Cycle-Friendly Award Winners Announced

Friday 14 October 2005

Cycle-Friendly Award Winners Announced

A cycle crash reporting hotline in Nelson and a nationwide training course for transport professionals were amongst the four winners of the 2005 CAN Cycle-Friendly Awards announced at the NZ Cycling Conference in Hutt City on 14 October.

Devised by the Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN), the national organisation promoting everyday cycling, and supported by national agency Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC), the Cycle-Friendly Awards are designed 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.

Nominations were called for in four categories, and 13 finalists were selected from 28 nominations.

Dr Jan Wright, chairperson of Land Transport New Zealand, presented each of the prize winners with a uniquely designed "bicycle-bell" trophy, a certificate, and a subscription to CAN.

The four winners of the 2005 CAN Cycle-Friendly Awards are: Best cycle facility project: Creyke Road Living Streets Project (Christchurch City Council) Best cycling promotion: 'Planning & Design for Cycling' training course for transport professionals (Axel Wilke) Cycle-friendly commitment by business: Secure cycle lockup (EDS New Zealand Ltd) Cycle-friendly commitment by public organisation: 0800CycleCrash reporting hotline (Nelson City Council).

CAN chairperson Robert Ibell said "Each year the range and quality of projects nominated for the Cycle-Friendly Awards impresses us. It has been great to see the rise in interest throughout the country, particularly in the cycling promotion category. We're keen to see more nominations in the business category, though, and we'll be working with SPARC and the business community to increase the profile of the Awards in 2006."

Since their inception three years ago, the CAN Cycle-Friendly Awards have been supported by SPARC. "SPARC supports innovative ideas that provide people with opportunities to get active. We congratulate the four Award winners, the finalists and CAN for working to improve the cycling environment for everyone," said SPARC spokesperson, Jason Morgan.

About the CAN Cycle-Friendly Awards

The finalists for the CAN Cycle-Friendly Awards were as follows:

Best cycle facility project: - Creyke Road Living Streets Project (Christchurch City Council) - WINNER - Atawhai cycleway (Nelson City Council) - Waikato Riverside cycle/walkway (Hamilton City Council) - Napier Pathways project (Rotary Pathways Trust)

Best cycling promotion: - 'Planning & Design for Cycling' training course (Axel Wilke) - WINNER - Promotion of cycling as alternative transport (Auckland City Council) - Road safety campaign (Bike Taupo Inc) - Cycle safety promotion (Bike Lanes in Paradise, Golden Bay)

Cycle-friendly commitment by business: - Secure cycle lockup (EDS New Zealand Ltd) - WINNER - Pulp & Paper Challenge (Pulp & Paper Kinleith)

Cycle-friendly commitment by public organisation: - 0800CycleCrash reporting hotline (Nelson City Council) - WINNER - Launch of 4,000 community bikes for the Manawatu (Palmerston North Green Bike Trust) - 'Being Cycle Aware' Police training workshops (Wellington City Council)

For more information, see www.can.org.nz/awards or contact Robert Ibell, CAN Chairperson, on 04-972 2552; or Stephen Knight on 021 599 102.

The Cycling Advocates' Network of NZ (CAN) Inc is this country's national network of cycling advocate groups. It is a voice for non-competitive cyclists - recreational, commuter and touring. We work with central government and local authorities on behalf of cyclists for a better cycling environment. We have affiliated groups, corporate and individual members throughout the country. Website: www.can.org.nz

CAN's local cycling groups are: Bike! Whangarei, Cycle Action Auckland, Cycle Action Waikato, Bike Taupo Wanganui Bicycle User Group, Cycle Aware Palmerston North, Kapiti Cycling Cycle Aware Wellington, Bicycle Lanes in Paradise, Bicycle Nelson Bays Spokes/Canterbury Cycling Association, Spokes Dunedin

ENDS

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