Spokes Canterbury
Encyclopedia
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. It has about 1,300 members, both road cyclists and mountain bikers.
Spokes Canterbury works closely with the local branch of Living Streets Aotearoa
.
. For example they advocated against a 2005 moratorium on cycleway construction in the city - responding to concerns by Councillors about cycle paths not being 'safe' that absolute safety can never be provided, but that cycle paths certainly helped making cycling 'safer'. Spokes has also criticised the reality of 'New Zealand's Cycling City' (Christchurch City Council usage) not living up to its name due to lack of sufficient funding for cycle projects and cycle safety.
However, the group and Council have also often cooperated, such as on the production of the 2010 Christchurch City Cycle Guide. They have also welcomed the recent (2009) Jan Gehl
report Council had commissioned, which recommended substantial measures for cyclists as part of a process to make the city more liveable, and to improve its transport system.
for its campaign on the Christchurch City Council
cycleway moratorium.
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 in Canterbury, 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 was established in November 1998, as a successor to the former Canterbury Cyclists' Association. Cycling Advocates' Network
Cycling Advocates' Network
Cycling Advocates' Network is a national cycling advocacy group founded in November 1996 in Wellington, New Zealand. It aims to achieve a better cycling environment for cycling as transport and tourism...
is the parent organisation for Spokes Canterbury. It has about 1,300 members, both road cyclists and mountain bikers.
Spokes Canterbury works closely with the local branch of 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...
.
Activities
Spokes Canterbury works primarily to improve cycling in Canterbury, such as in the region's largest city, ChristchurchChristchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
. For example they advocated against a 2005 moratorium on cycleway construction in the city - responding to concerns by Councillors about cycle paths not being 'safe' that absolute safety can never be provided, but that cycle paths certainly helped making cycling 'safer'. Spokes has also criticised the reality of 'New Zealand's Cycling City' (Christchurch City Council usage) not living up to its name due to lack of sufficient funding for cycle projects and cycle safety.
However, the group and Council have also often cooperated, such as on the production of the 2010 Christchurch City Cycle Guide. They have also welcomed the recent (2009) Jan Gehl
Jan Gehl
Jan Gehl is a Danish architect and urban design consultant based in Copenhagen and whose career has focused on improving the quality of urban life by re-orienting city design towards the pedestrian and cyclist.-Biography:...
report Council had commissioned, which recommended substantial measures for cyclists as part of a process to make the city more liveable, and to improve its transport system.
Awards
In 2006, Spokes Canterbury was a finalist in the 'best cycling promotion' category of the Cycle Friendly AwardsCycle 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...
for its campaign on the Christchurch City Council
Christchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
cycleway moratorium.