Cycle Friendlier Transport.

Getting on your bike and riding to work can't work for everyone can it....?
We can't all live within 5km of work or Uni, it isn't feasible.
And unfortunately we don't all live within walking distance of a train station or a bus stop thats timely enough for us to use it.

How about combing the two? Ride your bike and getting onto the said bus/train?.... But what about my bike you ask?

why don't you take it with you? I know Auckland doesn't offer this service on buses, but plenty of places in the world do, take Portland Oregon for example a city that has become known for its accommodation of the cyclist.
The bus and rail system there allows for bikes to be carried on designated bicycle racks on transport.
Simple enough isn't it?
Take a look at the Trimet sight to see how it works
http://trimet.org/howtoride/bikes/index.htm

Auckland Trains can carry bikes and they charge a small fee for the convenience of taking it with you, but adding this to buses would be an easy improvement,  a matter of installing a rack on the front of the bus as seen here.

To check out how you can get your bike around Auckland hit up the maxx website
http://www.maxx.co.nz/info/how-to-travel/cycling.aspx

All Cyclist are Lycra Wearing Hippies...

Cyclists cop a lot of flak, drivers have little respect for them and I have witnessed first hand drivers cutting cyclists off, pushing them off the road and generally abusing them. At times this is deserved, and I agree some of the snobbish groups riding the waterfront on their Italian rides decked out in pro gear need to find some manners, no a group of 3 abreast is not OK in Saturday morning traffic.

As with most things a select few create a bad image for the whole scene.
The good news is that these cyclists stopping you from getting your hangover curing double shot coffee while driving (well maybe you do deserve it..) do not make up the entire cycling scene.

You'll have seen typically young guns riding BMX (Bicycle Motocross) around town, making use of open space and the urban environment to entertain themselves and others. This has created a whole culture and a pretty impressive use of the humble bicycle. If this video doesn't prove that, I don't know what will.

Another sub-culture to rise out of cycling are those that choose to ride fixed gear bikes or fixies, there's a bit of a love-hate opinion poll out on this style, I'll let you decide for yourself. In case you didn't know a fixie is a single speed bike that doesn't coast i.e. when the bike moves so do the pedals check it out.

These two sub-cultures show the diversity of cycling, give it a go before you rubbish it, who knows you may enjoy it....

Harbour Bridge Crossing Part 2

The post about the cycling event that crosses the Harbour Bridge got me pretty excited. If the NZTA is open to making the Auckland Harbour Bridge available to events such as this, is there a chance that some time in the future, most likely distant-read when there is a second harbour crossing, there may be a way that allows cycling across the harbour!

Currently the only way to the hallowed North Shore is by taking the bridge in a vehicle, using the ferry or going the long way round. A gap of less than a kilometre is cutting off our city!

If we look at our neighbours across the ditch they got it right from the beginning, allowing cyclists to cross the bridge separate from traffic. The Video shows a short clip of the ride over the bridge, wouldn't be a bad way to commute to work in the morning!

I realise its a bit late to add this to the Harbour Bridge now..although we added more lanes didn't we?, But this has definitely got to be an addition to any new harbour crossing plans in the future.

Think of the reduction in traffic if you didn't have to use your car to get to the cbd!

Harbour Bridge Crossing

This was posted in Auckland Trains a blog about transport issues within Auckland. http://www.aucklandtrains.co.nz/2011/04/26/harbour-bridge-cycle-race-approved/

It got me thinking.....

Cylists will be given a rare chance to ride on the clip-on lanes of the Auckland Harbour Bridge if they take part in a cycle-type marathon event in November.

NZTA has approved the use of the bridge for the ClipOnChallenge event that organisers say could attract as many as 9000 competitors.

The event, planned to be held on Sunday,Novembe 13, will involve the closure of the two outer southbound ‘clip-on’ lanes on the bridge.

The NZTA and Auckland Transport have agreed that the organisers can also use the Northern Busway, which will be closed temporarily for the event.

The cycle challenge will start from the Westhaven Marina in the Wynyard Quarter before crossing the harbour bridge to join the busway and continue on to Albany and beyond.

NZTA’s State Highways Manager Tommy Parker says the cycle event is very much a trial.  “Welcoming an event of this size for the cycling community is an exciting opportunity, and with the event following close to the Rugby World Cup tournament another excellent chance to showcase Auckland.”

Mr Parker says the 9000 cyclists participating will be similar to the number of running on the bridge in the Auckland Marathon.

“The high level of planning into the care and operation of the bridge that allows the NZTA to provide temporary access for thousands of runners also applies to the cyclists who will be able to cross the bridge safely as well. We will be expecting event organisers to deliver the same standards of safety and organisation that is achieved each year when the marathon crosses the bridge.”

The two outer lanes of the bridge, and the Northern Busway, will be closed until mid-morning on the day of the event. Like the Auckland Marathon, which will be held two weeks earlier, the closures are timed so that any disruption to drivers is kept to a minimum.  Public transport services that would normally use the busway at that time of day will be maintained on adjoining roads.

Cyclists crossed the bridge in a 2009 protest rally

Auckland Transport’s Community Transport Manager, Matthew Rednall says the event gives cyclists the opportunity to experience the Northern Busway from a different perspective.

“It also provides a broader opportunity to promote cycling, road safety and the sharing of the road between cyclists and car drivers,” Mr Rednall adds.

Mr Parker says the NZTA is aware of the interest from cyclists wanting to ride across the bridge, and an event like this provides that opportunity without compromising the main function of the bridge as the strategic transport link for communities on both sides of the harbour.

“The request from the event organisers – Total Ventures Ltd supported by Cycle Action Auckland – was approved by the NZTA after only careful and deliberate consideration.  If November’s trial is a success, the cycle challenge could become an exciting addition to Auckland’s events calendar,” Mr Parker says.

See more on a bike

Another bonus of riding through town is the ability to take in your surroundings as you move. Your travelling slower than in a car, and are part of the environment rather than cut off from it enclosed in a steel box with its own climate and sounds.
On your bike you hear the sounds of the streets, experience the smells and can actually interact with those around you.
Last friday I met a fellow cyclist on my way up sysmonds street who turned out to be a canadian exchange student exploring the city on a sunny friday evening (a rare surprise in Autumn) we chatted on the way up the hill and sent him on his way to explore the rest of the city. We exchanged a friendly handshake and went our seperate ways....
This was a mere 5 min interaction but highlights the possibilities for interaction that wouldnt happen in a car, have you ever noticed how we ignore there are people in other cars unless they tick us off?

It also allows you to check out anything at a whim, no worry about finding a carpark just a pole, street lamp or fence is adequate to secure your bike and there you have it, stop for food, shops or friends instantly!

Theres nothing quite like riding in the morning experiencing the freshness of the day, and getting to know your city that little bit more. If you don't believe me give it a go!

Leading by Example

Most people will agree, Auckland isn't a cycle friendly in any sense of the word. If we are to become one there are a whole lots of changes that need to be made.
The way I see it, increasing the number of people that use transport such as cycling to cover short distances within Auckland is vital to relieveing pressure off our roading networks, from motorways to aterial routes.
The reality is we need to get it right first time, it is not something we can afford to spend money on several times over. In order to do this Auckland must look at those cities around the world that successfully integrate cycling into the lifestyle and culture of the city.

CNN created a list of the top 15 cycling cities throughout the world, they all do certain things well that make them cycle friendly and consequently large numbers of the population 'get on and ride'

Amsterdam in the Netherlands is recognised by most as the friendly cycle city in the world and for good reason. They have kilometres of dedicated cycle routes, a governemnt that promotes cycling, transport laws that favour cyclists and a serious case of bike addiction... over 40% of the cities transport movements are on two wheels.

Barcelona, Spain has recently established an effective ride-share Bicycle system, allowing the population access to rental cycles en mass.

The germans are well known for effieciency and when it comes to cycling its no different, over 400,000 Berlin residents cycle to work everyday.... and the city council is still NOT satisfied with this figure so more money has been spent promoting bike use, cycle lanes and deicated specific bike routes. The city has a website that allows users to plan trips thoughout the city using these routes allowing fast safe riding.

Paris gets a nod here for its creation ofVélib', one of the world's largest public bicycle rental programs. Twenty thousand stylish three-speeds are distributed among 1,450 rental stations throughout the city, available to subscribers at variable rates (rides under 30 minutes are free).
Auckland has attempted the beginnings of such a system but in all honesty it is lacked both in volume, quality and pricing, it was overly expensive and hence has been put on hold, the company running it could no longer support it. Council needs to take over! This is essenstial to providing Aucklanders the opportunity to ride within their city.

Chicago Illinois is a great example of the changes that can be made when the local government puts its mind to creating a cycling friendly city. There are cylces only areas on most main roads and laws being passed that protect cyclists.

A litttle closer to home and a city of a similar size to Auckland is Perth Australia. The city boasts some 700km of cycle routes allowing citizens to commute all over the city easily.


Each of these cities have invested time and energy into creaitng a bicycle friendly environment, Auckland needs to follow their lead and look into adopting some of the practices used world wide, then maybe we will see an increase in bike riding commuters.

Commuters on Scooters: New Zealand Herald

Commuters on scooters streets ahead

By Kieran Nash

5:30 AM Sunday May 15, 2011

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Tom Guernier. Photo / Janna Dixon

If you're looking to get to work as fast as possible, buy a scooter - you could cut your commute time in half.

Members of an Auckland traffic consultancy business, Traffic Design Group, put the city's roads to the test this week, sending workers out to test the travelling times of various modes of transport. The group set off for their Newmarket office from Kingsland at 8am rush hour. Travel times ranged from 13 minutes to 35 minutes, depending on what type of transport they took.

Riding a scooter was the fastest, followed by driving, cycling and running. Public transport was at the bottom end of the scale, with bus and train faster only than walking.

Scooters can use the bus lanes and weave through lines of backed-up traffic.

Transportation engineer and scooter rider Tom Guernier said he wasn't surprised he was the fastest of the team. "Skipping traffic is pretty much the reason I got a scooter," he said.

Meanwhile, Transportation engineer Ruby Mak took the bus. "It took a while for the bus to get here and the bus was full," she said.

Traffic Design Group Auckland branch manager Don McKenzie said the race was designed to give group members a first-hand experience of transport in Auckland and to find solutions to Auckland's traffic problems.

"From our perspective it's recognising that there's not one single solution, that it needs to be balanced appropriately across all modes of travel," said McKenzie.

By Kieran Nash | Email Kieran