BNB representatives Chris Allison and John-Paul Pochin spoke to the BNB annual plan submission at NCC today. The original submission can be viewed at http://bnb.org.nz/index.php/docs/category/9-submissions?download=23:bnb-nelson-city-council-2013-14-annual-plan. The main points made by Chris today were as follows:

> Bicycle Nelson Bays is working closely with council in the Active Transport Advisory Group as Council develops projects for the extensive walk, cycle  and schools package.

> We see great benefit in the approach that council is taking with ATAG,  and we believe that  these projects will make a real difference to the way that people in Nelson move around this city to work, to shop and to play.

> In planning for Nelson’s future transport needs, Council is providing leadership in three important areas:

    - The first involves changing some of our  transport habits by providing Public Transport as a real alternative to using private cars. The increasing use of the bus service affirms that step.
    - The schools component of the walk, cycle and schools package is the second critical step in creating widespread change in our use of vehicles, especially at peak times.  We think this approach,  which focuses on our current  -  and on our future commuters,  has huge potential to improve the efficiency of our road network, and the health of our community.
    - The third step is to make moving around Nelson by bike a mainstream choice, and not a marginal activity. 

> A key part of this goal will be to match the off-road cycle path from Atawhai with a similar facility that connects Nelson to the south, - with its much larger population.

> We see a facility down St Vincent St. as a vital link between the railway reserve and the CBD.   

> We’re aware that several of these projects are really complex and time - consuming for engineering staff.

> We’d urge council to look at allocating more engineering staff  to ATAG so the momentum of this programme can be maintained.

> Bicycle Nelson Bays affirms the work Nelson City Council is doing through the walk, cycle  and schools package  - and the ATAG process.

> In saying this, we want to be clear we are not anti-car we are drivers as well.  

> We simply believe the research showing that communities  - and CBD’s especially - which are pedestrian and cyclist friendly are also commercially and socially healthy.