Minutes: Walking Advocacy Meeting CCC October 14th 2003
Present:
Mike Blyleven (Ecan), Susan Cambridge (CCC Road Safety Coordinator – Leader Ped Safety Campaign Group), Graham Condon (ChCh City Councillor – Parafed), Carina Duke (RNZFB), Wendy Everingham (Sustainable Cities Trust), Tony Francis (Road Safety Co-ordinator Hurunui DC), Angela Howard (aged Concern), Tim Huges (LTSA), Simon Kingham (University of Canterbury), Wayne Osmers (LTSA), Simon Rutherford (citizen), Michael Thomson (CCC Pedestrian and Cycle Advocate), Jean-Paul Thull (Lincoln University), Shannon Ussher (University of Canterbury, masters graduate) Celia Wade-Brown (LSA), Heather Wallis (CCC ), Gloria Weeks (association for Blind Citizens)
Apologies: Andrew Macbeth (Montgomery Watson Harzer), Graeme Stanley (Walking Groups)
Welcome: Michael Thomson welcomed all participants
Agenda: Wendy outlined the agenda as follows:
Round Table Introductions
All participants introduced themselves and outlined their interest in pedestrian activities.
Setting the Scene
WE outlined that most activities we undertake have an organisation representing their interests. For example car drivers have the AA, cyclists have the Cycle Advocates Network etc. We are all walkers however there is no one to represent our needs in Canterbury. A walking advocacy group is needed.
The guest speaker Celia Wade-Brown outlines a walking advocacy group that exists in Wellington.
Living Streets Aotearoa
Began as a loose association of interested people in 1995. 1997 the group formalised and became Walk Wellington. In 2002 it evolved into Living Streets based on a similar group existing in the UK.
LSA focuses on recreational and commuting aspects of walking for cities, towns and the countryside.
Living Streets are: safe, interesting, accessible, fun and friendly NOT asphalt jungles, car parks, impossible to cross.
LSA aims for a modal shift from car travel to walking. Only 4% of journeys to work in ChCh are on foot.
LSA is very interested in land use patterns and density issues
LSA have identified many potential allies who can help promote walking issues:
LSA work with existing programs:
What have LSA Achieved?
Plans for the Future:
LSA can offer ChCh:
Advice for ChCh (The Next Steps):
Questions:
JP Thull indicated there needed to be a national website that provided information on walking issues. Is that a role for LSA? CWB keen on this idea. People encouraged to send information to Living Streets web organiser. www.livingstreets.org.nz
Brain Storming
A number of questions were posed to the group:
The entire group considered: Is a walking Advocacy Group needed in Christchurch?
The unanimous response was YES. The group could be even broader and cover walking issues for the entire Canterbury region.
The remainder of the questions were split between three groups of five people
Group 1
A person with charisma. Involved with retail. Ask Mayoral Central City Forum to find someone.
Need advocacy group that is independent plus a council advisory group.
Needs to be an integration of different issues to be reflected in membership of advocacy group. Recreation groups may know of a leader.
Could use a public meeting to get group started.
Group 2
Walk Canterbury was an option considered. (Since the meeting Mike Blyleven has some further suggestions: People First or Stepping Forward)
Raise Awareness, Encourage, support and enable walking activities.
Specifically it should:
Provide a professional representation of pedestrian needs and views.
Provide profile for pedestrians through funding and membership
Raise awareness
Advocate for best practice/ auditing etc
Advocate for infrastructure standards, ie signage
Provide resources, access to information/overseas examples.
Group 3
Need to cover all age groups
Well-connected people with existing relationships with officials.
Using not abusing those contacts
Can be very effective with a few key members.
Contact more community groups
Audits needed. i.e. shopping malls, surveys, traffic lights, crossing issues
Commitments:
LTSA happy to provide technical information on pedestrian issues. Stressed they could not officially take part in advocacy work.
Sustainable Cities Trust agreed to help facilitate the process by providing staff resources to the process.
CCC offered meeting room facilities
Simon Rutherford offered his time to help establish the organisation
Ecan supported the establishment of the group and indicated they would be happy to use the group as an advisory group. Like the LTSA they could not be involved in the official advocacy work.
Graham Condon felt a presentation should be made to the Sustainable Transport and Utilities committee to gain leverage and support for the group from CCC
All present indicated a willingness to offer some sort of support, whether technical or moral.