Government By National Threatens Cycling

Melissa_Theuriau · *by **Melissa_Theuriau** on Mon 27/Oct/08 10:05am*

The Cycling Advocates Network (CAN) today announced the final results of its candidate poll, showing a quarter of candidates in this election support increases in provision for cycling.

CAN spokes person Stephen McKernon says "we have polled 520 candidates by email and 166 or 32% of these are pro-cycling. We adjusted this for all candidates (about 620) to give a figure of 27%, or a quarter of candidates."

"The poll shows candidates see cycling is more than just a single or marginal cause. Cycling stands for better roads, health, lifestyles and communities. These are also things all voters can value," says McKernon.

"Unfortunately the poll indicates cycling would suffer under a National-led government, as party policy does not emphasis sustainable transport, and only a small proportion of candidates are pro-cycling," comments McKernon. "Parties showing higher support are Alliance, Green, Labour and Maori," he says "so it is very possible that any government led by National (with its potential partners in government) would threaten advances for cycling."

"It is not CAN's intention to support one party over another, but the poll clearly shows where the pro-cycling vote can best be placed."

The poll results can be found on http://can.org.nz/elections and show which parties and which candidates in each electorate support cycling.

Ministry of Transport cyclists data indicates about 750,000 or 26% of voters are cyclists.

jeremyb · *by **jeremyb** on Mon 27/Oct/08 12:29pm*

So... whats Labour actually done in the last 9 YEARS for cyclists?

Spokes · *by **Spokes** on Mon 27/Oct/08 12:33pm*

I dont really care what the partys think about cycling. I would rather they concentrate on helping the economy not go in the toilet.

TheRealHotKarl · *by **TheRealHotKarl** on Mon 27/Oct/08 12:39pm*

jeremyb wrote: So... whats Labour actually done in the last 9 YEARS for cyclists?

More than National has planned, that's for certain.

Unless of course, john key flip flops again, and says he has no problem forming a coalition with cycling, and that he's not going to abolish cycle seats.

Kazmeistyr · *by **Kazmeistyr** on Mon 27/Oct/08 1:00pm*

"Threatens".

Interesting. How does any political parties policies "threaten" cycling? Is someone banning it?

Is the problem with using cycles to travel, or just for fun, more of a local council issue? The fact that there aren't cycle lanes, and more mtb friendly areas in urban locations down to "poor" planning by the local city planners?

Am I incorrect in assuming ( yes, yes I know), that the Central Govt. policies are more to do with access to National Parks etc?

I'm a bit woolly on these. Can anyone shed more light?

therm1te · *by **therm1te** on Mon 27/Oct/08 1:37pm*

Kazmeistyr wrote:Interesting. How does any political parties policies "threaten" cycling?

Have to agree that the wording here isn't the most appropriate. Although I think readers are still able to get the gist of the message without having to read a large title.

Seems what they are getting at is that their policies threaten the continued developement of cycling resources and the growth of the cycling community relative to the policies of other politcal parties.

jeremyb · *by **jeremyb** on Mon 27/Oct/08 1:40pm*

Advocacy groups are generally left wing so no surprises in the unbalanced view and overstating the facts!

Rider-man-Cam · *by **Rider-man-Cam** on Mon 27/Oct/08 1:42pm*

because a couple of cycling lanes is sooo important right now :thumbsup:

TheRealHotKarl · *by **TheRealHotKarl** on Mon 27/Oct/08 1:56pm*

This thread is an epic Nationalfanboy baiter.

MattV · *by **MattV** on Mon 27/Oct/08 2:00pm*

I think CAN should shut the f#ck up. There are more pressing concerns than cycling.

Bigfoot · *by **Bigfoot** on Mon 27/Oct/08 2:02pm*

Unless they are going to flat out ban it, then who cares?

Rider-man-Cam · *by **Rider-man-Cam** on Mon 27/Oct/08 2:09pm*

Bigfoot wrote: Unless they are going to flat out ban it, then who cares?

good call

Barks · *by **Barks** on Mon 27/Oct/08 2:10pm*

Seriously though, shouldn't it be down to LOCAL Government to promote cycle lanes and sustainable transport in their respective areas?

Doesn't matter if it's Labour, National or fucking Social Credit in charge, Local Governments are still going to act like a bunch of dumbasses for the most part anyways.

Oli · *by **Oli** on Mon 27/Oct/08 2:15pm*

MattV wrote: I think CAN should shut the f#ck up. There are more pressing concerns than cycling.

A cycle advocacy group should be advocating cyclist's needs, surely? :eh:

And just because they are advocating cyclist's needs doesn't mean that "more pressing concerns" are going to be ignored. It's not an either/or situation.

And that doesn't even begin to go into the positive benefits to NZ (and the world's) society as a whole if cycling is made easier and more accessible.

I think there are a few people who think that CAN is some kind of narrow self-interest group populated by hippies and freaks, which isn't true at all. It's a group of people who care deeply about the environment and the world we live in who also are fighting long and hard for all OUR needs as cyclists.