Spokes vision for cycling in Christchurch
Spokes has adopted a vision or "manifesto" for cycling in Christchurch. These "Top 10 initiatives" are what we would like to see happen to make Christchurch a cycling friendly city. They were formally adopted at the Spokes AGM on Tuesday 20 May.
SPOKES TOP 10 INITIATIVES
A CYCLING VISION FOR GREATER CHRISTCHURCH
Spokes considers that the following measures are necessary to improve the quality of the existing cycling environment in Christchurch, and to achieve sustainable growth in the number of city cyclists in the medium and long term. These measures apply to facilities, areas and programmes administered by the Christchurch City Council, adjoining Districts, the Canterbury Regional Council, and State Highways administered by Transit NZ, as well as other cycling facilities and initiatives within the greater Christchurch area.
The proposed measures are not listed in order of priority as we consider that an integrated approach incorporating all these actions and outcomes is needed to improve the current conditions for cycling in Christchurch, and to increase participation on the future. In combination the measures provide a vision for cycling that will form the basis for Spokes cycling advocacy. Spokes will identify particular priorities within these measures from time to time.
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1 |
Encourage more cycle-friendly land use and development planning |
Planning, urban design and growth management and infrastructure provision that support walking, cycling and public transport use and encourages people to live near where they work, shop, and play. |
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2 |
Lower urban speed limits and traffic calming |
30 km/h speed limits in downtown streets and selected residential roads, part-time school speeds and physical changes to the road environment in key locations to reduce the speed and volume of motor traffic. |
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3 |
Make the central city more cycle-friendly |
Improve the central city environment for cycling, and particularly utility cycling, through methods such a cycle friendly traffic calming, speed and parking restrictions, safe through-routes and traffic-free corridors and linkages. Develop convenient cycle parking facilities and a CBD "bike station" for cycle commuters. |
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4 |
Audit and maintain the existing cycle network |
An ongoing programme to monitor existing components of the cycle network, and maintain or enhance its condition. |
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5 |
Continue cycling network improvements |
Continue to improve and expand the city's overall cycle network for commuter, utility, and recreational cycling by addressing pinch points, improving intersections, removing car parking that is an impediment to safe cycling, completing "missing links", and expanding "bikes on buses" facilities. |
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6 |
Provide more off road and separated cycle corridors |
Develop convenient cycle routes and linkages that are segregated from traffic, including: physically separated lanes in or adjoining road corridors, railway rights of way, parks, waterway margins, and quiet streets; using land purchases and under-passes/over-bridges to provide linkages where necessary. |
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7 |
Identify and promote model cycle routes that will increase cycling participation |
Identify key cycle routes (both on and off road) that are suitable for development as model cycle ways for increasing cycling participation, ensure these are of a good standard, and promote them through a variety of methods, including signage and marking, maps, householders and other advertising, and school and work visits. |
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8 |
Strongly promote sustainable travel plans |
Travel management programmes for schools, major businesses, other large organisations, unions and employer associations, to encourage greater use of walking, cycling and public transport. |
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9 |
Promote road user education and improve enforcement |
An ongoing programme to highlight key road user behaviour/ safety messages to the respective groups and to enforce traffic regulations and bylaws that affect cycling safety and convenience. |
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10 |
Expand the number of city cycling events and promotions |
A greater range of initiatives supporting utility, commuter, and recreational cycling, such as bike rides, social marketing, cycle tours, training sessions, school promotions and public events. |
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Spokes vision
Rather than permanently posting the Top 10 Initiatives it might be good to put a special link on the Home Page to them. What do you think, Jonathon? Would someone also like to work up definitions of recreational, commuter, and utility cycling to go underneath them (as discussed at the AGM).
Top 10 initiatives - minor amendments
I've had a good look through the Spokes vision in the light of Alan's comments, and I think that it is generally supportive of utility cycling. This was certainly my intent when I revised them. However, where I think it is appropriate I have included some specific references to utility cycling to make it clear that the particular measure encompasses this type of cycling. I don't however think this set of measures is the place for a debate about helmets or riding on footpaths - these are national issues probably best addressed through CAN. The amendments are in the latest version on the web, and I'll bring a tracked changes version to put up on the screen at the AGM.
I agree re: Alan's points
I agree re: Alan's points referring to national issues. Good on you Robin for acknowledging them at such a late stage.
See you all tonight!
Andrew
Alan's suggested amendments
While you raise a number of good points Alan, I think some of them are matters that would require lobbying at the national level (helmets, cycling on footpaths) rather than being implemented at the local level as part of a vision for cycling in Christchurch. I'll try and see how the other points you raise could be incorporated in the "Top 10 initiatives". Unfortunately there is not much time to debate these before the AGM tomorrow night.
Appropriate Bicycles for Utility Cycling, helmets and footpaths
Alan Preston
http://urbanbicycles.googlepages.com/home.
-As someone who enjoyed cycling for 10 years in Japan where utility cycling is a practicable, practical,comfortable and preferable mode of transport which is utilized by virtually all demographic groups, I would like to suggest that the following points be added to the 'Top 10' initiatives.
I am concerned that too much emphasis is being given to
providing for the existing, mainly 'vehicular' cycling culture while little regard is being given to making provision for those demographic groups who are currently poorly represented among cyclists in Christchurch (and the rest of New Zealand).
-addressing the lack of awareness and virtual unavailability in New Zealand of the types of bicycles and technologies appropriate to urban utility cycling which make cycling practicable, practical and comfortable i.e. those which are preferred by the greatest numbers of cyclists wherever cycling is a universally accessible form of transport in urban areas. ( NOT mountain bikes or road racers )
( http://urbanbicycles.googlepages.com/technologies)
-lobbying for a review of the helmet law with a view to getting it rescinded to make it discretionary on the rider.
Note that the wearing of helmets is neither compulsory nor widely practiced in ANY country where cycling is prevalent.
http://urbanbicycles.googlepages.com/helmets
- lobbying to remove the prohibition on bicycles using the existing network of segregated pathways ( i.e. those which are currently designated as 'footpaths', -as is the case throughout Japan AND in Queensland, Australia.
It should not be seen that this will detract from efforts to
get on-road cycling facilities in place but that it will enable the uptake of cycling by a much broader demographic
i.e. those for whom sharing the road with motor-vehicles will NEVER be perceived as an unacceptable risk and for 'non-vehicular','slow' cyclists ( i.e. the elderly et al ) .
( see: http://urbanbicycles.googlepages.com/pavements )
Forming ACTIVE networks with the demographic groups from whom we could expect to see an uptake of cycling ( e.g. women's groups, Grey Power etc.. ) and with BIANZ members to ensure that they are aware of the styles and technologies that will make cycling practicable , practical and comfortable for these groups.
Another issue for which a different solution needs to be found is that of ensuring that all surfaces are kept clear of the broken glass which is such a hazard to cyclists in Christchurch.
http://urbanbicycles.googlepages.com/glass
Alan Preston
Christchurch,
(03) 3382730
(027) 2128095
urbanbicycles [at] gmail [dot] com
http://urbanbicycles.googlepages.com/home
Traffic calming - reducing vehicle speed
Keith Turner
I strongly agree with the points you make however I would suggest that while lowering the speed of cars and other vehicles is vitally important and would be a good thing I feel that care needs to be taken in advocating traffic calming. In some cases the types of calming used such as speed humps and road narrowing as examples can increase the danger to cyclist both from other vehicles negotiating the calming device but also from the cyclist interacting with these themselves. For instance the slippery surface created with painted speed bumps.
Perhaps the strongest force we have in bringing about changes to favour active transport is the continual rise in the price of fuel. Just as the rise in the price of cigarettes lead to a reduction in smoking so the increases in fuel price will cause more people to use active transport, which will in turn bring about a more powerful voice for changes that favour these means of transport.