wanganui

Wanganui

http://www.can.org.nz/events/elections07/campaigns.htm

Dot McKinnon.

I am happy for there to be cycles in town. We encourage cycleways and look forward to creating more over the next few years. There are some problems however. Firstly, helmets. My experience is that when that legislation came into force, cycling dropped off, particularly with students and women. Why? Apart from looking a dork, the time one might spend on one’s hair is totally wasted once you don a cycle helmet. This may seem stupid to some, but sorry, it is a reality for many.

I note in the videos that no-one is wearing helmets.

The Japanese cyclists on footpaths interspersed with pedestrians looks like mayhem. I would not like to see that on our streets, as our streets are too narrow and the young and elderly would feel intimidated.

Getting students to school by walking or cycling, once a feature of the past, is no longer the reality. Roads are clogged prior to school commencing and at the end of school by family members dropping off and picking up students. Check out Wanganui High School or any primary school after 3pm. That is a real problem which I do not know how to change.

I personally fear cycling on the road, as a large proportion of drivers are not considerate of cyclists and every vehicle that I hear coming up behind me is potentially going to kill me, or at least make me fall or go off the road. That is how I feel when cycling, so I do not cycle. My husband cycles – now quite long distances – and he has had several falls and several near encounters with vehicles. However, perhaps he is tougher than I. He enjoys the challenge and the exercise.

I applaud your thinking. I am happy to promote cycling and walking (which I personally prefer)

Dot McKinnon

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Michael Turner.

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

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 have to think about that.

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

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? I consider that cyclists on footpaths constitute a real danger to elderly pedestrians and those with disabilities, e.g. blindness.

-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.

'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 ? Yes

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

Would you lobby for the installation of bicycle racks on ALL public transport vehicles ? I have some difficulty with this.

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 ? No at present, but I would consider it seriously.

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

Why? / Why not? It’s healthy and pollution free.

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Rory Smith

Candidate - Wanganui District Council

Any aspiring politician can answer these questions with whatever level of truth they care to use.

The bottom line is that this is a burgeoning issue and as a cyclist of some 15years I am most certainly interested in looking at some of Europe's cycling initiatives and how they might apply to my area of Wanganui. It may not be all you want but it is most definitely the truth!

Regards

Rory Smith

Candidate - Wanganui District Council

www.tamaralodge.com

www.whanganuiriverroad.com

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