| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Melissa_Theuriau
Vorb Newsreader
Joined: Mar 22, 2006
Posts: 2,096
|
 Posted: Fri 7/Sep/07 3:15pm Post subject: Who Are The Cycle Friendly Candidates In Otago? |
  |
|
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]
Pick Your Region
We've broken the threads up into regions so the less populated areas of New Zealand aren't drowned out by the big cities. Click on your region below:
Northland
Auckland
Waikato
Bay of Plenty
Gisborne
Taupo
Taranaki
Manawatu
Wairarapa
Wellington
Marlborough
Nelson
West Coast
Canterbury
South Canterbury
Otago
Southland
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.
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
mumonaMTB
Joined: Mar 03, 2004
Posts: 2
|
| Posted: Fri 7/Sep/07 9:31pm Post subject: Nicola Holman - Standing For Mayor And As Councillor |
|
|
|
Nicola Holman has been a mountainbiker for many years and is a member of the Harbour Cycleway Network and CAN. She has put in submissions to the Council annual plan process about cycling and is just generally supportive. She is on the Signal Hill Reserve Arboretum Trust which is working with Mountainbiking Otago on establishing a top class network of tracks on the reserve.
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dadonabike
Joined: Sep 12, 2007
Posts: 1
|
| Posted: Wed 12/Sep/07 4:06pm Post subject: Not Likely |
|
|
Isn't Nicola Holman the wife of a Ken Holman - the guy that lives up the top of Signal Hill that has been trying to get mountain bikers banned from Signal Hill? Nicola may be an advocate for cyclists (which is all good), but she won't be getting my vote due to all the $hit that Ken has caused mountainbikers.
For those that aren’t aware, the nationals DH course on Signal Hill ended up using the old Student Track due to a fire on the main course a couple of months before the race. Unfortunately the student track got a bit mudded up due to wet weather on race day. Ken saw the mud and started a little vendetta against mountain bikers using the track, pulling all the strings he could get his hands on. He even dragged several city councillors out to see the ‘carnage’ (which would have completely washed away by that time). Anyway, the end result was the council closing the track just to shut him up. Nice one Ken.
It's also pretty misleading to say that the Arboretum Trust is developing mountainbike tracks up on Signal Hill. Mountainbikers are developing the tracks up there and the Arboretum has nothing to do with them. I’m sure the Arboretum people would get rid of mountain bikers completely if they could, but bikers were there first.
I think Ken used to be involved with the Arboretum but I heard they gave him the boot cause he ssiped so many mountain bikers off. Moral of this story is that Ken shouldn’t $hit in his own back yard – parc like this won’t help his wife make Mayor.
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mumonaMTB
Joined: Mar 03, 2004
Posts: 2
|
| Posted: Wed 12/Sep/07 4:35pm Post subject: |
|
|
Get your facts right Dad. The old student track hadn't been used officially for years, and the DCC had agreed it wasn't to be used for biking because of the native forest which was regenerating. MTO only got use of the track because of a DCC stuff up!!! The student track is on a southerly facing slope which hardly ever dries out, is always muddy, so is no good for a permanent track to competition standard. The damage done to the regenerating forest over the 7 weeks the track was used will take about 7-10 years to repair. The MTO club official position is the student track is not for mtb use.
Most mountainbikers aren't vandals, and in fact respect native forest. Your attitude will see mountainbikers banned from other areas we are currently allowed. If you want more tracks, do the right thing and work for it, rather than criticise out of ignorance.
And by the way, the Arboretum Trust people were also really upset about the track being used. They are the ones who will be able to source most money in future for track development on the reserve - MTO has agreed to work with them.
And about Nicola - she is your best hope out of the current candidates for any serious money being invested in mountainbiking networks and competition tracks. The other candidates and existing Councillors don't care a ### about mountainbiking. If she doesn't get on, you loose out.
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
wired
Joined: Apr 16, 2005
Posts: 1
|
| Posted: Thu 13/Sep/07 3:20pm Post subject: |
|
|
I moved to Dunedin 6 months ago and went for my first off road spin last weekend - up Signal Hill.
Maybe the council should ban anyone that can't be bothered riding up there in the first place, as while I was riding up there (slowly) I was passed by no less than three car loads of bikers who were getting the mums/husbands/wives to drop them off at the expense of the environment.
You wouldn't see this kind of behaviour in Wellington I tell you.
Anyway my point is that the sign posting up there was pretty much non-existent - there was one sign which may or may not have matched up with the four-years-out-of-date map i picked up from the Information office down in the Octagon.
If there's no signposting how are (responsible) folks supposed to know where they can/can't ride. And if they aren't supposed to know, what is all the fuss about?
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Gorse
Ridden
Joined: Apr 26, 2003
Posts: 174
Location: dunners
|
| Posted: Thu 13/Sep/07 11:40pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
Hasn't Ken Holman 'commissioned' a private investigation of all established riding tracks in Dunedin to see what other closures he might bring about? Open Democracy or self-interested parochialism?
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
propster
Joined: Oct 16, 2004
Posts: 14,004
Location: Dunedin
|
| Posted: Thu 13/Sep/07 11:50pm Post subject: |
|
|
I don't have a clue who to vote for.
Do any Former dunners vorbii have any ideas also? Like Scotty or psych or vinnie too?
How about you avantibill?
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Scotty
yeahnah
Joined: Mar 15, 2002
Posts: 14,251
Location: Not quite sure yet...
|
| Posted: Fri 14/Sep/07 6:36am Post subject: |
|
|
| Gorse wrote: | | Hasn't Ken Holman 'commissioned' a private investigation of all established riding tracks in Dunedin to see what other closures he might bring about? Open Democracy or self-interested parochialism? |
Bingo. The Arboretum Trust are as a whole a stand-up bunch of guys but don't think for a second that every member is about working with us dirtbags.
With the current crop of candidates the best you've got to look forward to riding is 'safe' and 'nice' tracks on Signal (think Jubilee Park). If Nicola made some sort of concrete promise to maintain the status-quo with the current standard (obviously there would need to be some serious upgrading in places) and variety of tracks then I'd back her. ...but given past actions I wouldn't count on it.
You just have to decide if that's the way you want to go, or throw your hat in the direction of some complete random. At least with Nicola you'll MIGHT have something to ride, whether it's any fun to ride is totally up to you.
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Scotty
yeahnah
Joined: Mar 15, 2002
Posts: 14,251
Location: Not quite sure yet...
|
| Posted: Fri 14/Sep/07 7:03am Post subject: |
|
|
| wired wrote: | Maybe the council should ban anyone that can't be bothered riding up there in the first place, as while I was riding up there (slowly) I was passed by no less than three car loads of bikers who were getting the mums/husbands/wives to drop them off at the expense of the environment.
You wouldn't see this kind of behaviour in Wellington I tell you. |
That better be your tongue in your cheek there. 
| wired wrote: | Anyway my point is that the sign posting up there was pretty much non-existent - there was one sign which may or may not have matched up with the four-years-out-of-date map i picked up from the Information office down in the Octagon.
If there's no signposting how are (responsible) folks supposed to know where they can/can't ride. And if they aren't supposed to know, what is all the fuss about? |
Agreed, there's been a state of flux up there for some time. We had planned for a massive roll out of marker posts in October last year (I had the four-wheeler, the easy-crete, posts, everything in my garage) unfortunately the day before i was about to go do it the hill erupted in flame and that put paid to that plan for quite a while. I assume they're yet to be put in, and I won't be doing it since I'm up in Welly.
Which bums me out, I had some massive plans for cleaning that hill up and armoring the tracks so the were much more sustainable, the awesome folks at the arboretum had some cool ideas about what to plant at the tracks' edges so that the constant batlle of cutting back the gorse wasn't such a nightmare too. 
It needs a lot of work up there. I'd be gutted if I got back in a couple of years time and there was nothing there.
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
weathy
Flogged
Joined: Mar 06, 2005
Posts: 2,688
Location: Dunedin
|
| Posted: Fri 14/Sep/07 5:11pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Scotty wrote: | | wired wrote: | Maybe the council should ban anyone that can't be bothered riding up there in the first place, as while I was riding up there (slowly) I was passed by no less than three car loads of bikers who were getting the mums/husbands/wives to drop them off at the expense of the environment.
You wouldn't see this kind of behaviour in Wellington I tell you. |
That better be your tongue in your cheek there.
| wired wrote: | Anyway my point is that the sign posting up there was pretty much non-existent - there was one sign which may or may not have matched up with the four-years-out-of-date map i picked up from the Information office down in the Octagon.
If there's no signposting how are (responsible) folks supposed to know where they can/can't ride. And if they aren't supposed to know, what is all the fuss about? |
Agreed, there's been a state of flux up there for some time. We had planned for a massive roll out of marker posts in October last year (I had the four-wheeler, the easy-crete, posts, everything in my garage) unfortunately the day before i was about to go do it the hill erupted in flame and that put paid to that plan for quite a while. I assume they're yet to be put in, and I won't be doing it since I'm up in Welly.
Which bums me out, I had some massive plans for cleaning that hill up and armoring the tracks so the were much more sustainable, the awesome folks at the arboretum had some cool ideas about what to plant at the tracks' edges so that the constant batlle of cutting back the gorse wasn't such a nightmare too.
It needs a lot of work up there. I'd be gutted if I got back in a couple of years time and there was nothing there. |
Hamish has some posts in his garage now and all the tracks will get a grade of difficulty and a name sometime soon.
We're finally starting to get our tihs together down here and there will be bikes racing down the hill next month. 
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
weathy
Flogged
Joined: Mar 06, 2005
Posts: 2,688
Location: Dunedin
|
| Posted: Fri 14/Sep/07 5:13pm Post subject: |
|
|
| propster wrote: | I don't have a clue who to vote for.
Do any Former dunners vorbii have any ideas also? Like Scotty or psych or vinnie too?
How about you avantibill? |
I'm kcufed if I know who to vote for. 
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
propster
Joined: Oct 16, 2004
Posts: 14,004
Location: Dunedin
|
| Posted: Fri 14/Sep/07 5:17pm Post subject: |
|
|
| weathy wrote: | | propster wrote: | I don't have a clue who to vote for.
Do any Former dunners vorbii have any ideas also? Like Scotty or psych or vinnie too?
How about you avantibill? |
I'm kcufed if I know who to vote for. |
Candidates seems to either be Just plain old candidates.
Or a candidate that you WOULDN'T vote for. Noone really stands out as, I'm definately voting for this person.
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
toominator
Dusty
Joined: Feb 03, 2004
Posts: 107
Location: Dunedin
|
| Posted: Fri 14/Sep/07 5:59pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
open democracy my esra
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
avantibill
bugging Oli avatar
Joined: Nov 20, 2005
Posts: 2,174
Location: Dunners
|
| Posted: Sun 16/Sep/07 5:30pm Post subject: |
|
|
| propster wrote: | I don't have a clue who to vote for.
Do any Former dunners vorbii have any ideas also? Like Scotty or psych or vinnie too?
How about you avantibill? |
I got no idea. If the council didn't waste money on stadiums and Chinese gardens, and put in about 10% of that into track development etc, that would be good. After all there are heaps more bikers than people that attend the odd rugby game and there is nothing wrong with the present Carisbrook.
As for the one mayoral candidate who is against the Stadium, well to me, He comes across as arrogant and does not inspire me with confidence. I won't be voting for him.
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
propster
Joined: Oct 16, 2004
Posts: 14,004
Location: Dunedin
|
| Posted: Sun 16/Sep/07 5:43pm Post subject: |
|
|
| avantibill wrote: | | propster wrote: | I don't have a clue who to vote for.
Do any Former dunners vorbii have any ideas also? Like Scotty or psych or vinnie too?
How about you avantibill? |
I got no idea. If the council didn't waste money on stadiums and Chinese gardens, and put in about 10% of that into track development etc, that would be good. After all there are heaps more bikers than people that attend the odd rugby game and there is nothing wrong with the present Carisbrook.
As for the one mayoral candidate who is against the Stadium, well to me, He comes across as arrogant and does not inspire me with confidence. I won't be voting for him. |
Vandervis is a reet.
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
