Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN) is a national cycling

Cycling

Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...

 advocacy group founded in November 1996 in Wellington

Wellington

Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...

, New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

. It aims to achieve a better cycling environment for cycling as transport and tourism. Major initiatives are the annual Cycle Friendly Awards

Cycle Friendly Awards

The New Zealand Cycle Friendly Awards were devised by the Cycling Advocates' Network in 2003. The purpose of the awards is to acknowledge and celebrate some of the most notable achievements in the country that are helping to promote cycling and to create a cycle-friendly environment.- History and...

 and support for a biennial Cycling Conference

NZ Cycling Conference

The NZ Cycling Conference is a series of cycle planning conferences started in 1997 in Hamilton. Since 2001, the conference series has a biennial schedule...

.

Aims and activities

CAN's aim is:

• Promoting the benefits of cycling
• Improving safety for cyclists
• Encouraging the creation of a good cycling environment
• Promoting cycle tourism
• Advocating for integrated cycle planning
• Increasing the number of cyclists on our roads

NZ Cycling Conference

CAN has made a major contribution to the establishment and ongoing success of the NZ Cycling Conference series (15 October 1997, Hamilton; 14–15 July 2000, Palmerston North; 21–22 September 2001, Christchurch; 10–11 October 2003, North Shore; 14–15 October 2005 Hutt City; 1–2 November 2007, Napier; 12–13 November 2009, New Plymouth).

Cycle Friendly Awards

Since 2003, CAN has been organising the annual Cycle Friendly Awards, celebrating initiatives to promote cycling and create a cycle-friendly environment at both a national and local level in New Zealand. The event has since received public recognition, with government representatives attending the award ceremonies.

2008 Election Campaign

Ahead of the 2008 New Zealand elections, CAN polled MP candidates on their stance towards cycling, and published the results as a guide for voters that are concerned about cycling issues. Based on the poll, the 49th New Zealand Parliament

49th New Zealand Parliament

The 49th New Zealand Parliament was elected at the 2008 election. It consists of 122 members, including an overhang of two seats caused by the Māori Party having won two more electorate seats than its share of the party vote would otherwise have given it. The Parliament will serve from 2008 until...

 contains about one-third (34%) of MPS who support cycling.

Association with other groups

CAN is the parent organisation for some 20 local cycling advocacy groups around the country, including Cycle Action Auckland

Cycle Action Auckland

Cycle Action Auckland is a pro-cycling advocacy group in Auckland, New Zealand. The volunteer-driven group aims to improve infrastructure and conditions, as well as perceptions of cycling to encourage more "everyday people" to use bicycles, including for commuting and recreation...

 and Spokes Canterbury

Spokes Canterbury

Spokes Canterbury is the cycling advocacy group in Canterbury, New Zealand. It was established in November 1998, as a successor to the former Canterbury Cyclists' Association. Cycling Advocates' Network is the parent organisation for Spokes Canterbury...

.

CAN was a member of BikeNZ

BikeNZ

BikeNZ was created in July 2003 to act as an umbrella body embracing all national bike and cycling organisations including, BMX NZ, Cycling Advocates' Network , Cycling NZ, Mountain Bike NZ and NZ Schools Cycling Association.It is the national governing body of cycle racing in New Zealand.BikeNZ is...

 and provided one board member from BikeNZ's inception in July 2003. CAN resigned from BikeNZ in October 2007, but continues to work with BikeNZ on advocacy issues.

CAN works closely with Living Streets Aotearoa

Living Streets Aotearoa

Living Streets Aotearoa Inc. is an organisation in New Zealand that promotes the concept of living streets, the use of roads for functions other than vehicle access. It is the national walking advocacy group with a vision to have "more people choosing to walk more often."The organisation was...

, the national walking advocacy group.