Trying to ensure cyclist safety is a major area of KCI's concern and a large amount of work has been undertaken over the last year within the district to identify problems spots.

A document containing information on known areas of concern (updated January 2010) is available here.

Links to cycling-related stories in the media are listed below

July 2010

$18.85m cycleway projects approved

Key drops in to open cycleway at Ohakune

Submission Summary:

This is a list or recent letters sent in conjunction with or by KCI:

Government roading policy and climate change

26-04-2007 sent to Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues and Minister of Transport

Dear Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues and Minister of Transport,

Two important factors influencing the amount of greenhouse gases produced in a region are:
(1) The total amount of travel done; and
(2) The modal split (that is the relative number of journeys made using each of the different types of transport - bike/car/etc.). (Hickman and Watt, 2004; Anable et al 2005).

Therefore, it is surprising to see that in the document "Government initiatives with climate change benefits" one of the initiatives listed is reducing motorway congestion by increasing funding for motorway construction (Ministry for the Environment, 2006). This strategy actually increases climate-warming gas production, because:

(1) It tends to increase the total amount of travel as land is used, urban sprawl is created, and distances between homes and work and recreation increase (Kenworthy and Laube, 1999); and

(2) It initially appears to make car-driving quicker and cheaper. This means that more people drive cars more often. The apparent gains from building new roads are soon swallowed up by newly-induced additional traffic (Fulton et al, 2005; Goodwin, 1996; Hansen and Huang, 1997; Johnston and Ceerla, 1996; Marshall, 2000; Department of Transport, 1994; Noland, 2001; Noland and Cowart, 2000; Purnell et al, 1999).

(3) It also shifts the modal split in favour of the highly polluting mode, to the detriment of the low- and non-polluting modes (Maddox, 2001; Litman, 2005; Kenworthy and Laube, 2001).

Any benefits that biofuels may have in terms of emissions reduction would apply at least as much to public transport as to private vehicles. The introduction of biofuels does not negate the importance of modal split (Climate Defence Network, 2006).

We believe that the billions of dollars which has recently been set aside for building new roads – and thus encouraging the use of cars and further destabilizing our climate –
would go a lot further, and be more usefully spent:

• Creating genuinely human-friendly infrastructure that actively encourages walking and cycling (Sloman, 2006; Fitzroy and Smith, 1998);
• Implementing “soft” solutions – a diverse range of tiny local investments that have a big effect on people’s transport choices – such as, for example, the pro-active provision of information, support and incentives for using public transport (Sloman, 2006; Way to go, 2004; Brög et al, 2002); and
• Building some truly "world-class" public transport systems (Cairns et al 2004; Transport for London, 2003; Hickman and Watt, 2004; ARTA et al, 2007; Litman, 2005; Victoria Transport and Planning Institute, 2007).

Thank you for giving your attention to this important issue.

Yours faithfully

KAPITI CYCLING Inc News Jan 2007

Happy New Year!

Renew your membership now

Due to overload, reminders are late — Thank you to those of you who renewed at the AGM. We would really appreciate a speedy return either in the self-addressed envelope included or paid into our bank account.

Member leaving New Zealand

Farewell to Alison and Richard

Our faithful members Alison Payne and Richard le Mare are leaving to go back to England. Alison came to our very first workshop in 2002 and was a great contributor there and ever since. We are very sad to say goodbye to both of you but understand the pull and the need to support your family at this time.

Miriam Richardson, 1 December 2006

Johanna from Hunt Davies Tennant Ltd

Where to put your cycle safely and easily when you get to work is a key issue in choosing to commute by cycle. The days of chaining your bike to a stand in the street ended when the cost of a good cycle rivalled that of a small car. And there are too many small and valuable parts on a bike: you can't chain them all.

Hefting bikes up stairs, contorting them into lifts, stashing them in cupboards: commuting cyclists have used many strategies to keep their bikes safe.

Submission on the Draft Development Management Strategy for Kapiti Coast District Council, October 2006

Policy 2.6(g) Roading Hierarchy

The term “Traffic” presumably includes foot traffic, cycling traffic, motorized scooter traffic and wheelchair traffic.

Yet the Policy 2.6 (g) and your comments and bullet points re finalizing the hierarchy makes no mention of such traffic. The terms used “importance of certain streets and roads in terms of handling traffic flows and volumes” indicates that you are talking about motor vehicle, truck and bus traffic.