Spokes August 2009 News letter Local Cycling Special
Spokes August 2009 News letter Local Cycling Special
Spokes August 2009 Newsletter
Special Local Cycle Future Issue
Christchurch City Council LTCCP
The final Long Term Council Community Plan has been released. http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Ltccp/2009-19/
The CCC sees the future for cycling in Christchurch as stagnant, off road and supplemental to the needs of motorists.
The Council’s own Cycle Strategy set targets to increase cycling by students, commuters and the general population. This LTCCP cut targets by 60% and is content to see cycling stagnate for 10 years.
Spokes and other cycle supporters made submissions to the CCC to little effect.
LTCCP Cycle Spending
All figures are the total to be spent over the 10 years of the plan.
- Completing the cycle network called for in the CCC Cycle Strategy is not mentioned
- $1.5 million to renew and replace the existing cycle network
- $100,000 for mountain bike trails in the Port Hills. This is much needed new money and, while small, much appreciated.
- $5.8 million for unspecified “improvements”. The plan estimates that 26 k’s of new cycleways will be provided. (See below)
- Cycling infrastructure required as part of the Southern Motorway project takes $11.28 million. NB: this funding should have come from NZTA, but the CCC offered to take it on to assure the projects funding. These funds should have provided much needed improvements elsewhere.
- Another $9.8 million will be spent on cycle improvements required as part of road and bridge building projects. Provision for cyclists as part of such projects is required. Much of this, $4.5 million, is in support of the bus priority lanes which have cycle lanes removed and cyclists sharing the bus lane. There are real concerns that these projects will further jeopardize cyclist’s lives.
- Accommodation will be made for cyclists when the Ferrymead and Waimakiri bridges and Carrs Road underpass projects are undertaken. If this is the cycle clip ons for Waimakirir they are definitely appreciated.
- Once funding which is a part of non cycle projects is removed about $7.28 million remains, or $728,000 per year for cycling. $7.28 million is about 1.1% of the $663 million to be spent on streets and transport to 2019. Including all cycle related funding, $28.38 million, yields about 4.3%.
While other roading projects are clearly identified by street or project name, actions to be taken and dates, cycle improvements are not. This detailed plan lacks details on cycling. Based upon a project list submitted to Environment Canterbury the following cycling projects are the likely recipients of the $5.8 million slated for “improvements” over the next 10 years.
Cycle Project - Centaurus - Cashmere - C $320,000
Cycle Railway - South (Kilmarnock - Blenheim Rd) $575,000
Cycleways Improvement Programme $1,500,000
Railway Cycleway North - D $124,762
Railway Cycleway North - C $628,207
Cycle Railway -Tuckers Road to Main North Road - D $122,280
Cycle Railway -Tuckers Road to Main North Road - C $896,720
Cycle Project - St Bedes College Bubble - I $30,436
Cycle Project - St Bedes College Bubble - C $129,752
Cycle - Waterloo Rd - Carmen - Racecourse $206,355
Cycle Project - Kilmore Street $260,000
Cycle Project - Linwood Ave (Worcester - Tilford) $230,000
Cycle Project - Stanmore Road (Avonside - North Avon) $270,000
An ongoing project not part of this LTCCP but of importance to mountain bikers is the soon to be completed resurfacing of the Rapaki track. This is another much appreciated effort.
Contacting your CCC representative regularly can help them understand community member’s real transportation and recreation needs. Find your councillor at: http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Council/Members/ The mayor also needs to hear from you at:
http://www.ccc.govt.nz/mayor/Contact/
Keep a copy of your correspondence, and please let Spokes know if you receive any interesting responses.
It will take a broad based and sustained effort to get cycling back onto the council’s agenda. Let Councillors know that children should feel safe riding to school. Talk about the cycling projects you need and would appreciate, thank them when possible. Be friendly, clear, concise and persistent.
Recent Submissions Spokes has made several submissions recently on cycling improvement matters. We have supported the proposed new shared cycle and pedestrian path (part of the long term "Avon Boulevard") at the eastern end of Cambridge Terrace. We have requested that this be linked to the path giving access along the river to the intersection to Fitzgerald Ave and River Road, and this path be widened. Spokes has also made a submission and will attend the hearings on the Jellie Park Management Plan, requesting that cycling access across the Park be identified and improved.
Upcoming SubmissionsA number of CCC consultations of interest to cyclists are coming up. These include:
- The route of the final section of the Little River Rail Trail into Little River. See http://www.ccc.govt.nz/HaveYourSay/ConsultationView.aspx?ConsultId=640
- The Montgomery Spur Reserve Master Plan, which proposes the development of some nifty looking easy to moderate mountain bike tracks around the crest of the Reserve. Its worth checking out this great reserve, which is accessed off the newly re-surfaced Rapaki track. Check out the plan and have your say at http://www.ccc.govt.nz/HaveYourSay/ConsultationView.aspx?ConsultId=641
- Changes to the layout of Oxford Terrace around Cashel Mall, which may have implications for how cyclists use the area. You can see these proposals at: http://www.ccc.govt.nz/HaveYourSay/ConsultationView.aspx?ConsultId=635
World Car Free Day 22 SeptemberLinwood Community Art Centre, cnr Worchester St & Stanmore rd. 5.30pm soup & bread for dinner 6pm Movie showing of the Triplets of Belleville (family friendly). Extended families, the love of cycles, Tour de France and the Mafia, but good triumphs over all.
Frocks on Bikes Saturday 24 October 2 PM at Victoria Square. Politeness, fashion and a civilised cycling experience for all is on hand. A fun family event allowing us to prove that one can wear formal, and fun, dress while on a bike. www.frocksonbikes.org upcoming events link, and www.350.org.nz for more information.
Free Bike Maintenance Workshop & fun daySat November 7th 11am-3pmLinwood Community Art Centre, cnr Worchester St & Stanmore rd. Any volunteers to help oil chains, pump tyres & adjust brakes would be very welcome. A Souped Up Cycles event. Contact Jenny 3795134.
NZ Cycling Conference and CANDo
The 7th New Zealand Cycling Conference "Communities, Connections and the Economy"
will be held on 12 & 13 November 2009 (Thursday & Friday) in New Plymouth.
Local cycling advocates will have an opportunity to meet with policy-makers and politicians while sharing their stories and learning new skills. On the weekend following the conference (14 & 15 November 2009), CAN will hold its annual Can Do. Here cycling advocates from around the country can share skills, experiences and fun. For more information go to http://can.org.nz/conference/2009 and/or http://can.org.nz/event/2009/11/14/2009-can-do-november-14-15-new-plymouth
Polite Cycling Perhaps it is just me, but it seems like Christchurch streets may be getting more civilised. There are still road user’s who are clueless when it comes to cyclists, but they seem to be in decline and there are less of those who clearly don’t give a toss if they bring you to grief. Even bus driver behaviour may be improving.
Traffic studies show that the more pedestrians and cyclists the safer it gets for all road users. Now may be a good time to consider focusing on being polite cyclists. More respectful roads can encourage others to walk or cycle, and just may save a life.
Cycling need not be all stress and sweat. Taking one’s time can leave us feeling exercised, but not frazzled. One also has the opportunity to make eye contact with other road users and possibly interact more smoothly. Think of it as a dance floor. Are you the person constantly bumping and blocking others, or do you move gracefully allowing others moments of grace in return?
Cars have left too many of us feeling aloof from our communities. Cyclists tend to be local and can serve to humanize our city. Traffic laws are a way to enforce civility, as well as safety. Some tweaking is in order, but it is generally best to follow them.
Free Bike Trailer HireTry out a bike trailer for a month for free. See how fun and easy it is to carry loads without a car. Carry groceries, ladders, fruit, kayaks, windsurfers, kite surfers, library books, bikes, musical instruments, pets, tools, billboards, garage sale treasures, pinecones, white bait nets, firewood, etc. Contact Steven Muir email steve [at] cycletrailers [dot] co [dot] nz. Phone 03 3658238
Wooden bike trailer kitset Build a wooden rectangle, get some old wheels, then use the wooden bike trailer kitset to turn it into a very useful trailer to tow behind your bike. The kitset costs $50 and provides the quick release ball joint hitch, towbar, wheel dropouts and full instructions on how to construct it. Contact Steven Muir 3658238 or steve [at] cycletrailers [dot] co [dot] nz. Instructions are at www.cycletrailers.co.nz\woodentrailerinstructions.pdf and some pictures at http://www.cycletrailers.co.nz/index_files/Page783.htm. You can also try one out for a month for free to see if you like it first.
Letters to the Editor?
If you have comments, suggestions, items of interest or cycle related events to share drop a note to newsletter [at] spokes [dot] org [dot] nz
Spokes CommitteesSpokes has established a committee structure aimed at making our cycling advocacy more effective. The three committees or working groups are the Major Submissions, Cycling Improvements, and Promotion and Information. Each committee will be led by a Convenor.
Information about the role and responsibilities of the committees and their convenors can be found in the attachment at http://spokes.org.nz/article/new-spokes-committees
Spokes members who are interested in being more directly involved in improving cycling conditions in greater Christchurch and Canterbury are invited to join one these committees. If are not already a member of the Core group you will need to join this group first. Contact details for the Committee convenors, and the Membership Secretary (for the Core) are at: http://spokes.org.nz/contact-us
From John Pucher, Professor of Bicycle Planning, Rutgers Univeristy
“The key to achieving high levels of cycling appears to be the provision of separate cycling facilities along heavily travelled roads and at intersections, combined with traffic calming of most residential neighbourhoods. Extensive cycling rights of way in the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany are complemented by ample bike parking, full integration with public transport, comprehensive traffic education and training of both cyclists and motorists, and a wide range of promotional events intended to generate enthusiasm and wide public support for cycling.”
