Cycling Action Network (CAN) is a national cycling advocacy group founded in November 1996 in

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by m ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...

. 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 The New Zealand Cycle Friendly Awards were devised by the Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN) in 2003. The purpose of the awards is to acknowledge and celebrate some of the most notable achievements in the country that are helping to promote cycling ...

and support for a biennial Cycling Conference. The organisation was originally named Cycling Advocates' Network until 2015.

Goals

CAN's goals are: * 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

Activities

NZ Cycling Conference

CAN has made a major contribution to the establishment and ongoing success of the NZ Cycling Conference 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); February 2012 Hastings.

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. The event has since received public recognition, with government representatives attending the award ceremonies.

''Chainlinks''

''Chainlinks'' is the magazine of the NZ Cycling Action Network (CAN), which 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. Published since 1997, until 2015 it was a full-colour paper magazine, whose back issues are available online.

Association with other groups

CAN is the parent organisation for some 20 local cycling advocacy groups around the country, including Cycle Action Auckland and

Spokes Canterbury Spokes Canterbury is the main cycling advocacy group in Canterbury Region, Canterbury, New Zealand. It was established in November 1998, as a successor to the former Canterbury Cyclists' Association (established in the 1970s). Cycling Action Net ...

. CAN was a member of

BikeNZ Cycling New Zealand ( mi, Eke Paihikara Aotearoa), originally known as BikeNZ, is the national governing body for cycling organisations in New Zealand, and represents the interests of BMX NZ, Cycling New Zealand Road & Track, Mountain Bike NZ, a ...

and provided one board member from BikeNZ's inception in July 2003. CAN resigned from BikeNZ in October 2007, but continues to work with BikeNZ on advocacy issues. CAN works closely with Living Streets Aotearoa, the national walking advocacy group.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Cycling organisations in New Zealand Political advocacy groups in New Zealand Cycling activism