that struck Christchurch back in 2011 – it really does seem a lifetime ago now. In the first few years afterwards, a lot of discussions were had about what the rebuilt city should look like – and that included the new transport network. … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Roger wants cycling in the city too…” [...] Read more...

Taking the bike on the train: completing the Hurunui Heartland RideAngela Cassidy18 Feb 2024Cycling routesI’ve written before about cycling the Hurunui Heartland Trail between Waikari and Christchurch. If you can get someone to drop you along the way, it’s a good day out. There’s hills, gravel, sealed roads and off-road cycleway. There’s rolling countryside, limestone valleys, mountain views, river crossings and rural townships. Over the summer break, I finally … Continue reading “Taking the bike on the train: completing the Hurunui Heartland Ride” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Are new cycleways OK for existing cyclists?LennyBoy16 Feb 2024Bicycle politics / Cycle infrastructureI had an interesting conversation earlier this week with a reporter, talking about how people are getting used to using our cycleways as they get ever busy, including lots of passing each other and queuing at intersections. It’s a nice problem to have, and evidence that the Major Cycleway network is doing its job of … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Are new cycleways OK for existing cyclists?” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday – Book Review: Short Easy Bike RidesLennyBoy9 Feb 2024Cycle-centric ideas / Cycling routesLast Sunday I completed the 300+ km of the Alps to Ocean cycle trail with my partner – pleased to do it (more on that in a post soon) but it made for some long days of cycling, often up to 70-80km a day. Since our return, we’ve decided to keep cycle trips to much … Continue reading “Flashback Friday – Book Review: Short Easy Bike Rides” [...] Read more...

Sun, surf and cyclingAngela Cassidy4 Feb 2024Cycling routes / General A2B by bikeThere are lots of great places to cycle around Christchurch. But at this time of year, with beautiful sunny days and warm temperatures, I am particularly drawn to rides that take me to the beaches and rivers. There’s something special about the combination of clear blue skies, a coastal breeze, and the sparkle created by … Continue reading “Sun, surf and cycling” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: A Regional Cycle Node NetworkCycling in Chch (Guest)2 Feb 2024Cycling routesGreetings from somewhere down the Waitaki Valley! Yes, I’m currently busy biking the Alps2Ocean cycle trail; will give you a full rundown about it on my return. The A2O is part of a growing network of off-road and on-road cycle touring routes around the country; as this network expands, people will have more options for … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: A Regional Cycle Node Network” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday – Photo of the Day: East Frame Pump TrackLennyBoy26 Jan 2024Benefits of cycling / Cycle-centric ideas / Photo of the DayIt’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 tracks created on the corner of Armagh and Manchester Sts. This post, originally from Jan … Continue reading “Flashback Friday – Photo of the Day: East Frame Pump Track” [...] Read more...

First Look: South Express Part TwoLennyBoy20 Jan 2024Cycle infrastructureLast week I started introducing you to the first section of the South Express Major Cycle Route, as far as Upper Riccarton. That section of the cycleway has been mostly in place for well over a year already, but many of the bits further west have only been installed in the past month or two. … Continue reading “First Look: South Express Part Two” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: High St revitalisationLennyBoy19 Jan 2024Cycle infrastructureThose of you who travel through the southeast part of the Central City may find that part of your route along the bottom end of High St will be impacted soon by works starting to complete the last section between Tuam and St Asaph Streets. The original plans for upgrading High St were developed over … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: High St revitalisation” [...] Read more...

Photo of the Day: New Brighton Kite Day bike parkingLennyBoy14 Jan 2024EventsWhat a fantastic summer weekend! And just perfect yesterday for the Kite Day out at New Brighton Beach; lots of sun and the right amount of wind. My partner and I jumped on our bikes to go and check out the fun (also the markets along New Brighton Mall). And it was clear that we … Continue reading “Photo of the Day: New Brighton Kite Day bike parking” [...] Read more...

First Look: South Express Part OneLennyBoy13 Jan 2024Cycle infrastructure / General A2B by bikeWhile there has been a lot of fanfare recently about the opening of the Heathcote Expressway and Coastal Pathway cycle routes, another cycleway has been quietly just rolling out has in the opposite direction… The “South Express” is somewhat oddly named, heading mostly west as it does (then again, the same could be said about … Continue reading “First Look: South Express Part One” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Passing in cyclewaysLennyBoy12 Jan 2024General A2B by bike / People riding bikesI was having an online discussion recently about the pros and cons of having a cycle lane on the traffic side of parked cars versus the alternative of simply swapping them over so that the (now protected) cycle lane is on the kerb side of the parking. Good in theory except that a standard width … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Passing in cycleways” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: New Central City cycling projects aim to fix the little things…?LennyBoy5 Jan 2024Cycle infrastructure / Cycle-centric ideasSummer is a great time to be enjoying activities in the central city, and it’s definitely easier to do that by bike – no traffic or parking hassles. It’s always nice though when there are even more little touches that make it easier to get around and park in the city. And so it was … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: New Central City cycling projects aim to fix the little things…?” [...] Read more...

Temporary Traffic Management for Cycling – Little Steps…LennyBoy3 Jan 2024Cycle infrastructure / Cycle-centric ideasHappy New Year! I’m currently enjoying a bit of a break before getting back to work (if you can call still writing CiC blogs a “break”…). Thought I’d start the new year with a positive story that I’m starting to see more often. Many of us are are familiar with the cliché of seeing a … Continue reading “Temporary Traffic Management for Cycling – Little Steps…” [...] Read more...

Cycling in Chch 2023 in Review: The Good, the Bad, the in-BetweenLennyBoy31 Dec 2023Annual Review / Bicycle politics / Cycle infrastructure / Events / General A2B by bikeAnd just like that, another year is over and we ponder what has happened since we last reviewed the state of cycling Chch at the end of 2022 – suffice to say that it seems like a mix of things… Who would have guessed at the beginning of the year that arguably the most contentious … Continue reading “Cycling in Chch 2023 in Review: The Good, the Bad, the in-Between” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: West Coast Wilderness Trail: a great tourLennyBoy29 Dec 2023Cycling routesHappy Holidays! I hope that you have been having a lovely break; I certainly have, as I haven’t even managed a blog post in the past two weeks… Well, let’s rectify that for starters with something to cast your mind to potential cycle touring holidays – like the one I did over five years ago … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: West Coast Wilderness Trail: a great tour” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Cycling in the HeatLennyBoy15 Dec 2023Administration / General A2B by bikeThe weather has been a bit up and down the past few weeks, but maybe summer truly is starting arrive. It was a lovely 27 degrees in Christchurch this afternoon, with every likelihood that it might be even hotter on Sunday. So how do you cope with biking when the mercury is rising? Fortunately, I … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Cycling in the Heat” [...] Read more...

Biking around Napier: Finding and losing yourself…LennyBoy11 Dec 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycling routesSo I was up visiting Napier a few weeks ago (the Robbie Williams concert was great by the way…) and while up there, my partner and I took the opportunity to check out some of the cycleways around the city. We grabbed some e-bikes from Napier City Bike Hire for half a day and had … Continue reading “Biking around Napier: Finding and losing yourself…” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday(-ish): “No-one bikes into town, it’s not practical…”LennyBoy9 Dec 2023Cycle-centric ideasYou know that it’s been a busy week when you don’t even find time to get a Flashback Friday out on time – ah well, Saturday morning it is… It is of course starting to get into the silly season ahead of Christmas, and town is certainly already pumping. I was there last night and … Continue reading “Flashback Friday(-ish): “No-one bikes into town, it’s not practical…”” [...] Read more...

New Walk/Cycle Overbridge planned for Brougham StLennyBoy3 Dec 2023Cycle infrastructureMany people in Christchurch will be aware that Waka Kotahi (NZTA) have been slowly working on some plans to upgrade aspects of the Brougham St (SH76) corridor. In theory that might mean an improvement to the (fairly crappy excuse for a) shared path along some parts of the route. But in the short term, they … Continue reading “New Walk/Cycle Overbridge planned for Brougham St” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Progress on Coastal Pathway Beachville sectionLennyBoy1 Dec 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycling routesYesterday marked a significant milestone with the official opening of the final section of the Chch Coastal Pathway at Moncks Bay – looks like it was great day for everyone there! It’s been a long time coming to fruition, and it’s interesting to think that way back in Dec 2014, plans for the previous section … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Progress on Coastal Pathway Beachville section” [...] Read more...

What cycling means to meAngela Cassidy26 Nov 2023Benefits of cycling / People riding bikesA 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 me. Partly, it’s about having the freedom to get from A to B reasonably quickly … Continue reading “What cycling means to me” [...] Read more...

First Look (and an Opening) – Coastal Pathway final sectionLennyBoy25 Nov 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycling routesIt seems like a long time since the idea of a coastal pathway all the way out to Sumner was first floated – and indeed it was over a decade ago that the idea started to build momentum. Then a draft concept plan was developed and slowly various sections of the route have been rolled … Continue reading “First Look (and an Opening) – Coastal Pathway final section” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Draft Govt Policy Statement is good news for cyclingLennyBoy24 Nov 2023Bicycle politics / Cycle infrastructureAfter a fair bit of horse-trading, we finally look like we have a new Government about to be formed. Then it will be interesting to see how much they change existing transport policies, including how much cycling continues to get support. When the likes of Waka Kotahi is already pre-empting potential changes and pausing sustainable … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Draft Govt Policy Statement is good news for cycling” [...] Read more...

Photo of the Day: Canterbury Show Bike ParkingLennyBoy19 Nov 2023Bikes & equipment / Events / Photo of the DayI hope that everyone in Canterbury enjoyed a nice long weekend this Canterbury Anniversary! My partner and I decided to visit the Canterbury Agricultural (or A&P) Show on Friday, and it was a fun few hours looking around at the various animals, entertainment, and other exhibits. Knowing that car traffic and parking would be rather … Continue reading “Photo of the Day: Canterbury Show Bike Parking” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Hawkes Bay – Lovin’ the NetworkRobert Fleming17 Nov 2023Cycling routes / General A2B by bikeRobert Fleming has been a regular contributor to Cycling in Chch for many years now, with about 70 blog posts. He’s also just had another birthday, so happy birthday Robert! Last weekend I was in Hawkes Bay and took the opportunity to have a bike around – look out for a post on that in … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Hawkes Bay – Lovin’ the Network” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: What price for a cycleway?LennyBoy10 Nov 2023Bicycle politics / Cycling routesMost of the Major Cycle Routes that are being developed around Chch follow either existing streets or through parks and other reserve areas. But nearly 7 years ago, one new route was created through the purchase of a couple of properties – and that made a few people grumpy it seems. Back in Jan 2017, … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: What price for a cycleway?” [...] Read more...

New Chch 2023 Cycle Map Now AvailableLennyBoy7 Nov 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycling routesOne of the recent little promotional initiatives that quietly popped up during Biketober was the latest release of Christchurch City Council’s Bike Map. Roughly 2 years since its last update, the newest version boasts info about some of the latest additions to our cycling network, as well as lots of other handy bits of advice. … Continue reading “New Chch 2023 Cycle Map Now Available” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Do cycleways = extravagance?LennyBoy3 Nov 2023Bicycle politicsChristchurch City Council is starting conversations about their updated Long Term Plan, and already there have been some rumblings about possible financial struggles. Predictably, cycleways are one of the possible candidates for the chopping block, although I’d be surprised if they really get much support for that. Still, it’s interesting how often (in Chch and … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Do cycleways = extravagance?” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday – Guest Post: Just another day on a bike in Christchurch…Cycling in Chch (Guest)27 Oct 2023Cycling routes / General A2B by bike / People riding bikesIt’s well and truly Spring now, and Summer is just around the corner! That’s as good a reason as any to get out on your bike and experience the many different facets of life around Christchurch… Back in Oct 2016, Taylah Mawson contributed this guest post taking in her riding experiences. At the time, things … Continue reading “Flashback Friday – Guest Post: Just another day on a bike in Christchurch…” [...] Read more...

Only one week of Biketober 2023 to go!LennyBoy24 Oct 2023Cycle-centric ideas / EventsI hope that you’ve been having a good time taking part in some of the many activities for Biketober 2023! As I mentioned at the start of the month, the timing this year has often unfortunately coincided with me being out of town (or currently out of the country…) for much of it, so that … Continue reading “Only one week of Biketober 2023 to go!” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Alps 2 Ocean Cycle TrailLennyBoy20 Oct 2023Cycling routesSomething I’m looking forward to very much this summer is to tackle the Alps2Ocean Cycle Trail from Mount Cook down to Oamaru in late January. It’s been on my bucket list for a while, so it will be interesting to see how it stacks up. Way back in Aug 2015, I visited the area and … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail” [...] Read more...

The Simple Power of a Bit of PaintLennyBoy18 Oct 2023Cycle infrastructure / General A2B by bikeA couple of weeks ago I was working at home for a few days, so it was my partner who first alerted me to a quiet little improvement that had been made to her commuting route along Waltham Rd. Some of you may recall that a few years back I opined about a number of … Continue reading “The Simple Power of a Bit of Paint” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Bike Expo 2017 a great successLennyBoy13 Oct 2023Cycle-centric ideas / EventsI hope you’re enjoying Biketober 2023 so far! As mentioned a few weeks back, the first Biketober was held in 2017 and a feature event was the inaugural NZ Bike Expo. The following year the exercise was repeated for 2018, but then commercial uncertainties followed by the joys of Covid lockdowns saw it go into … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Bike Expo 2017 a great success” [...] Read more...

Christchurch Speed Mngmt Plan promises good things for CyclingLennyBoy12 Oct 2023Cycle-centric ideasIt doesn’t seem that long ago that Christchurch oversaw a whole raft of suburban lower speed limits, proposing 30 and 40 km/h streets to many of our neighbourhoods and school zones. Those new speed limits are hitting the streets about now, but now it’s time to consider the wider speed management picture for Christchurch City. … Continue reading “Christchurch Speed Mngmt Plan promises good things for Cycling” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Cycle-friendly places vs People-friendly onesLennyBoy6 Oct 2023Bicycle politics / Cycle-centric ideasIf you’ve been anywhere near Cathedral Square lately, you might have noticed the works that have been going on in the southeast quadrant (near Distinction Hotel) to improve the look of the area. It’s part of a wider project to upgrade the whole Square area, particularly in conjunction with the Cathedral reconstruction. A few years … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Cycle-friendly places vs People-friendly ones” [...] Read more...

Election 2023! Who to vote for?LennyBoy3 Oct 2023Bicycle politicsIt’s that time again when every three years we’re called upon to do our democratic duty and vote in the national elections. Official voting day is not until Sat Oct 14th, but early voting is now open. Labour has led the Government for the past six years, but a lot of people are making noises … Continue reading “Election 2023! Who to vote for?” [...] Read more...

Hurunui Heartland: From Waikari to ChristchurchAngela Cassidy1 Oct 2023Cycling routesIt’s a bit of a stretch to consider the Hurunui Heartland Trail cycling in Christchurch. However, because it’s so accessible to the city, cycling part of it makes for a good day out. The trail runs from Kaikōura to Christchurch via the inland road to Mount Lyford and on through Waiau, Culverden, the Pyramid Valley, … Continue reading “Hurunui Heartland: From Waikari to Christchurch” [...] Read more...

Biketober 2023 is Here!LennyBoy30 Sep 2023EventsIt’s the last day of September, which means that tomorrow is… Biketober! Yep, Christchurch’s annual festival of all things biking continues in its 7th year, with another bumper list of activities. Here’s some of what you can expect; for more details, check out the Biketober events calendar: The famous Biketober Passport is back, with great … Continue reading “Biketober 2023 is Here!” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Can e-scooters and bikes co-exist?LennyBoy29 Sep 2023Bicycle politics / Bikes & equipmentPerhaps I should have re-titled this “can e-scooters and pedestrians co-exist?”, as we’ve just heard that Waka Kotahi (NZTA) have decided to renew their Gazette notice declaring that “e-scooters (up to 300W) are not motor vehicles” and are thus able to continue using footpaths, and don’t need to be licensed or registered. Personally, this has … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Can e-scooters and bikes co-exist?” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Cycling solo – useful “Alone Time”LennyBoy22 Sep 2023Cycle-centric ideasDid you know that this week is NZ Mental Health Awareness Week? The aim is to raise awareness and understanding of something that affects a lot of NZers either permanently or (more often) temporarily when life throws something at them. Personally I’ve been really glad to see much greater openness about these issues in NZ … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Cycling solo – useful “Alone Time”” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Biketober 2017 is Here!LennyBoy15 Sep 2023Cycle-centric ideas / EventsAs we race through September (or Mahuru or Hepetema if you’ve been following along with Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori) you’ll realise that, before we know it, it will be Biketober again! The programme for this year’s activities is now live and there’s lots to do – I’ll cover some of these in a … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Biketober 2017 is Here!” [...] Read more...

A Great Ride for Christchurch?Angela Cassidy10 Sep 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycling routesI am a big fan of Ngā Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trails, which form a network of recreational cycle routes in some of the most scenic parts of the country. The concept originated in a 2009 jobs summit, following the success of the Otago Central Rail Trail. It was seen as a way to … Continue reading “A Great Ride for Christchurch?” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Nor’west Arc Cycleway – Section 3 consultationLennyBoy8 Sep 2023Cycle infrastructureIf you’ve been following the news, you might have heard about the rather odd last-minute notice of motion by Cr James Gough to have a section of the planned Nor’West Arc Major Cycleway (literally about to start construction) reviewed to save some carparks (being a street that clearly suffers from not enough parking…). Now that … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Nor’west Arc Cycleway – Section 3 consultation” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Cycling in CopenhagenLennyBoy1 Sep 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycle-centric ideasIt seems to be the season suddenly for lots of friends I know to be off travelling around the world, getting their tourist fix after a few years being stuck in NZ thanks to lockdowns and pandemics. It has certainly been a few years since I was last anywhere further away than Australia, particularly some … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Cycling in Copenhagen” [...] Read more...

A day out in the Waimakariri district: cycling the eastern cycle trailsAngela Cassidy27 Aug 2023Cycling routesFor a leisurely day’s cycling in Greater Christchurch, you can’t beat the eastern side of the Waimakariri district. It’s easily accessible via the shared pathway along the Christchurch Northern Corridor and is well-served by a growing network of cycle tracks. I like to do a big loop north to Kaiapoi and up the coast through … Continue reading “A day out in the Waimakariri district: cycling the eastern cycle trails” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: New cycling research causes a flurryLennyBoy25 Aug 2023Cycle-centric ideas / General A2B by bikeIt’s a busy time for me at the moment, as I frantically finalise two draft research reports and prepare to start another research project. Research work is a big part of what I do, and many of these projects relate to some aspects of cycling. Over six years ago, a number of interesting research projects … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: New cycling research causes a flurry” [...] Read more...

Have Your Say – Cycleways in New ProjectsLennyBoy21 Aug 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycling routesIt’s a busy time for Christchurch City Council as they roll out various projects across the city, both in terms of planning/design and implementation. At the moment there are three very interesting ones out for consultation that have some good cycling-related elements to them: (1) Let’s start on the western side of the city, where … Continue reading “Have Your Say – Cycleways in New Projects” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday – Hidden Treasures: Chch Northern Railway CyclewayLennyBoy18 Aug 2023Cycle infrastructureThis week comes the news that some more works are starting on the Northern Line cycleway in Redwood. It’s been a while coming – and there’s still more sections to complete as well. The Northern Line (aka the Railway Cycleway) has been the flagship cycleway in Christchurch for two decades, and back in Oct 2016 … Continue reading “Flashback Friday – Hidden Treasures: Chch Northern Railway Cycleway” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday – Cycling and Snow: It’s the Little DetailsLennyBoy11 Aug 2023Cycle infrastructure / General A2B by bikeThere was a little bit of excitement in Christchurch yesterday as a bit of snow showed up around the city, some of it flirting with sea level. Still, it pales in significance to some of the decent snowfalls of the past, including the record-breaking “big snow” of 2012. At the time, biking around the city … Continue reading “Flashback Friday – Cycling and Snow: It’s the Little Details” [...] Read more...

Along the river to the seaAngela Cassidy6 Aug 2023Cycling routesMost weeks, one of my rides will take me along the Ōtākaro Avon River to the sea. I think it’s one of the best recreational rides in Christchurch (the Summit Road probably being my favourite). It’s a peaceful ride away from the traffic, and there’s lots of open space and great views of the estuary, … Continue reading “Along the river to the sea” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Bike and bus to the airportLennyBoy4 Aug 2023Cycle-centric ideas / General A2B by bike / People riding bikesAnother busy week and that included a day trip up to Wellington last Tuesday. With an early flight there, I fell back on my tried and trusted airport connection of bike+bus there and back home at night. It’s a simple and inexpensive option to avoid trying to connect buses across town, as I first alluded … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Bike and bus to the airport” [...] Read more...

Avoiding the perils of tram tracksLennyBoy3 Aug 2023Bikes & equipment / Cycle infrastructureNearly two weeks ago, my partner’s exciting foray into cycle commuting to work came to a crashing halt thanks to a run-in with a tram track in the central city. It wasn’t even on her normal commute, but a side trip to post something away. Heading down Cashel Mall there was some construction machine on … Continue reading “Avoiding the perils of tram tracks” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday – Highlights from #2walkandcycle Conference NelsonLennyBoy28 Jul 2023Cyclivism / EventsEarlier this week, I attended the NZ Walking Summit here in Christchurch, organised by pedestrian advocates Living Streets Aotearoa. It was a fairly well attended forum, with delegates from around the country coming to hear the latest thinking on creating good walkable environments and also to experience some of them around the city too. This … Continue reading “Flashback Friday – Highlights from #2walkandcycle Conference Nelson” [...] Read more...

A shout-out to dog ownersAngela Cassidy23 Jul 2023General A2B by bikeMany of my recreational rides involve some cycling on shared paths around the city. Depending on the time of day (and day of week), there are usually at least some other cyclists, walkers or runners around. Shared paths have been a topic of conversation on this website before – the width and workability of shared … Continue reading “A shout-out to dog owners” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Suburban Car Parking and the BikeLennyBoy21 Jul 2023Cycle-centric ideasThis week I’ve been doing some more industry cycle planning/design training around the country. Amongst the various discussions at these sessions is how to deal with on-street parking, often to free up space for better cycling options. It’s a perennial problem across the nation and invariably one that often seems to cause a lot of … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Suburban Car Parking and the Bike” [...] Read more...

Photo of the Day – Protected Cycle CornersLennyBoy19 Jul 2023Cycle infrastructure / Photo of the DayWhile turning left on a bike is often seen as the simplest manoeuvre you can do when riding, the biggest risk is that you will be side-swiped by another passing vehicle as you turn. This is not surprising, as drivers invariably look to cut corners to ease their path. The angled intersection of Moorhouse Ave … Continue reading “Photo of the Day – Protected Cycle Corners” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Munich: Cycling for a Big CityLennyBoy14 Jul 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycling routesHappy Matariki! Earlier this week, I mentioned how Christchurch had rated fairly well amongst large cities worldwide in the People for Bikes 2023 City Bike Ratings. Perhaps not surprisingly, three large Dutch cities, The Hague, Utrecht, and Amsterdam feature in the top five large cycling cities. The fourth best large city (and 12th overall) is … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Munich: Cycling for a Big City” [...] Read more...

Cycling is on the Up in Chch – and even the World is recognising it…LennyBoy9 Jul 2023Benefits of cycling / People riding bikesLast 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 mantra says, “if you build it, they will come…” Not surprisingly, the usual curmudgeons were … Continue reading “Cycling is on the Up in Chch – and even the World is recognising it…” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: What can Christchurch learn from The Netherlands?LennyBoy7 Jul 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycle-centric ideasThis week we heard the fantastic news that a large chunk of local streets in Chch will soon see their speed limits lowered – bravo! For some people, speed management still seems like a strange (and unnecessary) facet of our road safety focus in New Zealand. But for many parts of Europe it has been … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: What can Christchurch learn from The Netherlands?” [...] Read more...

Joy on the Port HillsAngela Cassidy2 Jul 2023Cycling routesDespite living and cycling in Christchurch for many years, my first ride up the Port Hills was only nine months ago. Until then, I’d mainly cycled on the flat and only ever ventured up the hills for the odd walk, never a bike ride. I saw the Port Hills as somewhere for the serious road … Continue reading “Joy on the Port Hills” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Do we see each other? Check againLennyBoy30 Jun 2023Cycle-centric ideas / People riding bikesAs mentioned the other day, while my partner is really enjoying her new bike commute to work, it’s not without its challenges. At one crossroads intersection nearby, she regularly finds motorists driving across her path (despite her being on the priority road), and just yesterday in town she had a bus attempt to turn left … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Do we see each other? Check again” [...] Read more...

Confessions of a Newbie Cycle Commuter from Jafa-landLennyBoy26 Jun 2023Benefits of cycling / Bikes & equipment / Cycling routes / General A2B by bike / People riding bikesWhat’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 going to be the best way to get there. Tracey had previously lived in Auckland. … Continue reading “Confessions of a Newbie Cycle Commuter from Jafa-land” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Cycling in London – More PicturesLennyBoy23 Jun 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycling routes / General A2B by bikeCurrently I’m working on a couple of interesting and somewhat related projects. One is some research looking at how ways to reallocate road-space (e.g. remove a traffic lane for a cycleway…) can reduce vehicle-kms travelled. The other is to develop some national guidelines for how you can introduce “modal filters” and other ways of restricting … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Cycling in London – More Pictures” [...] Read more...

A road well-travelled: Cycling along the Christchurch Northern CorridorAngela Cassidy18 Jun 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycling routesI’m really pleased to welcome a new writer to our fold: Angela Cassidy! Angela is a particular fan of recreational riding, so look out for more posts about some of her travels – here’s the first one… One of the roads I cycle most often is the shared pathway that runs alongside the Christchurch Northern … Continue reading “A road well-travelled: Cycling along the Christchurch Northern Corridor” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: 2014 Winter Solstice Ride HighlightsLennyBoy16 Jun 2023Events / People riding bikesIt’s been a chilly couple of weeks in Christchurch (and much of the rest of the country apparently); a reminder that winter has arrived. It looks like the cooler temperatures are set to ease off from this weekend , which is quite encouraging for next week’s Winter Solstice Matariki Night Light Bike Ride 2023 (Wed … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: 2014 Winter Solstice Ride Highlights” [...] Read more...

More people than you think in Christchurch are cycling – and a growing number are female…LennyBoy13 Jun 2023People riding bikesIt’s a regular trope I see often on social media of all stripes – we shouldn’t bother doing much for cycling because it’s only a tiny fraction of the population we’re catering to. This confusion seems to stem from the the fact that currently the total proportion of trips made by bike is relatively small; … Continue reading “More people than you think in Christchurch are cycling – and a growing number are female…” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Separated Bikeways in PortlandLennyBoy9 Jun 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycle-centric ideasSo, the much-debated Park Terrace cycleway gets to live to fight another day; glad to see it. We will now await with interest the results of the current consultation about it (closes this Sunday!). Temporary or “quick-build” cycleways like this aren’t that unusual around the world (heck, I even helped write a research note about … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Separated Bikeways in Portland” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday Photo of the Day: North Hagley Pathway WorksLennyBoy2 Jun 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycling routes / Photo of the DayShared paths have a mixed reception from various users of them, especially when they’re not particularly wide. It’s why there is often a push to have separate walking and cycling paths where possible. The alternative is to at least widen existing paths so that there is more room for everyone. That has been the approach … Continue reading “Flashback Friday Photo of the Day: North Hagley Pathway Works” [...] Read more...

Have your Say on the Park Terrace CyclewayLennyBoy1 Jun 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycle-centric ideasAs was posted last week, there is a new pop-up cycleway installed along Rolleston Ave and Park Tce next to Hagley Park. The main motivation was to alleviate active mode travel congestion while the museum is being redeveloped, but the opportunity was also taken to extend the cycleway further north to improve safety there as … Continue reading “Have your Say on the Park Terrace Cycleway” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Münster – Germany does Cycling tooLennyBoy26 May 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycle-centric ideas / General A2B by bikeEarlier this week, I ran another Cycle Planning & Design industry course here in Christchurch. While increasingly it showcases some of the good practice cycling to be seen around NZ, we also include a few nice examples from overseas where necessary. One such example shown was from the German city of Münster, which I was … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Münster – Germany does Cycling too” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Money galore for cyclewaysLennyBoy19 May 2023Benefits of cycling / Bicycle politics / Cycle infrastructure / CyclivismThe 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, and a greater focus on building more resilient transport networks (hint: invest in more cycling…). … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Money galore for cycleways” [...] Read more...

First Look: Rolleston Ave / Park Tce CyclewayLennyBoy16 May 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycling routesAs mentioned briefly the other day, Rolleston Ave and Park Tce in the central city have had a bit of a rapid makeover in the past few weeks, creating a new interim separated cycleway while major refurbishment works are underway for the next few years at the adjacent Canterbury Museum. I went along to have … Continue reading “First Look: Rolleston Ave / Park Tce Cycleway” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday – Photo of the Day: Rolleston Ave Shared PathLennyBoy12 May 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycling routes / Photo of the DayAnyone who has recently been along Rolleston Ave near Canterbury Museum and Christ’s College will have noticed a bit of roadworks there. Due to the major refurbishment of the Museum over the next few years, they’ve had to shift the walking and cycling routes over and so they’ve taken the opportunity to create a temporary … Continue reading “Flashback Friday – Photo of the Day: Rolleston Ave Shared Path” [...] Read more...

Photo of the Day: Cycle Planning & Design TrainingLennyBoy9 May 2023Cycle-centric ideas / Events / Photo of the DayIt’s a measure of just how crazy-busy I was last week that I didn’t even realise that I’d forgotten to do a Flashback Friday – oh well, onto another one this week… So, what was occupying my time? Well, I was up in Auckland doing a bit of university teaching and industry training, all of … Continue reading “Photo of the Day: Cycle Planning & Design Training” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Cycling in Houten – a triumph in PlanningLennyBoy28 Apr 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycle-centric ideasThere’s a growing group of people within Christchurch looking to meet regularly in Christchurch to discuss urban transport and planning issues, including good sustainable transport practices like cycling. Tonight was another meet-up and, amongst the many topics discussed, was some reminiscing about the wonders of cycling in Houten, Netherlands. That called to mind the time … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Cycling in Houten – a triumph in Planning” [...] Read more...

Autumn Biking Events 2023LennyBoy26 Apr 2023Bikes & equipment / Cycle-centric ideas / EventsThe start of some cooler temperatures around town (at least in the morning) tells us that summer has ended (as has daylight savings) and we are now headed towards winter. While that might dampen the enthusiasm for getting out on your bikes, there are actually quite a few (mostly free) cycle-related things coming up during … Continue reading “Autumn Biking Events 2023” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Summit Road Opportunitycmih221 Apr 2023Cycle-centric ideas / Cycling routesI’ve always enjoyed getting up and about the Port Hills, be it on foot, or bike (or running even if I’m feeling stupidly enthusiastic…). Along the top, the Summit Road is great for doing all of these activities while also enjoying spectacular views down below. Pre-quake the route was also a favourite driving haunt, which … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Summit Road Opportunity” [...] Read more...

Have your Say: Westburn Reserve Learn-To-Ride Track RenewalLennyBoy19 Apr 2023Cycle-centric ideas / People riding bikesAs mentioned the other day, the celebrated Westburn Reserve junior bike park is planned to have a much-needed overhaul of its cycling circuit and associated play equipment and other facilities. Consultation is currently open and you have until Mon Apr 24th to get your thoughts in. My kids just loved going to the Westburn Bike … Continue reading “Have your Say: Westburn Reserve Learn-To-Ride Track Renewal” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Adelaide Cycle Training ParkLennyBoy14 Apr 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycle-centric ideasIf you weren’t already aware, the City Council is currently consulting on an upgrade to the famous Westburn Junior Cycle Park – submissions close Mon 24th Apr (I’ll blog more about this soon). It brought to mind when I came across an even fancier junior cycle skills park while visiting Adelaide 9 years ago for … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Adelaide Cycle Training Park” [...] Read more...

Cycling in Tauranga: Hits and MissesLennyBoy13 Apr 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycling routesTwo weeks ago I was in Tauranga attending the annual NZ Transportation Conference (which partly explains the relative dearth of posts lately…). It was my first visit back to the Bay City in over 4 years, and over 6 years since I last posted some observations about cycling in the city, so it was interesting … Continue reading “Cycling in Tauranga: Hits and Misses” [...] Read more...

Photo of the Day: Good Cycle Temporary Traffic ManagementLennyBoy10 Apr 2023Cycle-centric ideas / Cycling routes / Photo of the DayIt’s easy enough to criticise when things aren’t quite right from a cycling perspective, whether they be permanent features or just temporary ones. But I also believe that it’s important to acknowledge when a good job has been done as well. A few weeks ago I was heading down Waltham Rd near my place and … Continue reading “Photo of the Day: Good Cycle Temporary Traffic Management” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday – The $69 million question: Sign the Petition for cyclewaysLennyBoy7 Apr 2023Bicycle politics / Cycle infrastructureMany of you may know that the Christchurch City Council’s Annual Plan is currently out for consultation. Submissions close this Monday 10th April, so make sure that you have your say! As is often the case, some cycleways are under the gun (despite having already been consulted to death…), so make sure that you register … Continue reading “Flashback Friday – The $69 million question: Sign the Petition for cycleways” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Where should we have lower speed limits?LennyBoy31 Mar 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycle-centric ideasDespite some recent disappointing Prime Ministerial pronouncements regarding highway speed limits, many local councils are continuing to crack on with their own local speed management programmes. Christchurch has been one of the most enthusiastic proponents of lower speed limits locally, with an extensive consultation over the summer period, and public hearings coming up soon. A … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Where should we have lower speed limits?” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Where could we easily add cycle lanes?LennyBoy24 Mar 2023Cycle infrastructureIt’s coming up nearly 7 years since I changed jobs, and with it my daily cycle commute route. My home location shifted more recently, but the final run into work still traverses Waltham Rd and Fitzgerald Ave, with all the biking challenges that entails. It would certainly be nice to have some improved cycling facilities … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Where could we easily add cycle lanes?” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday-ish: Cycle paths – important for keeping our aging population fit and well?cmih218 Mar 2023General A2B by bikeIt says something about the crazy busy week I’ve just had that even managing to do a regular Flashback Friday on time (let alone any other blogpost) escaped me. So as I finally get some R&R time on the weekend, here is a belated offering. This week’s reheat (originally posted a decade ago by Chrys … Continue reading “Flashback Friday-ish: Cycle paths – important for keeping our aging population fit and well?” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Yes, there are people who cycle in Christchurch – plenty!LennyBoy10 Mar 2023Cyclivism / People riding bikesThis week there has been a little bit of controversy with the claim that cycling numbers in the city had dropped, with the inevitable resulting grumbles about money-wasting from the naysayers. Turned out of course that it was a glitch in the numbers (especially from one major count site), and in fact many sites around … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Yes, there are people who cycle in Christchurch – plenty!” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: New National Cycle Network Planning / Design GuidanceLennyBoy3 Mar 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycle-centric ideas / General A2B by bikePhew, it has definitely been difficult lately to find the time to whip up some blog posts! The social life has been pretty busy and the work side of things seems to get busier and busier… One of those work things occupying a fair bit of my time is the ongoing updating of national guidelines … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: New National Cycle Network Planning / Design Guidance” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: What are your current Chch cycle safety concerns?LennyBoy24 Feb 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycle-centric ideas / General A2B by bikeThis week I’m helping to teach a road safety course at Canterbury University. Road safety was also one of the considerations by City Council when determining this week which local transport projects might get the chop as a result of additional Govt “CERF” funding (more on that in another post soon). The safety of cycling … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: What are your current Chch cycle safety concerns?” [...] Read more...

Photo of the Day: North Hagley Park cycleway closuresLennyBoy19 Feb 2023Cycle-centric ideas / Cycling routes / Photo of the DayHot on the heels of my recent discussion about biking to major events, it’s also worth pointing out that sometimes major events can also impact on people just trying to bike around the city. Case in point: North Hagley Park… I first noticed these signs when leaving an event here a few weeks ago. If … Continue reading “Photo of the Day: North Hagley Park cycleway closures” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Isabelle (necessary on a bicycle?)LennyBoy17 Feb 2023Bikes & equipment / Cycle-centric ideasI was showing someone around the city’s cycleways yesterday, always a fun exercise. There were a few busy sections where pedestrians and riders were mingling together and we had to slowly weave our way through. My colleague was probably better than me during our ride at using his bell to politely inform people of our … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Isabelle (necessary on a bicycle?)” [...] Read more...

Cycle underpasses: the good and the badLennyBoy16 Feb 2023Cycle infrastructureMy new home of the past year means that I have some slightly different ways that I can get to work now. The most direct route takes me in a straight line via the railway underpass in Waltham between Thackeray and Falsgrave Streets, near the old Lancaster Park. While that makes it a very handy … Continue reading “Cycle underpasses: the good and the bad” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday: Cycling Postcards from AustraliaLennyBoy10 Feb 2023Cycle infrastructureA colleague of mine is about to go on a short holiday over to Byron Bay in Australia; another is planning a trip to Gold Coast in May. I’m also eyeing up a return across the Tasman later in the year (my first since late 2019) and it called to mind a previous family visit … Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Cycling Postcards from Australia” [...] Read more...

Biking to Events: Summer 2023 Progress ReportLennyBoy9 Feb 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycle-centric ideasIt’s been a fun last few weeks around Ōtautahi Christchurch, with plenty of great events to attend and enjoy. As much as possible, I like to bike to things if I can – usually the whole drama of travelling to/from the event and finding a place to park is so much less hassle by bike … Continue reading “Biking to Events: Summer 2023 Progress Report” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday – Guest Post: Statistics, Dollars, and the Intangible (Priceless) Benefits of CyclingRobert Fleming3 Feb 2023Benefits of cycling / Bikes & equipment / General A2B by bikeWe’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 temporary Govt fuel tax discount being uplifted will have had some wondering how they would … Continue reading “Flashback Friday – Guest Post: Statistics, Dollars, and the Intangible (Priceless) Benefits of Cycling” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday – Photo of the Day: Matai Cycleway Rail CrossingLennyBoy27 Jan 2023Cycle infrastructure / Photo of the DaySomeone asked the question the other day about what is happening to the South Express railway crossing near Old Blenheim Rd, which is currently still a tight maze layout. As with a number of crossing upgrades in Christchurch (e.g. the planned improvements further north on the Northern Line) the short answer is: “we’re waiting on … Continue reading “Flashback Friday – Photo of the Day: Matai Cycleway Rail Crossing” [...] Read more...

Hidden Treasures: The South FrameLennyBoy26 Jan 2023Cycle infrastructureWe hear a lot about the various Major Cycle Routes around the city, and also the nice central city corridors like the Oxford Promenade and the East Frame. But another cool little route has been slowly making its way across town too and is now completed – the South Frame. The South Frame was part … Continue reading “Hidden Treasures: The South Frame” [...] Read more...

Chch Cycle Counter update 2022: Lockdown jittersLennyBoy21 Jan 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycle-centric ideasIt’s time again to have a look at the cycle counts around Christchurch to see what’s been happening to cycling numbers lately. You will recall that we first did this exercise at the start of 2021, and then a year later at the start of 2022. What started as a pretty encouraging pattern of good … Continue reading “Chch Cycle Counter update 2022: Lockdown jitters” [...] Read more...

Flashback Friday – Not-so-hidden Treasures: Hagley ParkLennyBoy20 Jan 2023Cycle infrastructure / Cycling routesWe’re seeing some lovely summer weather around Christchurch at the moment, which is a great opportunity to explore some more parts of the city by bike. So why not make some time to visit (or revisit) the lovely splendour of Hagley Park? Your timing will be good, as further pathway upgrades have just been completed … Continue reading “Flashback Friday – Not-so-hidden Treasures: Hagley Park” [...] Read more...