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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.

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By jenan, September 6, 2012

Cycle Action Auckland will be holding its Annual General Meeting, Thursday 27 September, 6:30 PM at Pioneer Woman’s Hall.

The number of people cycling continues to increase in the new amalgamated Auckland Supercity.  Members, new and old, are invited to come and hear how Cycle Action Auckland and our associates advocate for and advise on the supercity infrastructure that needs to be built to make cycling a serious transport mode.

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By Max, May 19, 2012

With great pleasure, we can finally reveal more about a project that we have been working on with NZTA over the last 2 years: the extension of the Northwestern Cycleway through Spaghetti Junction, down Grafton Gully, to the university areas and Beach Road.

Book your space now for CAA’s May public meeting to hear speakers from NZTA, Council and Auckland Transport present the scheme design. It’s time to celebrate that the project is ranked as the #1 (New Zealand-wide) cycling project in the coming 3 year National Land Transport Programme.

Detailed design of this key link will begin when the financial year rolls over in July – and actual construction (the first earthworks) will start in spring later this year.

During our meeting, you will be shown the route chosen for the cycleway extension, and also get a glimpse of how other Council cycle projects in the area could tie into it in the coming years. The Northwestern links the western suburbs of Auckland to the Waterfront (and will soon also pass the Symonds St university area as well as Auckland Hospital and the Domain), so we know there will be lots of  ideas about how to extend the benefits of the project across the city –  so bring your ideas to the meeting.

We’ve heard a lot about completing the motorway network – this is your chance to support the completion of our first ‘Cycling Superhighway’ !

Cycle Action Auckland, Public Meeting

Thursday 31 May, 6:30- 8.30pm

Freyberg Place Pioneer Womens’ Meeting Hall, CBD

RSVP: cuthash@worldnet.co.nz  OR via Facebook  (“Like” CAA?  Follow us on Facebook and keep up to date with the latest news and events.)

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By MarkR, March 8, 2012

There’s a lot going on with transport  around town. Auckland Council and Auckland Transport wants to know what you think.

Draft Long-term Plan meetings and roadshow 

Come along to a local board event or visit an information stand in your local shopping mall, market or town centre. You can find out more about some of the key regional and local projects and initiatives proposed, as well as proposed changes to our rates system. Click here to find when and where Local Board meetings are being held and when the roadshow will be rolling into your neighbourhood. note the Mayor will be attending Botany Downs secondary college on 13 March (7pm) and the Sunderland Lounge, Marine Parade, Hobsonville Point on 20 March (6-8pm).

Electric Trains for Auckland

Auckland Transport would like to invite Cycle Action Auckland members to the first cycle focus group session for the new EMU’s. This session is intended to focus on short listing cycle storage and restraint options. The aim is to look at the many options available and short list/agree those that warrant physical trial when Auckland Transport have the full size carriage/saloon mock-up here in June later this year. There won’t be any final decisions yet but Auckland Transport wants to start shortlisting preferred solutions.

NOW UPDATED We had a productive meeting with Auckland Transport’s rail experts. It was sobering, but also interesting, how many constraints go into designing a train to fit all users adequately, and we realise how hard these folks will be pushed to please everyone.

That said, a couple of high-level suggestions were agreed on, for example that “hanging racks” for bikes were likely not the way to go (train aisles too narrow, difficulties of racking heavier bikes up, especially in a moving train etc…) and that the official racks (unlike the overflow areas) should allow bicycles to be stored without requiring them to all be leaned against each other in a heap (which would make it very difficult to get one out if you want to get off earlier than the other cyclists). The downside of such decisions is of course that this may reduce the number of “official” bike spaces in the trains – though as noted, unless the train is really full, there will always be the overflow areas.

Another interesting element was that the train interiors will be very modular, i.e. designed so that interior setups can be swapped for different layouts in the future – not on a whim of course, but much easier than usual for trains. So if taking your bike on the train takes off, there is always the opportunity to discuss getting more dedicated bike carrying capacity.

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By jenan, February 2, 2012

Many cyclists in Auckland will have heard of the story of Portland, Oregon. Up to the early / mid 1990s, Portland was a typical large American city in terms of cycling. Meaning there wasn’t much of it. But then, a variety of positive things started happening, from new cycle infrastructure, to more positive governmental action, to an active advocacy scene.

Within something slightly more than a decade, Portland has now transformed itself to one of the Number 1 cycle cities of the world, with a cycle mode share of over 8%, a vibrant – and very mainstream – cycle culture. It also did so on a shoestring (cycling) budget, showing that key investment into good cycle facilities can be dwarfed by highway budgets, yet still get significant results.

One of the people that shepherded along this transformation was (is) Roger Geller, Portland’s Bicycle Coordinator – cycling’s official champion in Portland. And in two weeks, he will be here in New Zealand, travelling around the country and sharing his experience and advice, and in turn getting our feedback. As he is a great public speaker with a great story to tell, he will be highly in demand. Cycle Action has the honor of hosting Roger at one of our member’s homes, and while he will be rather busy during his two-day stay in Auckland (before continuing on to other areas of the country), we look forward to meeting him in person, and having him on at least a short ride.

If you are also keen on hearing about how a city can turn itself around to become a real cycling mecca, the IPENZ Transportation Group is organising a public event at the Pioneer Women’s Hall (you may have been there before, we hold our big events there) off Freyburg Square.

Transforming Auckland into a cycling-friendly city
- Lessons from Portland, USA

12:30-1:30pm

Thursday 16th February 2012
Pioneer Women’s Hall
Freyburg Square, Auckland CBD

 No RSVP required for CAA friends and members – but the venue is likely to be pretty packed (over a hundred people have already indicated interest for this event), so come early for a good seat, or you may have to stand!