Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Cycling Superhighway

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  • George Darroch,

    The Ihumatao Stonefields are a wonderful place to be, with views of the truly beautiful Manukau Harbour.

    The Manukau is one of the gems of Auckland, but seemingly remains almost unknown.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Ray Gilbert,

    It's getting more popular though, particularly the Awhitu Peninsula. The Regional Park is a real gem as well, some of the best views and well equipped picnic areas in Auckland as well with hardly a person in sight.

    Since Nov 2006 • 104 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    Nice to be at the opening, and lovely to meet Russell, and I *think* I met Sam, but not sure on that.

    And I'll take back my words; it's now Mr Steven "Cycleways or hell" Joyce. He quite clearly said that the new link was going to be built. And that he would turn up on his bike when it will be opened. :)

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    And I should point out that the tie/shirt wearing guy with the backpack on with the "one less car" covering in your picture Russell is Daniel Newcombe who works at Auckland City Council, and had a big hand to play in this from Council's perspective. Big ups to Daniel!

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    Nice to be at the opening, and lovely to meet Russell, and I *think* I met Sam, but not sure on that.

    You may well have. I was the short bloke in the white Diadora shirt with backpack. Sorry for failing to introduce myself properly!

    Impressions:

    Someone (it may have been Barbara) shared a story of kids counting the cyclists with CAN backpacks as they rode past: "that's seven less cars, eight less cars, nine less cars..."

    Lots of people on classy folding bikes and big white-tyred cruisers, someone had a track bike, and an even braver chap showed up with a penny farthing! The whole gamut. And of course it was neat to see kids enjoying the ride.

    'Twas good to see Wayne Macdonald from NZTA there, and he had a good long cycle along the new section on one of the Nextbike rentals. (Previously I'd only seen him at the Getacross harbour crossing protest saying "No!", so this was a nice change of pace).

    Heck, even Melissa Lee had a brief wobble along the first fifty metres or so (on a classy green urban bike brought along by Rode of Point Chev) before dashing back to catch a taxi at Nixon Park.

    Hopefully we'll see more improvements in some kind of reasonable timeframe - I still think it has taken shamefully long to get this done - but it's there now and the opening made for a good morning out.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    When are you coming down for Marchfest Russ? It's usually a very civilised chance for a few superb brews, some tunes and a catchup.

    Also, I ride in the crappiest t-shirt I can find and rugby shorts. It's kinda like lycra-repellent.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    Ahhh, I think you followed me up the path towards the city? We were following that cool couple on old style Raleigh 20s...

    <jealous> The other VERY cool bike there was a cargo bike that had mud guards and a front luggage rack all made out of something like plywood - very very classy and styley. The guys at Rode made it apparently.</jealous>

    And yeah, good to see Wayne McDonald on a bike! He rode all the way to the end of the new link and back too!

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Sorry to have missed the opening, too busy swotting Java :-). But I just got back from a cruise in to K-Road along it - I'd say it knocked 5 mins off each way, and probably about 200 calories. More importantly, it's a lot safer.

    Am I the very first to ride it with a child on the back? Marcus insisted on coming. To celebrate, I actually managed to pedal all the way up the Newton ramp at the end. It rained on the way home, but it just cooled me down a bit.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Duncan McKenzie,

    the tie/shirt wearing guy with the backpack on with the "one less car" covering in your picture Russell is Daniel Newcombe who works at Auckland City Council

    Surely not the same Daniel Newcombe who let the Waterview/Mt Albert residents so badly down with his report to the ACC Transport Committee on the Waterview connection? Or are there two of them at the Council?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 53 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Heck, even Melissa Lee had a brief wobble along the first fifty metres or so (on a classy green urban bike brought along by Rode of Point Chev) before dashing back to catch a taxi at Nixon Park.

    Wait, she caught a taxi (both ways?) to a cycleway?

    Was she wearing a "two more cars" on her back?

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Welch,

    @Christopher Dempsey I think the bike you were drooling over was our Civia Loring which has bamboo guards and racks. I was down there on my french style Porteur which I made from bits.

    Auckland • Since Aug 2008 • 47 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Hey taxis aren't as bad as actually driving a car. At least someone else could use them in the meantime.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    Wait, she caught a taxi (both ways?) to a cycleway?

    I dunno - I just passed her as she was rolling slowly and a bit shakily along, then when I turned around at the other end and came back she'd already parked the bike and was signalling a Commodore taxi which was pulling into the carpark.

    I think Barbara from Cycle Action and Christine Rose of the ARC arrived by bike, but certainly I don't think any of the other dignitaries did, so I'm not trying to single Ms Lee out.

    ETA: the bike that Chris liked and Ms Lee tried out was indeed the Civia Loring from Rode. I like those too - was nice to see one on a rack at the Mount Albert shops when I was on a recent errand. Almost too nice to shop on?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    (As long as she doesn't argue for the cycle superhighway as diverting pedal-powered criminals coming in from West Auckland...)

    LOL. Actually I ride along it regularly at night, and it does seem to have more suspicious looking fellows wandering around on it then than during the day. Possibly I just think they look suspicious because it's night, and they're dressed in black, but I wouldn't advise anyone to use it as a footpath at night - there's long stretches where you'd be a long way from any help, with plenty of places for some creep to hide.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Sol K,

    you lot are probably already well on to this, but just in case... MAXX has a whole bunch of stuff on cycling in auckland including "delivered free to your door" hardcopy maps. I ordered mine a couple of days ago, looking forward to seeing what turns up.

    http://www.maxx.co.nz/cycling-walking/cycling.html

    Auckland • Since Feb 2010 • 13 posts Report Reply

  • Raymond A Francis,

    and about 50 riders, young and old,

    And this in the middle of the school holidays, shame on you Auckland
    We had a bike day here and from a population of a couple of thousand got 150+ out on their bikes
    Time for you all to get off your arses and get out on your bikes

    45' South • Since Nov 2006 • 578 posts Report Reply

  • stephen walker,

    @ Raymond:

    actually, the organisers of this event seemed to want to keep it a secret. there was NO info apart from what could be found (by chance) on this web site and one other blog when i did several googles last night.

    (see other thread)

    i wanted to recommend it to some school-aged children in Auckland, but i didn't have much to go on...

    nagano • Since Nov 2006 • 646 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    Possibly I just think they look suspicious because it's night, and they're dressed in black, but I wouldn't advise anyone to use it as a footpath at night - there's long stretches where you'd be a long way from any help, with plenty of places for some creep to hide.

    I'll never forget the shock I got one night when I was crossing the bridge by Pollen Island on the NW cycleway - and nearly ran into an apparently homeless gentleman just sitting there at about 10pm. He didn't mean any harm to me, and I recovered enough to say hi (and he responded in kind), but it was still a bit of a jolt.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    WEARING MY ELECTED REP HAT

    Surely not the same Daniel Newcombe who let the Waterview/Mt Albert residents so badly down with his report to the ACC Transport Committee on the Waterview connection? Or are there two of them at the Council?

    The same Daniel Newcombe, who, like all good staff, do what they are told to do, and in this case, write, by politicians and very senior staff. What is under his name is not necessarily what he actually wrote.

    Writing reports is a political game really.

    @ Sam - I was another dignitary, a quiet one in the background, and I got there on my bike. :)

    WHIPPING SAID HAT OFF.

    @Tim Welch - yes, it was that one... drool drool. Do you stock it?

    @ Stephen W - I mentioned the lack of knowledge or advertising on the web about the event to the comms manager - I don't think he realised how big a deal it would be. I'm sure he'll do things a little differently next time.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    I think the biggest danger on the cycleway is to forget that it's also a pedestrian way. It's not really safe to be ripping down the hills on it at 50kmh unless you're certain that people (or dogs) couldn't just step out of the bushes. I very nearly collected one guy doing this - pedestrians just don't expect to have to look on a cycleway.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Welch,

    @Christopher Dempsey - We do indeed. Drop by sometime.

    Auckland • Since Aug 2008 • 47 posts Report Reply

  • Duncan McKenzie,

    Writing reports is a political game really.

    Sorry Christopher, I've been in that game a damn sight longer than Daniel Newcombe. If what went in under his name was his genuine opinion I would have to respect that (even while disagreeing with it). If it wasn't his genuine opinion then that's either downright unprofessional or a forgery. I cannot respect that.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 53 posts Report Reply

  • stephen walker,

    @Christopher:

    tah. will look out for more accessible info in the future.

    nagano • Since Nov 2006 • 646 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    Putting on Elected Rep Hat...

    Writing reports is a political game really.

    Sorry Christopher, I've been in that game a damn sight longer than Daniel Newcombe. If what went in under his name was his genuine opinion I would have to respect that (even while disagreeing with it). If it wasn't his genuine opinion then that's either downright unprofessional or a forgery. I cannot respect that.

    I wish all staff would write what they really really really think, but they don't for a variety of reasons, mostly political. Daniel is the consummate professional; he wrote a report as best as he could under the circumstances (a highly politicised infrastructure proposal that is continually constested. The politics came into it when Joyce changed the rules to suit his worldview).

    I think your anger and disappointment needs to be directed at the senior staff that signed off the report, not Daniel.

    Taking off said hat...

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • stephen walker,

    it's also a pedestrian way

    eh? and how is cycling on it any different from cycling on a footpath? (apart from absence of driveways and side streets)?

    when i cycle in Tokyo, the No. 1 danger, by far, is people just walking out in front of me (on the road, not foot path) without looking at all and with no warning. a (20-ish) woman, with her friends, walked in front of me last night, right in the middle of the road, despite my screeching brakes (new pads). talking on her cellphone. she just carried on talking. felt no need to apologise. lots of abuse from me ensued as i rode away in boilerplate grumpy-old-man-cyclist mode...

    anyway, how is a cycleway also a pedestrian path? is there no barrier separating the two?

    nagano • Since Nov 2006 • 646 posts Report Reply

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