Spokes February 2010 Newsletter

Spokes Newsletter    February 2010 Issue 

Chasing records doesn't keep me on my bike. Happiness does.  Lance Armstrong

Electric Bikes: Transport of the Future? 

Friday 5 February at ECan, 53 Kilmore Street, Waiau Theatre Guim Valls is touring the world on an electric bike in order to promote their value as a sustainable, healthy, economic and enjoyable way to travel.  You are invited to hear Guim present on his journey so far, be entertained, and learn more about this simple but revolutionary mode of travel. For the past 6 weeks that Guim has been in Christchurch working with the Electric Bicycle Company   Guim’s blog: www.electricibycleworldtour.com/en

There will be morning tea from 10am and electric bikes for you to try out at the conclusion of the presentation.   

Back to School/Work By Bike Day  ?? 

Would you like to ride but need the bike fixed? Want to learn some basic skills? Know someone who does? Mechanics and some parts will be on hand to help out.  

Punctures repaired, brakes adjusted, loose parts tightened.   

Saturday 13 February 1-4 at the Linwood Community Arts Centre corner of Stanmore Road and Worcester Street 

Friendly mechanics also welcomed. Donations of old bikes/useable parts also accepted. Check with 379 5134 prior to dropping off.   

Free Bike Trailer Hire 

Try 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  (Editors Note: I am always amazed at how cars suddenly give me a wide berth when I am towing my trailer.)    

BIKE RACKS ON BUSES - LETS USE THEM   

Ecan have advised that all buses on "bikes on buses" routes should now be fitted with racks.  You can find information about all the routes and a guidance on how to use the racks at http://www.metroinfo.org.nz/bikeRacks_Main.html  Contact METRO at 366 8855 or metroinfo [at] ecan [dot] govt [dot] nz if you require any information about the routes, or wish to report a "no show". No shows can also be logged on the metroinfo web site. 

There have been a few problems, mainly with routes served by RedBus. RedBus insists that no one is using the racks, and there are reports that some drivers are making certain this is true. Having cyclists use RedBus routes can help to overcome some of their reluctance.

Once we have all gotten used to how easy it really is, the service should take hold. Perhaps someday we will even get busses capable of carrying more then two bikes.  

The bike racks are convenient and easy to use, and its free to take your bike on them.  The main way to encourage their use (and build support for cycling and for adding racks to other routes) will be through people seeing bikes being transported and thinking "I could use that".  So give them them a go - remember when you are using them, you are also advertising them!   

If you live on or near a route that goes your way, try using them for all or part of your trip, or on the way back home. Remember also that for routes travelling along Colombo Street and not entering the Exchange (Nos. 11, 14, 15, 18, 21, 28, 77, 90) you can leave your bike on the bus through the centre of town, and load or unload your bike at the Colombo St Exchange stops. This means that people travelling to and from Lyttelton (for example) can now catch or get off the 28 in the centre of town, rather than one stop before and after.   

Bikes on buses are also great "range extenders".  You can travel by several different routes (e.g. Nos. 11, 14, 15, 18, 21) all the way from the NW and West up onto the Port Hills - a great option if you don't want to cycle all the way across town.

If you want to cycle all or part of the way to Sumner, but don't necessarily want to do the whole route or bike all the way back you now have the option of putting your bike on the No 3 Sumner bus (but you will have to get off before the exchange on this one).   So, after a number of years of lobbying by Spokes and others we finally have some decent "bikes on buses" routes - lets enjoy them!    

Road Code for Cyclists Online 

The official New Zealand code for cyclists can be downloaded free from the NZTA website at http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadcode/index.html.

Like the road codes for motorists (also available on-line), the new code for cyclists is a user-friendly guide to New Zealand’s traffic law as it relates to cyclists and also includes lots of useful information on safe cycling practices.  

The code will be particularly useful for people who are just learning about cycling on the road or those teaching someone else to ride. Basics on bicycles and maintenance are also included. New cyclist training guidelines are also available on-line at www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/cyclist-skills-training-guide 

Some basics:

Most all road code rules for vehicles apply to cyclists. This code simply focuses attention on cyclists and flags the exceptions 

The road way is a shared space, consider the consequences of your actions on others  

Drivers do not necessarily see you, especially large vehicle drivers 

Two cyclists can ride next to each other but should take into account the keep left rule and not hold back traffic 

Three or more people cycling next to each other is illegal, except in the case of a road race 

Loads need to be secure, must not touch the ground and mustn’t extend more than one metre out in front of or behind the wheels, or more than half metre on either side. 

Use hand signals to show other road users what you are doing  

Never ride in the ‘door zone’ (the space where car doors open) when cycling past parked cars. Allow at least one metre between you and a parked car (It’s time to widen our cycle lanes) 

This one is particularly useful given the recent controversy on Dyers Pass

If the road is too narrow to safely allow vehicles to pass, you are in danger of being run off the road or hit by a passing car. In this situation it is acceptable to move further out into the path of traffic to prevent other users from passing you. If you do have to move further out, remember to find a gap, signal your intentions and move across when it is safe. Once you have moved out try to ride as quickly as you can and allow the following traffic to pass when the road widens. 

Thank other road users when you can. For example, let them know you are happy they waited for you by waving, smiling, or giving them a ‘thumbs up’. 

Pedestrians often can’t hear cyclists approaching, especially from behind or to the side. Call out politely or use a bell if you have one. (This also applies to passing cyclists on the road. Fit a bell to your bike, or use your voice) 

All users on shared paths are required by law to use shared paths fairly and safely, and to try and not hold anyone up. 

Cyclists must not text or talk on a mobile phone while cycling

Better Cycleways at Christchurch Hospital/Botanic Gardens? 

You might have seen something in the news about the planned land swap and redevelopments at Christchurch Hospital near the Botanic Gardens. Spokes members met with one of the District Health Board managers in November to go over their plans and see what opportunities for cycling could be incorporated. Possible ideas include cycleways either side of the main hospital (i.e. through North Hagley Park by the river, and connecting Antigua St footbridge with South Hagley Park along Oxford Tce) as well as suitable bike access to the hospital itself. Planning is at a very early stage, and further public consultation is expected later this year, but it was a useful opportunity to get our thoughts in now; we also need to talk to the City Council planners about the opportunities involving Council streets and parks.   

Mountains to Sea Cycleway Proposed 

The ECAN website has a new page with information about this proposal for a long distance cycleway from Arthurs Pass to Christchurch, following the railway line and the Waimakariri River.  You can find it at http://ecan.govt.nz/our-responsibilities/Regional-Land-Transport/Pages/m... There are maps of the proposed route and notes from two meetings on the site.  These notes indicate that Spokes is one of the groups that should be consulted over the proposal.  For more information about the proposed cycleway contact Robert Woods (ECAN) at robert [dot] woods [at] ecan [dot] govt [dot] nz     

Comfort Bikes, City Bikes, Utility Bikes 

This link will give you some idea of urban appropriate utility style bicycles that are currently available in New Zealand.  You'll need to contact the retailers themselves to get info on prices, current availability, whether they can be shipped etc....

http://urbanbicycles.googlepages.com/bicyclesnz

Cycle Rental in Scenic Nelson 

Comfort Cycles, planned or unplanned routes, even drop off service for cycling in rural Nelson. http://www.gentlecycling.co.nz/index.html

Cycling in Paris 

Here is entertaining Angles Morts video link to what it is like to ride a bike in Paris. And we thought is was tough here!!!.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAethD1Io_Y

Cycling Safety Here are some well put comments on safety... http://hembrow.blogspot.com/2008/09/three-types-of-safety.html

Death Valley Cancer Ride Neill Glover is attempting to ride through Death Valley in order to raise $1 Million for NZ Child Cancer Foundation. See the web site at http://www.childrens-cancer-charities.com/  It is also a reminder that it is never too late to start exercising Check out the Facebook link on the above web site. There is even the chance to win an I-Pod Shuffle or awesome white water rafting trip. Show your support for Neill by joining up, and getting as many as your friends to also join.

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