Cycling Action Network
Cycling advocacy organisation in New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cycling Action Network (CAN) is a national cycling advocacy group founded in November 1996[1] in Wellington, New Zealand. They lobby government, local authorities, businesses and the community on behalf of cyclists, for a better cycling environment. It aims to achieve a better cycling environment for cycling as transport. Major initiatives are the annual Cycle Friendly Awards and support for a biennial Cycling Conference. The organisation was originally named Cycling Advocates' Network until it was formally changed at the annual general meeting on 20 March 2016.[2]
| |
 NZ is CAN's area of influence. | |
| Formation | 1 November 1996 |
|---|---|
| Type | NGO |
| Legal status | Incorporated Society and Registered Charity |
| Purpose | Advocacy |
| Headquarters |  Wellington, NZ |
| Location |
|
Region served | New Zealand |
| Membership | Private Persons & Organisations |
Official language | En |
Chair | Alex Dyer |
Main organ | Board |
| Staff | 3 |
| Volunteers | dozens |
| Website | can |
Goals
CAN's goals are:[3]
- Promote integrated cycle planning
- Promote the benefits of cycling
- Improve safety
- Encourage the creation of a good cycling environment
- Develop cycle advocacy and cycle action
Chairpersons
The group is led an executive committee. Chairpersons of these committees are shown in the table below.
| Start | End | Name |
|---|---|---|
| ? | 17 July 2000 | Sally Stevens[a][4] |
| 17 July 2000 | 11 October 2003 | Jane Dawson[b][6] |
| 11 October 2003 | October 2004 | David Laing[7] |
| October 2004 | 4 October 2008 | Robert Ibell[8] |
| 4 October 2008 | 14 November 2009 | Axel Wilke & Glen Koorey[c][9] |
| 14 November 2009 | March or April 2010 | Bevan Woodward[10] |
| April 2010 | 29 March 2015 | Graeme Lindup[d][14] |
| 29 March 2015 | 20 March 2016 | Graeme Lindup & Will Andrews[e][2] |
| 20 March 2016 | July 2018 | Will Andrews |
Activities
NZ Cycling Conference
CAN has made a major contribution to the establishment and ongoing success of the NZ Cycling Conference[17] series (15 October 1997, Hamilton; 14–15 July 2000, Palmerston North; 21–22 September 2001, Christchurch; 10–11 October 2003, North Shore; 14–15 October 2005 Hutt City; 1–2 November 2007, Napier; 12–13 November 2009, New Plymouth). Since 2012, the conference series has been combined with the previous NZ Walking Conference series and rebranded "2WALKandCYCLE" (February 2012, Hastings; October 2014, Nelson; July 2016, Auckland; Jul/Aug 2018, Palmerston North; March 2021, Dunedin).[18][19]
Cycle Friendly Awards
Since 2003, CAN has been organising the annual Cycle Friendly Awards, celebrating initiatives to promote cycling and create a cycle-friendly environment at both a national and local level in New Zealand.[20] The event has since received public recognition, with government representatives attending the award ceremonies.[21]
Chainlinks
Chainlinks is the magazine of the NZ Cycling Action Network (CAN), which as of 2017[update] is published three times a year as an electronic newsletter. About a 1000 copies are distributed to members of CAN and a number of supporting organisations such as local government authorities and cycling industry organisations.[22] Published since 1997, until 2015 it was a full-colour paper magazine,[22] whose back issues are available online.[23]
Association with other groups
CAN is the parent organisation for some 20 local cycling advocacy groups around the country,[24] including Bike Auckland and Spokes Canterbury.
CAN was a member of BikeNZ and provided one board member from BikeNZ's inception in July 2003. CAN resigned from BikeNZ in October 2007,[25] but continues to work with BikeNZ on advocacy issues.[26]
CAN works closely with Living Streets Aotearoa, the national walking advocacy group.
See also
Footnotes
- Stevens is listed as chairperson in the impressum
- At the 8 March 2010 committee meeting, Bevan appears to have still been the chair.[11] The 12 April 2010 minutes say: "Liz suggested Glen take on the chair role (since Bevan's resignation) until the May workshop. Glen ... agreed to do this".[12] However, Graeme Lindup appears to have taken over as chair instead and he signed, on 25 May 2010, a document for changing the group's rules as "Chair" of CAN.[13]
- Graeme Lindup stood down, nobody put their name forward, and David Hawke pointed out that the deputy chair would take over in such a situation. It does not say in the minutes who the deputy is.[15] The 2016 chair's report explains the situation: "When Will came free from being the stand-in for Patrick, he agreed to take more of a lead role on the committee. So Graeme and Will shared the Chair role through to the next AGM."[16]