Urban Bicycles

Promoting urban appropriate utility bicycles and utility cycling in New Zealand

The New Zealand Ministry of Transport ( through its update of the Sustainable Transport Strategy) has a (provisional) goal of increasing to 30% the number of New Zealanders who use 'active' modes of transport ( walking and cycling) to get around within our urban areas (albeit, by 2040).

This goal has already been achieved ( and exceeded ) in countries not so dissimilar to our own, starting from conditions similar to those that currently exist in New Zealand.

 Copenhagenize!

The Urban Bicycles web-site draws attention to the technologies and policies which have contributed to making 'urban utility cycling' practical, practicable and comfortable ,convenient and safe for the large percentage (35%+)of commuters in many European (and Japanese)'cycletopias' AND provides links to where utility-style bicycles and associated technologies can be obtained in New Zealand (and in the rest of the world), to resources and discussion on utility cycling issues and to initiatives by Local Governments, organisations, companies or individuals that are setting precedents which others can follow.

Alan Preston Christchurch, New Zealand

e-mail: urbanbicycles@gmail.com

*N.B. I have no involvement in any commercial (especially bicycle-related) enterprises.

(last updated 18th of November 2008)

--Join the slow bicycle movement and Copenhagenize your town!

What is 'utility' cycling?

It is not 'recreation' and it is not 'sport'.

It includes, but is NOT limited to 'commuter cycling' 

Utility cycling is TRANSPORT.

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The 'inconvenient truth' about utility cycling in countries where it is prevalent:

Because their laws allow them to, 86 million bicyclists in Japan choose ride their 'ladies' shopping bikes on footpaths without helmets .

Note that wherever utility cycling is prevalent:

-it is not limited to a narrow demographic range by the unavailability of appropriate technologies, by overly restrictive laws, or by the perception that riding a bicycle is dangerous.

-the styles of bikes : Mountain Bikes and Road Racers (to which New Zealanders are limited) are rarely seen,-while in New Zealand the bicycles and associated technologies that are appropriate for urban utility cycling are virtually unobtainable.

( segregated cycling facilities in Utrecht, Netherlands )

Amsterdamize!

-the wearing of helmets is neither compulsory nor widely practiced.

( commuter 'traffic' in Berlin,Germany )

"Traffic" in Copenhagen (see http://www.copenhagenize.com/ )

-cyclists often enjoy actual ( as opposed to 'asserted') separation from motorised traffic and in some countries (i.e.Japan ) prefer to and are encouraged to share pavements with pedestrians.

A typical covered shopping street in Japan.

Have a look at this video to see what 'utility' cycling is in cities like Copenhagen where 35% of the traffic is bicycles (vs 2% in N.Z)

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Sustainable Transport in New Zealand.

The missing link:

European-style urban appropriate utility bicycles.

A great example of urban appropriate utility cycling technology:

Gofa V2.0 from Gemini Bicycles : Available in New Zealand since April 2008

Incorporating Shimano 8 speed internal-hub gearing activated with a Shimano Revo twist-grip shifter.

Busch-Muller (front and back) halogen 'see and be seen' lights powered by an internal hub dynamo (in the front wheel)automatically activated by a light sensor with a built-in capacitor to keep them going while 'standing' at intersections

Mud-guards for riding in the rain , chain-guards for riding in work clothes,

A basket and carrier for carrying stuff.

Comfortable 'sit up and beg' upright sitting position.

( see the link to the Gemini site above for more info )