Posted: Fri 7/Sep/07 3:08pm Post subject: Who Are The Cycle Friendly Candidates In Auckland?
The local government elections are coming up on the 13th of October 2007 and it's worth taking the time to consider which candidates will make your town a nicer place to live. Our original thought was to send out questionnaires to the candidates with various cycling related questions. The problem with that is that we're bound to only hear from cycle friendly candidates(good) or from those who are good at the political game and will just talk the talk but not actually deliver(bad).
So, to identify the cycle friendly candidates out there we thought we'd ask you, the 56,000+ Vorbii out there to let us know which candidates have done stuff for the cycling community. In early October we'll compile these candidates and their activities into an easy to read list for your voting pleasure.
CAN have posted up a help article about voting in the local government elections here: [CLICKY CLICKY]
Official information about your local government elections here: [CLICKY CLICKY]
What We Need From You
If you know of a local candidate who has made the place you live a more cycling friendly place. They may have supported the setting up of mountain bike trails, cycling events, or extra bike paths, or perhaps they've even turned up to work parties and tree planting.
Please and let us know about the cycle friendly candidates and what they've done. If you'd like to add your wishlist for cycle-related actions you'd like to see from local candidates that'd be good too.
Joined: May 27, 2007 Posts: 291 Location: Cambridge
Posted: Mon 10/Sep/07 1:02pm Post subject:
nah i can only see your post, and when i click on Auckland link it just reloads this page in a new window each time (which could be fun until you have like 20 windows open)
Joined: May 16, 2007 Posts: 8 Location: North Shore, Auckland
Posted: Mon 10/Sep/07 1:41pm Post subject:
wishes wrote:
nah i can only see your post, and when i click on Auckland link it just reloads this page in a new window each time (which could be fun until you have like 20 windows open)
But Liz - if you look more closely, when you click the region, you will see that the page title reflects your choice of the region you just clicked!!
Joined: Dec 25, 2001 Posts: 33,694 Location: Liberty City
Posted: Mon 10/Sep/07 3:32pm Post subject:
I just got this in an e-mail
Quote:
Donna Wynd. She's standing for council in Auckland City. Former NZ cycling rep, world record holder in her age group for the sprint, keen cycle commuter and founder of '21st Century Transport'.
Joined: Aug 01, 2007 Posts: 2,436 Location: Gangstaville (Manurewa)
Posted: Mon 10/Sep/07 3:35pm Post subject:
Tama wrote:
I just got this in an e-mail
Quote:
Donna Wynd. She's standing for council in Auckland City. Former NZ cycling rep, world record holder in her age group for the sprint, keen cycle commuter and founder of '21st Century Transport'.
Does she come in a Manukau version? sounds perfect
Joined: May 27, 2007 Posts: 291 Location: Cambridge
Posted: Mon 10/Sep/07 6:10pm Post subject:
coach wrote:
wishes wrote:
nah i can only see your post, and when i click on Auckland link it just reloads this page in a new window each time (which could be fun until you have like 20 windows open)
But Liz - if you look more closely, when you click the region, you will see that the page title reflects your choice of the region you just clicked!!
I guess the idea is to localise the threads...
Coach.
Nah i think they fixed it now (seems to be seperate threads now)
I emailed Andrew Williams, Mayoral Candidate for North Shore City, who responded to all of my cycling-related questions.... I'll just cut 'n paste the lot as below, but in short, he sounds like he cares about cyclist safety and he'll be getting my vote
Here's the long version...
Would you support lowered speed limits on certain streets? YES
Would you support cycle lanes along arterial streets and roads? YES when the width of the carriageway will safely allow it.
How do you feel about the cycle lane issue along Kitchener Rd in Milford? I favoured a round the lake single cycle way on the "lakeside" to allow an anti -clockwise circuit of the lake. Most of this side of Hurstmere Road is "No Stopping" lines anyway so it is a possibility. But I do not support a cycle lane on the other side of the road because the carriageway is not wide enough and most of the homes have limited parking and it would cause considerable disruption. I did however suggest a 6.30am to 9am clearway on that other side of Hurstmere Road to allow buses and cyclists to commute. But then parking after 9am. The council officers did not favour this option...which seems to work well in other parts of Auckland.
Would you support cycle lanes across the Harbour Bridge? I certainly would if they could manage it technically.
Are you aware of where cycle paths/lanes/routes are? YES
Are you aware of parts of the transport system cyclists can’t use (the barriers)? What would you do about them? I am a little aware but would prefer to be given more information on this.
Do you support the council's cycling strategy and enhancement of existing cycling routes?
YES, but only where it can be done safely. My main concern is putting cyclists at risk with narrow cycle lanes which often are on the rough edge of the road.
Are enough children cycling to school? NO. I rode a bike to school all my life and am appalled at how few children ride to school these days. But again, we need to make it safe for them, and i prefer off road cycle paths such as we have put in Shakespeare Road for school students.
Do you support travel plans in schools and workplaces? YES I have been on several school travel wise programmes, and was a parent for several years on a walking school bus. Likewise workplaces could benefit from more awareness of cycling options.
What role do you see the council has in promoting public health? The council has a role but it is also very much a community issue. My wife is a registered nurse working with a PHO and they are of course right in the thick of public health and improving peoples' levels of "wellness". Cycling, walking, exercise are all part of that and we as a family do all three.
How do you see cycling contributing? Cycling and swimming are probably the two best "low impact" health programmes anyone can take part in. I would love to see more people cycling if we can make sure they are safe on the roads, or that there are off road trails which is my preference.
And if you're an existing representative, how did you vote on cycling initiatives in the past? I have voted to support some initiatives in the past where it is a safe option, and have not supported ones where the carriageway and issues simply make it too dangerous to go along with.
Your suggestion of a cycle lane adjacent to the northern busway is a good one....that could have real merit.
I do have concerns for the places that cycle lanes are sometimes put and the risk to cyclists. I really do prefer off road trails and recreational cycling not in the thick of busy city traffic. We have seen too many cyclist fatalities and injuries in recent years. I believe good urban planning should provide "safe cycling" paths.
I am the Hon. Vice Consul of Belgium and have been to Belgium and Europe over 20 times...and so I am very familiar with "safe ways" to have cycle lanes and paths as they do in the likes of Belgium and the Netherlands. I will send you some separate photos after this email.
Our family with 3 older children are cyclists. We have 3 bikes in the family for "recreational cycling"...and an exercycle!!!
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I hope this helps the North Shore cycling / voting public. Thanks,
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and let us know about the cycle friendly candidates and what they've done. If you'd like to add your wishlist for cycle-related actions you'd like to see from local candidates that'd be good too.
