hastings

I was inspired to answer straight away...even though I have piles of work to do. As you will read in my reply, the task I had completed immediately prior to opening your email was....buy a new bike!! Please find my answers attached.

Keep up the great work, and thank you very much for the information. I only had time to watch the 10min video on Copenhagen, but will log on to all the links you have suggested as I get time.

This is very much a topic I will certainly lobby for if elected.

Would you actively pursue policies that would enable utility cycling to develop along the lines that have made it the transportation mode of choice for so many in Copenhagen?

Thank you so much for the information. On my brochure that I have delivered to every household (except where it says NO JUNK MAIL) in Hastings I have written the following:

“Develop Hastings to be a safe community so that residents will enjoy and want to care for the environment they live in” – “Plan to eventually replace all Hastings District Council vehicles with alternative fuel options where available” – “Move forward on the development of safe cycle routes around the district”.

Actually, JUST prior to opening your email (within the last 30 minutes) I had purchased a bicycle so that I may take my 7year-old mountain biking over the summer. I have previously used my daughter’s bike that has been run over (by an ignorant motorist knocking her off the bike), stolen and recovered by the police rather worse for wear, and used by her to ride to school for 8 years. As you can see by my promises (and they are that) of what I will do if elected, safe cycling, reducing environmental emissions of transportation and safety for residents is very important to me.

I really enjoyed the video about the development of Copenhagen cycle options developed over 40 years. Hastings is a perfect city to do the same…we are absolutely flat so cycling is easy!!

Would you lobby to rescind the law that compels cyclists to wear helmets in order to make it discretionary on the rider (as it is wherever utility cycling is well-established ) ?

I would need to see more information, as I don’t actually see any advantage of NOT wearing a helmet…maybe the four cyclists killed in Copenhagen mentioned in the video would have survived if wearing a helmet!! Maybe if we developed a cycle friendly precinct in the CBD, helmets could be optional, but I would still be in favour of helmet-use on the open road

Would you give preference to a comprehensive network of cycle lanes over retaining the right to curbside parking?

Yes. Actually I have looked at the amount of roadside parking and the amount of green road frontage in residential areas too, and think that parking could easily be developed on the green frontage, giving an uninterrupted road to cycle and drive on.

Would you lobby to rescind the law which prohibits cyclists from using pavements (at least as an interim measure for the years it will otherwise take to establish real separation from motorized vehicles)to enable 'slow cyclists'(e.g.the elderly)to take up utility cycling?

-Before you answer this question, next time you're out driving, take note of how few pedestrians are actually using our pavements and keep in mind that there are places in the world where cyclists and pedestrians co-exist harmoniously in significantly greater numbers.

Yes. Yesterday we were driving from Tauranga to Hastings and as we drove through Rotorua I was pleased to see the footpath from Rotorua to Ngongataha used as duel cycle/pedestrian route, and there were a lot of cyclists on it and only a couple of pedestrians. We already use that option in part of Hastings, and I would like to see it developed further

'Leaving it to the market to decide' is not working as virtually none of New Zealand's bicycle importers or retailers are taking the initiative to either promote or make available the types of bicycles and technologies which would make utility cycling practicable by a much broader range of people(e.g. the elderly ) or practical (e.g. for carrying children or shopping).

To ensure that fleets of utility bicycles become established throughout New Zealand's urban areas, would you promote or support a campaign that will create awareness of utility cycling technologies among the public to help to stimulate consumer demand ?

e.g. actively lobby for the acquisition of a fleet of utility bicycles for council staff to get around town on.

Yes I would actively promote the use of utility cycles, and yes, I would lobby for a fleet of cycles for Council staff to use.

Would you lobby for the installation of bicycle racks on ALL public transport vehicles ?

Yes. I see most of our buses and taxis already have bike racks, so I do not think that would be a big issue in Hastings

Do you cycle yourself? - And if not at this stage in your life, what would it take to get you to take up 'utility' cycling in the future?

Yes I cycle myself, and I have promoted cycling for my four children, three who are now in their twenties and still cycle. When we lived out of town my kids cycled 14km each way to school every day! Currently, we are in the process of ‘training’ for our local fun cycle event of the year, the “Tour of the Bays”. My partner will complete the 50km event and I am assisting my 7 year-old to complete the 10km for the first time.

Would you recommend that other people (children/ the elderly) cycle?

YES YES YES

Why? / Why not?

Cycling is kind on the environment, good exercise, relatively cheap to get in to, a great leisure activity for families, AND FUN

==========================================

Kind regards,

Anne Wilson

Candidate for Hastings Ward

Hastings District Council

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Marion Thomson

Haumoana

Hi there Alan

I am very familiar with the links you have provided and thank you for

these as they are of great help as resources for the Sustaining Hawke's

Bay Trust and the Environment Centre. We are becoming more proactive

and have one of the CAN people now as trustees on our board which will

help to move things along - we actively promote the conference in

Napier in Nov through our extensive electronic networks

Marion

> Would you actively pursue policies that would enable utility cycling

> to develop along the lines that have made it the transportation mode

> of choice for so many in Copenhagen?

Yes Alan I am very much in favour of the development especially in our

city of Hastings which already has one of the greatest assets in that

it is flat . We also have the potential to link well with rail

transport

> Would you lobby to rescind the law that compels cyclists to wear

> helmets in order to make it discretionary on the rider (as it is

> wherever utility cycling is well-established ) ?

I really thinbk that we are dealing with a major behaviour change of

the vehicle drivers before we could make the use of helmets

discretionary - I guess you are a cyclist and can understand the

current pschye of those that drive and how little consideration they

actually do have for cyclists and pedestrians . - Once there was a more

established utility cycling change then I wouold definitely consider

lobbying for this .

>

> Would you give preference to a comprehensive network of cycle lanes

> over retaining the right to curbside parking?

I am very much opposed to the current use of cars and would do anything

to see them banished from central areas - making it most definitely

appropriate that there would be room for a comprehensive network of

cycle lanes and bus stops

>

> Would you lobby to rescind the law which prohibits cyclists from using

> pavements (at least as an interim measure for the years it will

> otherwise take to establish real separation from motorized vehicles)to

> enable 'slow cyclists'(e.g.the elderly)to take up utility cycling

Using the footpaths in the current state of repair and not even

appropriate for walking poses a problem - There would need to be some

consideration of widening the footpaths as they have begun to do in

some cities - Waitakere - Henderson has had major widening of footpaths

which do accommodate the ever growing needs of elderly and also

encourages safer walking. This is what I would propose in the interim.

> -Before you answer this question, next time you're out driving, take

> note of how few pedestrians are actually using our pavements and keep

> in mind that there are places in the world where cyclists and

> pedestrians co-exist harmoniously in significantly greater numbers.

As I would love to encourage the art of walking and cycling and car

poolling and using public transport I do think it is possible for

Pedestrians and cyclists to co exist well. It is about the behavioural

change and a shift in the car focussed consciousness - this is what

needs to take place,.

>

> 'Leaving it to the market to decide' is not working as virtually none

> of New Zealand's bicycle importers or retailers are taking the

> initiative to either promote or make available the types of bicycles

> and technologies which would make utility cycling practicable by a

> much broader range of people(e.g. the elderly ) or practical (e.g. for

> carrying children or shopping).

> To ensure that fleets of utility bicycles become established

> throughout New Zealand's urban areas, would you promote or support a

> campaign that will create awareness of utility cycling technologies

> among the public to help to stimulate consumer demand ?

> e.g. actively lobby for the acquisition of a fleet of utility bicycles

> for council staff to get around town on.

Yes , yes and yes - we would love to promtoe the use of the new Mondo

bike which we believe is about to be imported - we have pamphlets on

these and they seem to be an very viable option for use a s a utility

cycle -

The Environment centre is currently considering purchasing a small

fleet to have available at sites around Hastings City to promote the

use of cycles .

>

> Would you lobby for the installation of bicycle racks on ALL public

> transport vehicles ?

Yes - I think the mix of cycling and public transport is a good one and

also if we could get our rail back as a light rail system - all public

transport could readily accommodate facilities for our cyclers

>

> Do you cycle yourself? - And if not at this stage in your life, what

> would it take to get you to take up 'utility' cycling in the future ?

I do not own a cycle but I intend to be on one of those Mondo Bikes

asap . It is a matter of time

I currently live in a bit of a rural situation , but recently have had

a number of ocassions where a bike would be the absolute most

practicalform of transportation.

> Would you recommend that other people (children/ the elderly) cycle?

At the current level of car use it is a dangerous feat to cycle and I

think it is going to take a much stronger campaign to get the car user

out of the car and onto bikes . I am worried abolut the safety of our

current cyclers.- and pedestrians. I think there needs to be a cycling

strategy for the city - I would love to be part of it !! - not just one

day in a year where the mayors show off and then thats it - !!

>

Marion Thomson

6 Haumoana Road

Haumoana

========================================================

Mandy Kimber.

As a quick response to your email I agree with most of your ideas. I am a cyclist myself but cannot cycle to work as it is too far and too dangerous. Currently provided cycle lanes are just a quck solution to providing cyclists with a "sort of safe" path, however I do know personally, cyclists would have died and been injured in these lanes so you risk your life each time you try to cycle. The development of cycleways away from vehicle traffic would encourage more to venture out and perhaps do away with the need to wear a helmet. (When cycling on the Rotary pathways in Napier/Hastings I don't wear a helmet). Having cycle carriers on buses etc would also encourage more cycling. However in this day and age, providing cycles for the public to use is a great idea but I can't see them lasting very long!

Utility cycling sounds a great way to improve general health and a positive way to improve on our nation's obesity problem.

Cheers Mandy Kimber

=============================================================

Bruce Bisset

Alan: the short answer is, i'm happy to look at any initiatives to promote "alternative" transport, obviously including cycling. part of my campaign includes support for cycleways on all major roads in Hawke's Bay, including add-on lanes on bridges as necessary. i am also promoting safe cycle routes being established around/within the Hastings CBD. thanks for the links, and i will look to examine and incorporate what I can of these ideas into HDC's transport strategy. bb.

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