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 to create a cycle-friendly environment.https://can.org.nz/cycle-friendly-awards-history Cycle Friendly Awards homepage Since 2016, the awards have been jointly organised with the New Zealand Transport Agency and rebranded as the 'Bike to the Future Awards'.
History and description
CAN announced on 7 August 2003 that the awards had been created.http://caw.org.nz/node/1389 CAN press release on creating the awards; accessed 27 December 2009 The first awards ceremony was held on 10 October 2003 and the awards have since been awarded approximately annually.
There are several categories (four initially, since extended to five), and in each category there are up to five finalists. Those finalists are announced some time prior to the awards ceremony, enabling representatives to attend the awards function. In each category, one of the finalists is announced the winner during an awards ceremony. The awards function is typically combined with the biennial NZ Cycling Conference, or with the annual get together of CAN in the intervening years.
Finalists receive a certificate. Winners receive a certificate and a trophy; originally a bicycle bell mounted on a plinth.
In 2012, the opportunity has been taken to combine the awards with the "Golden Foot" Awards presented by walking advocates Living Streets Aotearoa. In addition a new joint award for all Walking and Cycling finalists was introduced. These initiatives were repeated in 2014, but the Golden Foot Awards have been subsequently awarded at a separate ceremony.
In 2016, the New Zealand Transport Agency took on organisation of the awards, with CAN still involved, and rebranded them as the 'Bike to the Future Awards'. A new trophy design, incorporating a stylised bicycle, was created for the winners.
A panel of judges uses criteria to individually assess the nominations. The judges work independent from one another, so can't influence each other, and don't know how the others are scoring. Combining the judges' scores by the awards coordinator determines the winner. The following criteria are used:
Coverage – the number of people potentially affected Success to date – of initiatives / person in encouraging cycling Potential – applicability to other locations / organisations / commitment by person Innovation – relative uniqueness & innovation of initiative / person's action in New Zealand
Award categories
Best cycle facility project This category is for the transport infrastructure project year that has had the most significant impact on promoting cycling and a cycle-friendly environment in the past year. Examples could include new cycle ways, cycle parking facilities, or general roading projects that assist and encourage cycling. Nominations are typically received for projects undertaken by local or central government agencies.
Best cycling promotion This category is for the education or encouragement project that has had the most significant impact on promoting cycling and a cycle-friendly environment in the past year. Examples could include publicity campaigns, school education programmes, or promotional cycling events. Nominations range from individuals to government organisations.
Cycle-friendly commitment by business This category is for the companies that have made significant efforts encouraging and supporting cycling by its staff, customers and clients the past year. Examples of cycle-friendly actions include cyclist parking / changing facilities, employee support and incentive programmes, and company 'pool' bikes. Nominations cover both general businesses and those directly involved in the bicycle industry.
Cycle-friendly commitment by public organisation This category is for the public or government organisation that has made significant efforts encouraging and supporting cycling by its staff and public users in the past year. This category includes central or local government agencies, and organisations such as health boards, universities or airports. Examples of cycle-friendly actions include cyclist parking / changing facilities, employee support and incentive programmes.
Cycling champion of the year This category, first awarded in 2007, is designed to recognise the contribution made by individual New Zealanders to the promotion of cycling.
Winners and finalists The following table shows the winners for the various years.
Winners by year Best cycle facility projectBest cycling promotionCycle-friendly commitment by businessCycle-friendly commitment by a public organisationCycling champion of the year2003Porirua City Council (Ara Harakeke pathway)http://www.mountainbike.co.nz/politics/caw/ww_0502.html Windy Wheels newsletter: Ara Harakeke wins two awards; accessed 28 December 2009Bike Wise (National Bike Wise Week 2003)Cycle Surgery, Dunedin (Child cycling skills programme)SPARC (Cycle-friendly employer resources)(first awarded in 2007)2004Auckland City Council (Waterview cycle & pedestrian bridge)Cycle Action Auckland (Commuter Challenge 2004)MWH (New Zealand) Ltd, Christchurch (Bike User Group / staff travel plans)Land Transport Safety Authority (Cycle Network & Route Planning Guide)2005Christchurch City Council (Creyke Road Living Streets project)Axel Wilke ('Planning & Design for Cycling' training course)EDS New Zealand Ltd (Secure cycle lockup)Nelson City Council (0800 cycle crash reporting hotline)2006Little River Trail Trust (Little River Rail Trail)Bike Wise & Health Sponsorship Council (Bike Wise Mayoral Challenge)Tait Electronics, Christchurch (workplace cycle facilities)University of Canterbury (Ilam campus cycle-friendly initiatives)2007 Transit New Zealand (Basin Reserve cycle / pedestrian crossings) Massey University PR team (On Ya Bike)http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/fms//Massey%20News/Massey%20News%20print/2007/pdf/MN1607.pdf Massey University newsletter announcing selection as finalist, page 8; accessed 3 January 2010 MWH New Zealand Ltd (Green kilometres on 'pool' bikes) Nelson City Council (Nelson City Council – pedalling along) Tama Easton (Vorb owner & director, editor of Spoke magazine )2008New Plymouth District Council (New Plymouth Coastal Walkway)http://www.newplymouthnz.com/VisitingNewPlymouth/Attractions/CoastalWalkway.htm Coastal walkway on NPDC website; accessed 13 January 2010Tauranga City Council (kids can ride – for life)http://www.tauranga.govt.nz/tabid/787/aid/2244/tctl/1846_ViewAnnouncement/Default.aspx Tauranga City Council newsletter; accessed 3 January 2010Bike Central (cyclist services / facilities at Britomart Transport Centre)NZ Transport Agency (Bike Wise Week)Robert Ibell (chair of Cycling Advocates' Network)2009Waitakere City Council (Twin Streams walking & cycleway)Frocks On Bikes, Wellington (Frocks On Bikes)Fullers360 (Fullers’ integrated ferry and bus service)http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0911/S00702.htm Scoop news release, 23 November 2009; accessed 3 January 2010Police Nelson & Nelson City Council (bobbies on bikes)Bevan Woodward (Auckland Harbour Bridge 50th anniversary event)2010 Bikes in Schools, St Mary's School, Hastings Auckland Cycle Style - an evening of fabulous bikes and fashion Mamachari Bicycles, Wellington Belmont Intermediate School (getting children to ride to school) Paul McArdle and Meg Frater, Bike On NZ2012 Dept of Conservation / NZTA (Te Ara a Waiau Walkway/Cycleway & Te Weheka Walkway/Cycleway, Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers) Hastings District Council (i-Way Share the Road Campaign) Airey Consultants & Copeland Associates (Auckland Harbour Bridge Pathway) Hastings District Council (i-Way Model Communities project) Steven Muir (Cycle Trailers, IceCycles, Fossil Free Event)2014Nelson City Council (St Vincent Street cycleway, Nelson)Auckland Transport (Cycling's the Go Summer Programme)NZ Bus (Road User Workshops)Dunedin City Mayor and Councillors Dr Glen Koorey
Other finalists by year Between one and five finalists (including the winner) have been honoured in each category. Best cycle facility project2003Christchurch City Council (Colombo Street cycle lanes)Christchurch City Council (Living Streets programme)2004Dunedin City Council & Fulton Hogan ("Cycle Smart @ Marlow Park" training facility)University of Canterbury (covered secure bike parking facilities)2005Nelson City Council (Atawhai cycleway)Hamilton City Council (Waikato riverside cycle / walkway)Rotary Pathways Trust (Napier pathways project)2006Palmerston North City Council (Pioneer Highway shared pedestrian / cycle path)Christchurch City Council (SH73 Opawa Road stage 2 reconstruction)Transit NZ, Canterbury (SH74 Styx Mill overbridge widening and four-laning)2007Palmerston North City Council (College Street cycle lanes)Auckland City Council (Waikaraka Cycleway – first stage, off-road section)2008North Shore City Council (Lake Road cycle lane)NZ Transport Agency (Atawhai off-road shared cycleway / walkway, Nelson)2009Nelson City Council (railway reserve north shared path)NZ Transport Agency (electronic cyclist activated warning signs)2010NZ Transport Agency (Kingsland Cycleway)New Plymouth District Council (Te Rewa Rewa Bridge)2012Auckland Council / NZTA (Onehunga Harbour Crossing and Mt Roskill Cone)Kāpiti Coast District Council (Marine Parade)Hastings District Council (i-Way Green Cycle Lanes)Wellington City Council (Cycle-Friendly Sump Gratings)
Best cycling promotion2003Waimakariri District Council ("Don't burst the bubble" campaign)Christchurch City Council ("Lighten up" campaign)2004Crazy Cranks & Waipa District Council (Cambridge cycle lanes campaign)Maniototo Lions (Otago Rail Trail challenge)Jan Nisbet, Weltec ('Wheels Beside The Water' event)Nelson City Council ('Cycling in Nelson' video)2005Auckland City Council (promotion of cycling as alternative transport)Bike Taupo Inc ('Give cyclists space' road safety campaign)Bike Lanes in Paradise (Golden Bay cycle safety promotion)2006Spokes Canterbury (Christchurch City Council cycleway moratorium – Spokes Campaign)Nelson City Council (safer cycling in Nelson CBD)2007Auckland City Council ("Cyclists, Auckland needs you" awareness campaign)Sports Bay of Plenty (re-cycle)2008Manawatu TriAthlon Club (Manawatu TriA Club's summer series for adults & kids)Selwyn District Council & partners (Selwyn mayoral cycling challenge)2009New Plymouth District Council (Wild West bike fest)Selwyn District Council (Bike Wise month)2010Greater Wgtn Regional Council (Active a2b)Selwyn District Council (Bike Wise month)Cycle Aware Wellington (Cruise the Waterfront)2012IceCycles, Christchurch (Free Bicycles and Repair)New Plymouth District Council (Bike Fix Ups)New Plymouth District Council (GLOW "light your bike night")Sport Manawatu (iMove)
Cycle-friendly commitment by Business2003Ground Effect, Christchurch (cycling support of employees and advocacy)Sierra Cafe, Takapuna (cycle racks for patrons)2004Challenge Events Ltd (Canterbury Events Equipment Trust)2005Pulp & Paper Kinleith (Pulp & Paper challenge)2006Linwood Cycles, Christchurch (Kidsfest & BMX bike skills)Orica Adhesives & Resins, Mt Maunganui (staff fitness for Bayfair triathlon)2007Nayland Primary School ('Nayland Primary School – on your bike!')2008Cycle Tour Operators New Zealand (group formation & "Sharing the Road" protocols)Nextbike (Nextbike – public bikes)2009Transfield Worley Ltd (commuter bike facilities)NZ Green Bike Trust (tertiary hire bike programme)2010Sustainable Whanganui (Green Bikes)NZ Post (New Cycling Postie uniform and driveway safety postcard)Julian Hulls (Nextbikes as free public transport)Revolve Training (Down to earth cycling for women)2012Jonathan Hunt (Fixmystreet.org.nz)