This page is not a current Christchurch City Council document. Please read our disclaimer.
 |
5 September 2001 |
Overseas Experts At Cycle Conference
Several overseas experts will speak at the New Zealand Cycling Conference in Christchurch from 21-22 September.
They include Karel K de Roy van Zuydewyn, a senior traffic policy co-ordinator from the Netherlands, and Colin Ashton-Graham, from the Transport Western Australia organisation.
Karel de Roy, from Utrecht, is the senior traffic policy co-ordinator whose organisation embraces 23 local authorities. Mr. Ashton-Graham has worked for 10 years in the UK and Western Australia towards sustainable transport. Politicians will also be involved in the conference. The Associate Minister of Transport, Judith Tizard, will speak at the official opening on Friday 21 September when her theme will be supporting and promoting cycling. At the opening session MPs Belinda Vernon (National), John Wright (Alliance), Rod Donald (Greens), Penny Webster (ACT), and Damien O’Connor (Labour) will form a panel to debate their parties’ stances towards cycling. Local MP Ruth Dyson will speak on Saturday 22 September. The conference, the third in New Zealand over the past five years, has as its theme Cycling: Transport for Living. This represents the increasing recognition that cycling is gaining for the role it can play in improving the overall quality of life in communities. A bonus for speakers at the conference will be two prizes of $A500, offered by the Australian Bicycle Promotion Fund, for the most inspirational speaker and the most informative paper. Voting will be by those attending the conference. Conference organiser Alix Newman, of the Christchurch City Council, says that health, tourism, recreation, economic revitalisation and a sense of community are all areas in which cycling is being seen as gaining importance. Also there are the more traditional roles in environment protection and traffic reduction. Mr. Newman said the conference, to be held at the Chateau on the Park, will be attended by over 200 delegates and include transport planners, designers, psychologists, educators, and health professionals. On Saturday 21 September Christchurch’s Mayor Garry Moore will open the Railway Pathway cycle-way, north from Fendalton Road, at 1.15pm. Following the conference, on Sunday 23 September the annual Lyttelton Tunnel Ride will be held from 10.30am. Cyclists will assemble in the Gondola car park before setting off. No latecomers will be allowed in the tunnel after the mass start. The return journey through the tunnel will be held at 1.45pm. A gold coin donation is needed for the ride. Further information: Alix Newman: 941 8472. Interviews: Karel de Roy will be available for interview on Thursday 20 September by prior arrangement - phone: 941 8472. Photo available of Karel de Roy if needed.