About CM
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Gisborne cyclists join a ‘march on wheels’ at lunchtime on the last Friday of every month as ‘Critical Mass’ hits the city streets.
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Motivated to do something as a response to weekly incidents of cyclists being hit by cars, we have joined the global movement to promote cycling and reduce injury and death caused by vehicles hitting cyclists.
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Cyclists gather at the Marina carpark by 12.15pm and make their way slowly through town.
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The goal of Critical Mass is to promote the benefits of cycling and encourage Gisborne to be a ‘cycle-centric city’ that is safe for cyclists and walkers.
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While we have a message for organisations like Gisborne District Council, Transit New Zealand and the Land Transport Safety Authority who are responsible for making sure roads are as safe as possible for cyclists, our main message is to remind all of us that we need to be more aware of others on the road. Cyclists who are the most vulnerable road users and should not have to fear for their lives every time we get on a road.
Cycling makes sense in Gisborne – the city is almost completely flat, it is relatively compact and has consistently good weather for cycling. With the looming environmental crisis of climate change, soaring fuel costs and obesity epidemics – cycling is good for the environment, personal health and household finances.
Overseas the Critical Mass events have seen thousands of cyclists participate and have proved effective mechanisms for leveraging public policy changes and personal behaviour change by motorists. In spite of the good work GDC has done to date we are not convinced Gisborne is a cycle-friendly city and a whole lot more needs to be done before cycling is the transport of choice for those who are able to do so.
One of the outcomes achieved since Critical Mass started riding in August 2008 has been the establishment of a quarterly meeting between the cycling community and Gisborne District Council to share information on the implementation of the Walking & Cycling Strategy, developments for improved cycle-safety and other matters of common interest.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Manu Caddie : 0274202957 / manu[at]ahi.co.nz
