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Category Archives: Will
Cycling Transport+Urban Design Will
Cycling the ‘Wonder Drug’
2013, April 6 – 11:52
From European Cycling Federation in a recent news article, a nicely-worded summary-
Cycling is the wonder drug of the transport world. It provides solutions to so many problems and unlike most forms of transport, it has lots of positive side effects. Think about it: people riding bicycles makes no noise, emit no air pollutants or greenhouse gases, they ease traffic congestion… the list goes on. But the real bread winner for policy makers are the health benefits. The more people cycle, the healthier they are. This means that cyclists don’t just ease congested streets, but they ease congested health systems. Higher levels of physical activity translates into reduced morbidity (ill health) and reduced mortality of cyclists.
Promote Hi-Viz, but not like this…
2013, April 6 – 09:55
What’s depressing about well-meaning taxpayer-funded initiatives like this is the total lack of understanding of the most simple, basic concepts of risk by those who should know better!
- Yet Another Misguided Hi-Viz Promotion (PDF, 1.8Mb)
In sharing the road with motorists, where is the risk to cyclists being created? From the motor vehicles, of course. So who should we educate and nag? Yes, well done. Those wielding over-powered heavy fast-moving metal objects.
If we’ve got funding for road safety measures, let’s improve driver standards by promotional campaigns, better driver training, lower speed limits, ongoing skills tests, higher enforcement before blaming the victims of poor driving.
For a real road-safety improvement measure, how about random stopping of motorists to test how good they are at spotting cyclists’ lights from a distance!?
Long-Awaited, Commendable Cycling Promotion Video
2013, April 5 – 21:25
“Share the Road with Cyclists” RSA Ad
Irish TV viewers may recently have spotted a new ad advising drivers on how to share the road with cyclists. Thumbs up to the Government’s Road Safety Authority for rolling this out. Not only is it well shot and scripted, but you have to approve of its messages. In fact, Dublin Cycling Campaign was involved in the background, and it’s a credit to the RSA that they took on board the well-known points from cycling advocacy we made.
Above is a screen-grab from the TV ad, and below it an image from the submission Will edited in early 2012. Let’s hope drivers around the country actually take notice and start giving cyclists the space we deserve. Click here to see this and other RSA ads.
The RSA also published a series of three ads aimed at cyclists last year. This time the RSA consulted us throughout scripting and filming. Though there was a list of niggles that advocates had with the final product -why hi-viz on every cyclist!?- the advice it gave, ‘you’ve as much right to your road space as any other road user, so ride with confidence and command your lane’ was a first in an Irish official context, and marked new ground for the promotion of cycling. Each of the three ads also took time to highlight some of the benefits of cycling, yet another piece of good news for us!
This series sadly wasn’t aired on TV, but you can view them here.
Omaka Airshow Photos
2013, March 31 – 10:23
Kiwis Glimpse Contents of One-Percenters’ Shed-
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Marahau Photos
2013, March 27 – 20:39
Cate and Will off again on another little adventure. Cycle to Marahau 60km (vertical change about 200m); camp at MacDonalds; get ferry to Bark Bay in Tasman National Park, hike 22km back to tent; eat lots of burgers. Potter about Kaiteriteri on Sunday and lose track of time. Cycle back via Mapua and the Great Taste Trail complete with ferry ride. Excitement: New stove for the billy can. Cups of tea and espressos galore. Yay.
Christchurch earthquake
2012, November 5 – 20:43
Photo of demolition of central Christchurch commercial buildings
2012- April 21st
Holiday Snaps- Sydney
2012, November 5 – 19:26
Visiting Sydney, Billy, Estelle, Kip, Lou, Reuben and of course Cherie! October 2012
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