10 July 2008
MEDIA RELEASE For immediate use

Seaside cycling and walking route the best solution

A route on the seaward side of the rail line is the best way for cyclists and walkers to get between Petone and Wellington, say cyclists.

Cycle Aware Wellington spokesperson Alastair Smith says, "We welcome initiatives from Transit NZ and local authorities to address the immediate problems but a long-term solution is needed."

"As fuel prices rise, more cyclists want to commute between the Hutt and Wellington, but are discouraged by the lack of a safe route."

A seaside route would be a vital link in the Great Harbour Way - a proposed cycling and walking route around Wellington harbour (www.greatharbourway.org.nz).

Few opportunities exist in the world to safely walk or cycle the entire coastline of a major city harbour.

"A continuous, safe, signposted walkway and cycleway around the whole coastline of Wellington Harbour would benefit not only cyclists and walkers, but also be major tourist attraction," says Mr Smith.

A conceptual image of the seaside route is here: http://tinyurl.com/6ncl4w

Contact Alastair Smith, Cycle Aware Wellington, tel 021-036-4443 or 463-5785.

Cycle Aware Wellington Inc.
info@caw.org.nz
www.caw.org.nz

Cycle Aware Wellington (CAW) is a voluntary, not-for-profit organisation aimed at improving conditions for cyclists and encouraging more people to bike more often. CAW is Wellington's advocacy group for cyclists, with more than 100 members and 700 people we are in regular contact with. CAW represents people who use their bikes as a means of transport.

A one-pager is available here.

20 May 2008
MEDIA RELEASE For immediate use

Invest in cycling as fuel prices rise, say cyclists

Wellington cyclists are calling for increased investment in cycling facilities, education and promotion to provide a viable alternative to driving, meet the City Council's climate change goals, and help solve traffic congestion.

As petrol crosses the $2 mark people are looking for alternatives to driving.

Advocacy group Cycle Aware Wellington (CAW) made the call in their submission to the Draft Annual Plan this week.

CAW chair Illona Keenan says that as fuel prices rise, cycling grows in popularity and the City Council should up its investment to match cyclists' needs.

"Rising fuel prices and climate concerns are motivating more people to choose biking as a better way to get around, yet our investment in cycling is poor."

Under the draft plan, cycle network operational spending is only 0.16 percent, and capital spending is 0.27 percent of transport spending for 2008/2009.

"The planned spending on the cycle network is unacceptably low for the 7 percent of people who commute by bike into central Wellington each weekday," says Ms Keenan.

"We should be investing at least 7 percent of transport spending, which equates to $2,315,000."

In its submission, CAW also calls for:

• more bus priority lanes
• congestion charging to discourage car use
• a cycling strategy that includes a cycling network and implementation plan
• smoother road surfaces on popular cycling routes, such as round the bays
• traffic lights sensors that can be triggered by cyclists
• more parking stands, especially along the golden mile
• investment in public transport.

The Stern Report says that there is an immediate need to reduce carbon emissions from transport.

Emissions from the transport sector (32 percent) are the key contributors to emissions in Wellington, according to the WCC Climate Change Action Plan.

Contact Illona Keenan, Cycle Aware Wellington, tel 021-165-2128 or 04-971-5602.

Cycle Aware Wellington Inc.
info@caw.org.nz
www.caw.org.nz

Cycle Aware Wellington (CAW) is a voluntary, not-for-profit organisation aimed at improving conditions for cyclists and encouraging more people to bike more often. CAW is the local advocacy group for cyclists, with more than 100 financial members and 700 people we are in regular contact with. CAW represents people who use their bikes as a means of transport.

Reference: Stern N., 2006. Stern Review Report on the Economics of Climate Change, United Kingdom Treasury Department.

15 May 2007
MEDIA RELEASE For immediate use

Cyclists upset at poor facilities on new Wairarapa trains

Regional cycling group Cycle Aware Wellington is unhappy that new rolling stock for the Wairarapa service stock unveiled yesterday does not provide proper facilities for carrying bicycles, despite earlier representations to Greater Wellington Regional Council.

Cycle Aware member, Paul Bruce, said that he was one of a number of people to discover that storage space on the new Wairarapa train carriages arriving in the Capital yesterday did not contain any special facilities for bicycles, in spite of a special mention in a Greater Wellington Regional Council flier. A space is available for cycle storage, but there are no restraining straps, or ceiling hooks that would lead to more efficient and safe use of the space.

Today's carriages will be followed by 14 more in the coming months, to make up a total of three new trains. According to the flier, each new train can can carry ten standard bikes stacked against each other. However, this depends on luggage loading on the day, and the stacking of bikes in this manner could result in some damage. The simple provision of ceiling bicycle hooks would enable the loading of more bikes and in a safer manner.

Cycle Aware says that Greater Wellington Regional Council, should ensure that alterations in the specifications are made immediately to ensure that cycles can be safely stored. Cyclists are the most environmentally friendly mode of transport, and Cycle Aware believes that the Council must live up to its promise to provide an integrated service, that encourages all types of commuters to utilise the train services to the full.

For further information, contact Paul Bruce, Cycle Aware Wellington, tel 021 027 19370

Cycle Aware Wellington Inc.
PO Box 27-120, Wellington, NZ
Tel: +64-4-972 2552
Fax: +64-4-972 2551
caw_wgtn@hotmail.com
www.caw.org.nz

Media release 20 February 2006

Bike To Work Day celebrates 10 th birthday

Hundreds of Wellington cyclists will converge on Civic Square on 1 March to celebrate ten years of Bike to Work Day in the capital.

The event, jointly organised by Cycle Aware Wellington (CAW) and Wellington City Council, will see cyclists tucking into a special themed birthday cake. They will also enjoy a free breakfast, free bike checks, giveaways, prizes, entertainment and guest speakers from 7:00 until 9:00 am.

Bike To Work Day aims to celebrate cycling as a great way to get to work, to reward those who are already cycling regularly, and to encourage others to give it a go.

Over the nine years the event has been held in Wellington attendance has grown quickly. "The success of Bike To Work Day in Wellington reflects the growing number of people riding to work in the city" said CAW spokesperson Robert Ibell. "In 2005, the breakfast attracted over 750 cyclists. This year we hope to do even better."

"The past two censuses tell us that Wellingtonians are taking to their bikes more than ever, bucking a national trend. In 1996, 1.5 per cent of people rode a bike on census day, rising to around 2.2 per cent in 2001. We expect this healthy trend to continue on census day 2006." said Mr Ibell.

Bike to Work Day is part of national Bike Wise Week. The Wellington event is supported by WCC and sponsors URS, Penny Farthing Cycles, Commonsense Organics and Bike Wise.

Ends.

Photo opportunities
In Advance: Wed 22 February, 8:30-9:30am, City to Sea Bridge - Four lucky cyclists receive five star treatment, including massage, live music and catered breakfast. Contact: Patrick Morgan, 027-563 4733

On Bike To Work Day: Mayor Kerry Prendergast cuts the tenth birthday cake at 8:00 a.m.

Speakers at BTWD (final list tbc)
7:15am - Trevor Mallard, Minister of Sport & Recreation (to be confirmed)
7:30am - James Brown (poet & cyclist, who'll read from his latest book "The Year of the Bicycle")
7:45am - Speaker from URS
8:00 am - Kerry Prendergast, Wellington mayor
8:15am - Peter Smith (commuter cyclist)
8:30am - Speaker from Penny Farthing Cycles

For further information about Bike To Work day contact: Robert Ibell, Cycle Aware Wellington, 04-972 2552 or dawbell@actrix.co.nz

Other Bike Wise Week events in the Wellington region are listed at http://www.caw.org.nz/ .

For further information about other Bike Wise Week activities around NZ visit http://www.bikewise.co.nz/ or ring 04-472 5777.