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By BarbC, February 25, 2013

Cycle Action is constantly attracting new members and Associates who are as passionate about improving Auckland for cycling as we are. We’re grateful for all offers of help – either for a one-off project that takes your fancy or for a longer term role that keeps our wheels turning.

So we are delighted to announce Jane Admore has joined Cycle Action as Membership Secretary. She has great credentials as a touring and commuter cyclist and long-term self employed architect, and has already agreed to represent us on the Waitemata Local Board’s Ponsonby Rd Working Group.

As her role includes sending out friendly reminders that subs are due, you could help welcome her by making the first move. If you suspect your membership has lapsed, or is close to lapsing , please go to the Join Us Page  and complete a new membership form.

Subscriptions start from $15 for unwaged, $30 for waged, to $35 for family groups – we’d prefer you to pay the sub directly into our bank account (reference with your initials and surname): 38-9001-0980291-00

While we’re on the subject, feel free to spread the word to cycling mates to join Cycle Action. It’s the best investment you can make to help change Auckland for cycling. Where else would you get a team of professionals committing up to 300 volunteer hours a week to boost cycling conditions in our beloved city!

If you have any questions – or would like to talk about what Cycle Action could do better for our members – Jane can be contacted at membership@caa.org.nz

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By Max, February 16, 2013

I hadn’t been to Waiheke for a year – but CAA organises our annual ‘hui’ on Waiheke, in the hospitable home of our chair, Barbara Cuthbert. Half a weekend celebrating the past year, planning for the next, and enjoying the company of others working to make Auckland friendly for cycling.

I won’t talk much about the hui itself – though we hope that you will notice the improvements planned to CAA and for cycling. But I can tell you that it felt like a nice omen when riding up from the Matiatia ferry terminal, I reached the top, and saw the stretch of Oceanview Road north of Mako Street.

Gone was the cycle lane marked right in the door zone (see old photo) – gone was the car parking that made it into a deathtrap waiting to snap shut. Now, a cycle lane stretches all the way past Korora Road (see new photo).

I knew the changes had been made after we raised the issue last year (thank you, AT) – but its nice to have gotten around to finally have a look at it myself. As I have said before, for me personally its these small wins that keep me going in between working for the large ones.

Happy riding all, and also a shout-out to Cycle Action Waiheke. Always nice to visit your patch.

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By BarbC, December 23, 2012

We’re packing in the blog for a couple of weeks so we can take off for the beach and countryside for the great Kiwi summer holiday! We end the year with a feeling of huge satisfaction – it has been a watershed year with major cycling projects underway and close on the horizon; Grafton Gully Cycleway, improvements to the Northwestern Cycleway and the Harbour Bridge SkyPath on track for support from key Council agencies.

Add to these the impressive series of Local Board projects planned across Auckland – from Orakei, through Waitemata (Central Auckland), out to Puketapapa (Mt Roskill and Owairaka), across on the Shore (Kaipatiki Local Board) and over in the west along the Whau River, and you get the picture that change is on its way! And I almost forget Kim Sinclair’s Tamaki Trail!

On top of all of this we have new strong relationships across the transport sector and increasing awareness within the community of the advantages of cycling for transport, relaxation and sport. Thank you for all for supporting the blog – for giving us your comments (and filling out the reader survey!) and spreading the message to your Facebook friends.

We wish you a relaxed and fulfilling holiday with lots of magic cycling with friends and family, and look forward to returning to you in the new year. See you again from Monday 7th January, 2013.

.

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By BarbC, December 2, 2012

From Cycle Action Chair, Barb Cuthbert

Lovely seeing everyone who got to our party on Thursday night. The buzz in the room was tremendous and the food and drink seemed to go down a treat!

My only regret is so many of our favourite people came that I couldn’t get to talk to you all – I’m so sorry! Thanks to Green MP Julie Ann Genter, Councillor Mike Lee, Local Board members Simon Randall, Pippa Coom, Christopher Dempsey and Jesse Chalmers for being with us, plus Stephen Town and staff from NZTA and AT who we have enjoyed working with this year.

Special thanks to Diana Swarbrick and her crew from Bikes for Refugees who stole everyone’s hearts and minds as we heard how Diana pulled together a team at the Mangere Refugee Centre to gather in, repair, refurbish and distribute over 150 donated bikes to refugees who have settled in Auckland. The Immigration Dept, which runs the Refugee Centre, had no budget to help – the refugee bike programme is evidence of the perserverance, ingenuity, and can-do drive of Diana and the Refugee as Survivors’ team. We It was compelling to hear from former refugee, Faisel, (now living in Grey Lynn), about how his donated bike has transformed his life, connecting him with classes, shops and friends.

Dr Aviz, also a former refugee and now working for Refugees as Survivors, gave us the bigger view of how vital bikes are for fitness and mental health for people who arrive at the Centre with no means to get out and connect with all that Auckland has to offer. And volunteer Mike put the call out for more drop off and storage places around Auckland for donated bikes, donations of bike parts and helmets and volunteers to help repair bikes.

Adding class to the night was Susan Barter, who displayed her elegant jackets for cycling and the office – one of which she donated to raise money for the Bike project.

The raffle of a wheelbarrow of goodies raised over $600.00 on the night, and more donations have been promised. It was won by NZTA’s gorgeous Jala Shekho, who arrived in NZ with her family as a refugee. You can imagine the applause when I announced that Jala wished to donate her prize back to Bikes for Refugees. Dr Aziv can’t’ wait to put the barrow to use in his vege gardening classes at the Mangere Centre, and the goodies will be re-raffled to fund bike parts and helmets.

A powerful prize that goes on giving!

Here’s our bank account for those who bought tickets on the night and want to pay on-line, and for others who missed the event, or came and would like to donate for this hugely worthy cause – 38 9001 0980291 00 – Please put CAA in the first box and BikesForR in the second when you make your donation.

This may well be the most life-changing gift you make this Christmas!

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By BarbC, November 18, 2012

We invite you, our readers, to join us for good company, Christmas drinks and nibbles

When – 6-8pm Thursday, 29 November
Where – Ellen Melville Hall, Freyberg Square

In the spirit of Christmas, the event is also a fundraiser for the heroic team from the Mangere Centre’s Bikes for Refugees programme. These wonderful people work to equip refugees with bikes and bikes skills so they have affordable transport to help them settle successfully in Auckland.

Please bring a note or two of cash in your pocket for the raffle and koha collection. Good quality used helmets, bike repair tools, puncture repair kits, chain and lock up sets will also be welcomed with open arms.

RSVP to cuthash@worldnet.co.nz by 23rd November

UPDATE:If you haven’t already, please make sure you RSVP, so we can plan the catering.