I’m currently battling some rogue convolvulus, aka ‘morning glory’, in my garden. (Bear with me, there’s a bike connection to this story!). It’s twining round the trampoline, peeking through the fence, smothering a native tree. I rip it out as fast as I can but I’m barely keeping up. This is a bit ironic, because when I lived in the northeastern United States, I used to plant it on purpose every spring. There, the snowy winters would knock it back, so it never had a chance to get out of control. Whereas, in Auckland, all bets are off. The thing about Auckland is, anything grows, given half a chance. I’m thinking about gardening because I’ve …
Bike Auckland
The first days of spring are a great time to be on a bike – and it’s a pretty good time to be in the business of building cycle infrastructure too, with plenty of great projects on the go, and (hopefully!) more to come as the cycle boom attracts support locally and nationally. So we’ve been taken aback to read that engineering consultancies Beca and Aurecon, both involved in major cycleway builds in Christchurch, have been reported as forbidding staff from cycling during work hours – even when they’re visiting their own bike-related projects: Some staff working on Christchurch’s new cycleways are not allowed to cycle during work hours because …
The best way to celebrate new shared path connections is to go for a ride! And winter can be the nicest time to do it. On a beautiful crisp sunny Saturday in July, me and a couple of gal pals decided to make the most of it and head for a bit of an explore on some newly joined up off-road paths. We met up at the opening ceremony for the newly refurbished Pt Chevalier Square, which was absolutely delightful. The new park benches rotate and slide to create a delightful activation for the community. They also allow you to make the most of catching the summer sun (or shade) so I recommend you grab a …
Salmoning [verb]: To ride against the designated direction in a cycle facility, for reasons sensible or not. [Carlton Gore Road pictured. Photograph by Bike Auckland. If you have great images you’d like to propose for photo of the week, please contact us!]
Halo [noun]: The circle of happiness surrounding someone riding a bike. [Northwestern Cycleway, at Newton. Photograph by Bike Auckland. If you have great images you would like to propose for photo of the week, please contact us!]
Our two-wheeled lawyer Jonathan Wood is back, to consider legal answers to some highly tricky questions about the perennial subject of compulsory helmet wearing… Q. I know it’s mandatory to wear a helmet – but is it mandatory to wear it on your head? Can I wear it on my elbow? The NZ Government fact sheet for cycling (the dehydrated concentration of the NZ cycling road code) simply mentions that it is compulsory for you to wear a helmet and it should be securely fastened. The road code is not law; it is an interpretation of the law that attempts to put things in plain language. The line between advice and law in the code …
So many people are out there, hankering to hop on a bike! How many? Well, Auckland Transport’s own research reckons 60% of Aucklanders would ride if the roads were more welcoming. And who can forget what happened in 2013 when AA’s Directions magazine – the magazine for car drivers! – asked its readers if they’d give cycling a go? We are the 92%! So what are we waiting for? I found one answer over at Bikeyface, the witty bike blog of Bekka Wright (her motto: “I have a sense of humor and a bicycle. I exercise both as often as possible”). Bekka’s brilliant at boiling complicated things down to a single image, and her …
A friend of CAA, Zane, writes about an unlikely superhero hitting the streets as the winter nights draw in, determined to make sure those on bikes sparkle safely. Daylight savings hit this week like a black cloak, making it even more important to think about Biking Bright. One lone Auckland Transport Cycling ambassador headed out on Tuesday and Wednesday evening as the sun set. His task: to make sure those mounting their humble steeds at public transport hubs or out on the roads got home safely to their loved ones. Armed with a handful of small ‘safety’ lights (designed to make you visible to others), some 20% off vouchers for better lights (designed to light …
Remember when we put the call out for spare bikes for the Venturers? You responded — and how! Here’s where those bikes went. Stephen Lasham, Venturer Leader for the Sea Scouts, writes: Last night a group of Aotea Venturers set off on their bicycles from Onehunga Harbour Road and across the old Mangere Bridge. Having traversed the bridge, they along the foreshore cycle way that meanders pleasantly alongside Kiwi Esplanade taking in views of the Manukau Harbour. From here they went through Ambury Park Farm amongst sheep and chickens, and out onto the Watercare Coastal Walkway; gravel tracks shared by hikers, bikers, and many, many pukeko. The tide was …
Guest blog from Debbie Lang – Debbie is well known to many people who love cycling – her career began as cycling champion back in the day at North Shore City Council; she became North Shore cycling person when AT was formed 4 years ago. She is now in the role that best suits her superb talents for collaboration and innovation – she has a team planning and delivering walking and cycling events and behaviour change in AT’S new Walking and Cycling team led by Kathryn King. Kathryn dropped in to our February Art Gallery cycling breakfast, so she’s meeting people who’re out and about cycling already. She will …
This is an invite to give your bike an overseas experience to see a rare phenomenon in Devonport. Locals are wandering around the village, shaking their heads in wonderment and disbelief. They’re pouring into our new Devonport Library. I’m loving it! We’ve had heaps of haters moaning about the library project for the past decade. One of these is my beloved hubbie, who is confident to expound his opinions on libraries, despite seldom visiting them. He’s been saying libraries are irrelevant to people living in a digital world. Another complaint was that the library should not occupy the centre-piece park in the village, where it blocks main-street views to our …
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