Interesting article about the chief financial officer of Giant Manufacturing, the world’s biggest bicycle maker, aka “the godmother of bicycles”.

"By and large, the world thinks of bikes as an exercise in machismo on wheels, from muddy mountain bikers to lycra-clad road cyclists or commuters taking their chances with the lorries and taxis that seem to claim ownership of the roads. Ms Tu has other ideas"

The bike in the image is a Giant Suede, ideal for riding on the next frocks on bikes ride. While I would not be caught dead one one I'm greatly in favour of the diversification of bikes so that theres a model for everone.

The 2009-2010 edition of the best fish guid is out.If you have not seen it before its a guide to how sustainable the fishery for each species is. They also produce a handy foldup guide which I keep in my wallet for supermarket shoping. Its worth paying attention to if you want your grandkids to know what orange roughy tastes like.

So the oil is running out and the alternatives don't have anywhere near the capacity to take up the slack. Demand is on the rise, most of the population is fat and lazy and drives everywhere becuse thats what adverts tell them to do every night. Governments, economists and the rest are studiously ignoring the Elephant in the room and engaging in buisness as usual, interesting times indeed. But wait, perhaps its not so bad after all, perhaps someone in the know can tell us why theres nothing to worry about and everything is going to be ok. Is it tar sands or is it solar plants in space beaming microwaves back to earth, or perhaps agal biofuels, I for one look forward to the answer.

 

In conjunction with CAW and 350.org another great ride is coming up. There were a bunch of us there last time for the ride arround the basin who feature in the photo above. Unfortunately I am not going to be in Wellington for the ride, I was really looking forward to doing it on my single speed. My consolation prise is I get to try out the fixie up in Wanganui.

Here is the blurb as it appeared in my inbox:

 

Kia ora tatau

On 22 August, over 150 of you came out to support safer cycle lanes in Wellington and the 350 movement, promoting cycling as a low carbon form of transport. (photo attached)

Cycle Aware Wellington (www.caw.org.nz) is organizing another huge cycle ride bringing awareness to these two very important causes – and, of course, because cycling is fun, fast and free!

This time, we are drawing attention to the Great Harbour Way, Wellington’s beautiful coastline, and the necessity for a safe cycle route connecting Eastbourne, Hutt City and Wellington City.  So mark your calendars for Saturday, 24 October, oil your chain, grab your helmet, water bottle, patch kit, sunscreen and let’s ride! 

Apologies if you've received this communication multiple times but please do forward this email to your networks, friends and lovers of 2-wheeled transport!  You don't need to be an excellent cyclist to come along - the route is about 17km but is all flat and it won't be a race! So come join the fun - but you cannot ride with us without a helmet!

The Route: Start in Days Bay, Eastbourne, through to Wellington Waterfront. Final destination is the International Day of Climate Action Festival, Taranaki St Wharf by Mac’s Brewery: www.350.org.nz/wellington

Meeting Spots:

Days Bay Wharf: 10.30am

Petone, westernmost pulloff on the Esplanade (opposite south end of Waione St): 11.00am

Ngauranga (East side of Hutt Road): 11.40am

Wellington Railway Station: 12pm

 

For those in Wellington City: The East by West ferry to Days Bay couldn’t commit to having room for more than a few cycles so CAW has arranged for a special ferry to take us across.  Meet at Queens Wharf at 9.15am.  We’re asking for a $10 koha to help cover ferry hire.  We’ll enjoy a coffee/tea in Days Bay while we wait for any late-comers on the 10.00am ferry (which has VERY limited space for cycles so if you can make the CAW ferry at 9.30 that’s a much better idea!)

Please RSVP if you’ll be ferrying with us so I can reserve you a spot!

Important Notes:

At the pick up spots the pack of cyclists will slow down enough for others to start pedaling and join in.  We won’t be stopping so when you see us coming, get ready to ride!

We will be obeying all road rules and everyone should signal all turns and lane changes.  If the pack gets split up, the one ahead will slow right down until the latter catches up.

We will have a leader keeping the pace of the pack.  If you get a puncture, please pull over and let us know so that a ‘Cycle Champion’ can stop with you and patch you up.  If you are keen to BE a “Cycle Champion” please let me know.  We can never have enough!!

We’ll be riding as much on cycle paths as possible but there are points where cycle lanes do not exist.  Confident road cyclists should take the outside lane next to traffic.  Please listen to the Cycle Champions or Marshalls if they tell you to move in. They are looking out for all our safety!

If you have any questions, concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.  Also, again please do RSVP for the ferry to Days Bay so we can ensure enough spaces.

**For those cyclists not wanting to cross the water, there will be a ride starting in Island Bay and cycling the Wellington bays around to the Festival.  Meet at Shorland Park at 11am.  Contact Willemijn for more info: vermaat@feestpaleis.net

Look forward to seeing many of you there for an awesome ride.

 

Yours in sustainable cycling, 

Christina and Cycle Aware Wellington

021 150 3536

Its tomorrow! Great opportunity to get rid of some of that old junk without harming the environment quite as much as chucking it in the tip would.

http://www.greens.org.nz/node/19894 http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2008/09/mapping-transport-inequalities.html http://anz.theoildrum.com/node/3968

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Car Free Day: 22 September (Monday) and Software Freedom Day 20 September (Saturday) These two are global events being celebrated locally all over the world. I know Wellington has a large event planned for Software Freedom Day but I haven't heard anything about local Car Free Day events. Does anyone know of anything happening in NZ?

In Switzerland an initiative to ban gas guzzling cars has completed it's first stage of collecting 150'000 signatures. Here is a picture. Next, I believe, it will go to parliament where it the initiative could be stopped. However, I believe this has never happened.

I saw an article in the paper a few weeks back about a new car sharing scheme starting in Wellington, I couldn't remember the name but a bit of googling revealed cityhop. After some thorough investigation it looks to be a very good service, it costs $75 to join and $15/hour (including petrol) or $75 per day.

Heard a plug for this on the radio last week. Rod Bishop has created a site to help commuters organize carpools, rideshares and hitching called Hitch. I remember discussing this concept with a mate, I think its a great idea, genuinely useful and timely, given petrol prices. I guess its early days for the site but it I think it could go further than it currently does, so here some features I'd like to see:

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The issue with hitching is there is always a risk of meeting a random nutter.