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Posted: Thu 17/Jul/08 10:29am Post subject: Your Help Needed: Bike Safety Campaign From Can
Please pass this message on to anyone who might be interested.
For many Kiwis the distressing deaths of two cyclists in the Wellington region on 19 June have highlighted the need for New Zealand's roads to be made safer for people already cycling or wanting to take it up.
There are Government strategies and programmes to promote cycling and cycle safety, but we haven't seen many changes on the street yet.
The Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN) is running a campaign to get its 9-Point Plan for Cycle Safety adopted by the Government.
For many Kiwis the distressing deaths of two cyclists in the Wellington region on 19 June have highlighted the need for New Zealand's roads to be made safer for people already cycling or wanting to take it up.
We know that there are Government strategies and programmes to promote cycling and cycle safety, but we haven't seen many changes on the street yet.
Des Eyre was knocked off his bike into the path of a truck by a carelessly opened car door, while Steve Fitzgerald was hit by a truck on a busy stretch of road that cyclists are forced to use because the Petone to Ngauranga cycle track has been incomplete for decades.
Urgent action is needed. This will require a lot more resources and the will to make changes.
If we're serious about harnessing the potential of cycling to help with key problems like obesity, climate change, congestion and air pollution, then we have to make it easier for people to choose cycling as a way to get around.
We want to see national and local government do the following things in the next two years:
* Run a national Share the Road promotional campaign telling motorists and cyclists how to co-exist safely on the roads.
* Change transport planning and funding processes to make sure key problem areas or gaps for cyclists (e.g. Ngauranga to Petone cycleway, Auckland Harbour Bridge) get fixed - no more long delays or buck-passing between various organisations.
* Spend less on road building and more on encouraging alternatives to driving - more motor vehicles on our roads only make things less safe and attractive for cycling.
* Promote the use of lower speed zones (particularly 30km/h).
* Change the tolerance for motor vehicle speed limit enforcement from 10km/h to a maximum of ten per cent of the posted speed limit.
* Increase the walking and cycling budget in the National Land Transport Programme by a factor of five.
* Change funding and audit processes to make sure that all roading projects improve the environment for cycling.
* Change the driver licensing system and driver instruction (including bus and truck drivers) so motorists are educated about how to take care around cyclists.
* Fund and promote nationwide roll-out of cycle skills training for children and adults.
CAN also issued a media release after Des & Steve were killed.
As part of this campaign, CAN is meeting with Government Ministers and key officials to ask them to adopt our Nine Point Plan. Through our local group network we will continue to press for changes at local council level that will make our roads safer and more pleasant to cycle on.
CAN will also press for a coroner's review of the two recent cycle fatalities to look for systemic causes behind cycle crashes and to recommend remedies
What can you do?
* sign the e-petition to the Ministers of Transport and Transport Safety by 31 July
* write to your mayor or local MP to ask them to do what they can to see that the 9-Point Plan is adopted
* write to the editor of your local paper about some or all of the 9 Points
* join CAN or donate to support this campaign
* volunteer your time to work in this campaign: email campaigns[at]can.org.nz, ph: 04-972 2552
* get involved in your local cycling user group
Joined: Nov 05, 2007 Posts: 75 Location: Stuck inside again
Posted: Sat 19/Jul/08 3:03pm Post subject: Great Post
Excellent posting Patrick Will use bits of it this coming week speaking to local council re their refusal to remove 12 vehicle parks on a narrow city street.
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Will use bits of it this coming week speaking to local council re their refusal to remove 12 vehicle parks on a narrow city street.
