[sustran] FW: Sustainable Transport Network Newsletter #15

[Paul Barter]

Here are some selected excerpts (that seem relevant to this list) from the
latest NZ Sustainable Transport Network Newsletter #15.  The whole
newsletter will soon be at their web site.

Dr Paul Barter
Geography, NUS

-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Yeaman [mailto:Elizabeth.Yeaman at eeca.govt.nz]
Sent: Tuesday, 10 April 2001 9:33
To: sustran at po.jaring.my
Subject: Sustainable Transport Network Newsletter #15


Sustainable Transport Network Newsletter
Issue 15, March/April 2001

CONTENTS:

·	Transport Habits Targeted in Energy Strategy
·	Is Your Project an Award Winner?
·	Green Transport On-Line - UC Rideshare
·	Transport Demand Management Encyclopaedia On Line
·	Green Bikes in Nelson
·	....and Planned for Porirua City
·	Orbiter  - A Big Success 
·	Cycling Symposium 2001 - Call For Papers 
·	Walking Good For The Economy - Expert
·	International Pedestrian Conference - Report Back 
·	Public Transport Growth Continues to Outstrip Driving Growth in US
·	IPENZ Transportation Group Study Award 
·	Diary Date   EECA Marketing Public Transport conference  Friday
August 3, 2001
·	Bike to Work Day - Report Back
·	Commuter Challenge Sees Bikes Faster Than Cars

Back copies of this newsletter are on the EECA website at
http://www.eeca.govt.nz - just follow the Transport signpost. 

***

....
WALKING IS GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY, SAYS EXPERT

Good public transport, large-scale pedestrian areas and inner-city cycle
networks make cities wealthier, says international expert Professor Carmen
Hass-Klau.

Professor Hass-Klau spoke at three well-attended EECA seminars in Auckland,
Wellington and Christchurch last month on the need to create quality walking
environments in towns and cities. She is a professor of civil engineering,
transport and public transport systems at the University of Wuppertal in
Germany and also runs an environmental consultancy in the UK. 

Hass-Klau said that in order to promote walking, city planners needed to
create residential areas and city centres that have a mix of retailing,
housing and employment.  They need to design visually interesting streets,
provide attractive alternatives to car use and apply traffic management
measures to reduce speeds in residential and central city streets. 

"These policies are used in a number of European cities. They show
impressive results in terms of economic vitality and good quality of life,"
she said

She said she saw lots of potential in New Zealand cities to boost walking,
cycling, and public transport. She particularly praised Christchurch as one
of the best New World cities she had seen after travelling extensively.

For a copy of the paper presented by Professor Hass-Klau please contact
Bernadine Walsh at EECA on 09-916 4640 or e-mail
Bernadine.Walsh at eeca.govt.nz

***

REPORT BACK - WALKING THE  21ST CENTURY CONFERENCE

Around 120 delegates attend an international walking conference in Perth in
February including four New Zealand-based attendees:

·	Liz Yeaman, EECA
·	Elizabeth Anderson, National Transport Strategy Co-ordinator,
Ministry of Transport
·	Deb Hurdle, Hillary Commission
·	Mike Thompson, Pedestrian Advocate, Christchurch City Council

Most of the papers reinforced the social, economic and environmental
benefits of greater pedestrian activities. There was a significant emphasis
on the health benefits too. A few insights into urban transport demand
management policies for key European cities were presented - such as jointly
addressing parking management and pedestrian activity in Copenhagen.

The highlight of the conference was two presentations surrounding the
TravelSmart initiative being undertaken in Perth by German consultant Werner
Brog of Socialdata. Werner outlined the proportion of car trips which could
be undertaken by other modes, based on research in Munich and Perth. Gary
John of the Department of Transport in Western Australia outlined the
effectiveness of the TravelSmart individualised marketing programme for
increasing walking trips in Perth. The initiative demonstrated an impressive
cost-benefit ratio for the project of 12:1. Another paper from Ian Ker of
Transport WA quantified the benefits of each km of car trip replaced by
walking - each 1,000km/year of car travel transferred to walking has a net
present value (NPV) of A$2,309 over 30 years.

All papers from the conference are on the web at
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/conferences/walking/index.html

***
.....

COMMUTER CHALLENGE SEES BIKES FASTER THAN CARS

As part of Bike Wise National Bike Week, Bike Wise held a Commuter Challenge
in Wellington on Wednesday 21 February, National Bike to Work Day.

Three teams (car, bike and bus) each with a member stationed in
Johnsonville, Brooklyn, Oriental Bay and Karori commuted into Civic Square
in peak morning traffic, in an attempt to discover the most effective means
of commuter transport in Wellington. The team whose members all arrived in
Civic Square first were declared the winners. Celebrity participants in the
Commuter Challenge included Debbie Matoe and Lionie Matoe of the Shakers,
Zavana Aranga and Maleme Williams of the White Sox, Olympian Trevor Shailer
and Wellington City Councillor Andy Foster.

The Commuter Challenge proved beyond any doubt that biking is the most
effective form of commuter transportation. With a convincing win over the
bus and car teams, (second and third place respectively) the cyclists took
away the Commuter Challenge title this year.

>From Johnsonville the bike took 20 minutes, beating the bus by a massive 12
minutes and the car by a staggering 18 minutes, indicating it is far quicker
to leave the car at home and bike or bus to work.  From Karori the bike took
9 minutes, beating the car by an impressive 8 minutes and the bus by 10
minutes.  From Brooklyn the bike took 6 minutes, beating the car by 3
minutes and the bus by 5  minutes.  From Oriental Bay the bike took 6
minutes, beating the car by 1 minute and the bus by 5 minutes.

"Not only did the cyclists win the Commuter Challenge, their journeys cost
substantially less than the expense of running a car, provided healthy, fun
and invigorating morning exercise, and were environmentally friendly," says
Felicity Close of the Health Sponsorship Council. 

Only one of the cyclists was able to take advantage of a cycle lane as they
made their way in to the city. "With more provision of quality cycling
facilities, more cyclists would feel safer on the roads and consequently,
bike more often," says Felicity.

For more information contact Felicity Close, Health Sponsorship Council.
Ph: 04 472 5777  E-mail: felicity at healthsponsorship.co.nz

***

ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER

This newsletter has been compiled by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Authority (EECA). All issues of the newsletter are archived at EECA's
website:  http://www.eeca.govt.nz/

The newsletter aims to provide a link tying together an informal network of
groups with a common interest in creating a more sustainable transport
future for New Zealand, thereby realising the full range of benefits
associated with improving transport energy use in New Zealand.  In
particular, we want to include the activities and views of sustainable
transport end-user groups alongside those of central and local government
and other transport providers.  Under the umbrella of "sustainable transport
end-users" are public transport users, pedestrians, cyclists, car-poolers
and telecommuters.  Ideas for items are also welcomed.  

To be ad*ded or re*moved from the e-mailing list for this newsletter, please
contact Liz Yeaman, Transport and Local Government Executive at EECA, PO Box
388, Wellington.  Ph: 04 470 2228.  
E-mail: Elizabeth.Yeaman at eeca.govt.nz