Great column Emma. Sure mades me think, and I'm a male cycling advocate who often rides in Island Bay.

Good question, James. I'd say the hardest thing is managing change - whether it's to a street layout, shopping area, driveways or parking, Councils need to have their act together, make a compelling case for change, talk it through with all affected people, take feedback on board, adjust the plan, and implement it carefully. Best guide to this is Streetfight, by Janette Sadik-Khan. https://www.amazon.com/Streetfight-Handbook-Revolution-Janette-Sadik-Khan/dp/0525429840

Keep up the good work Russell. Useful analysis of the Fear of Cycling by sociologist Dave Horton at http://www.copenhagenize.com/2009/09/fear-of-cycling-01-essay-in-five-parts.html
"Most people seem finally to have realised that cycling is ‘a good thing’, but many still don’t cycle. So what stops them getting on their bikes? Explanations typically focus on physical factors such as climate, hills and infrastructure. Emotional barriers to cycling are easily overlooked, but are also massively important. Chief among these emotional barriers is a fear of cycling."

Tune in to RNZ Mediawatch on Sunday for some thoughts on how media treat cycling - and how this is changing. Case study: http://www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/story/worried-wellingtonians-question-new-cycleway-2015120317#axzz3tgpA4NX5

Good to hear Marianne. I had an enquiry from Newtown's Baobab cafe this morning. Will pass this along.

Exactly. Your mum doesn't dress you any more, and neither do I. Wear what you want - street clothes or bike gear or whatever you are comfortable in. I've just spent the morning teaching a dozen 12 year old boys some bike skills at Brooklyn School holiday programme. I've yet to meet a kid who doesn't want to ride - so lets not put more barriers in their way.

What to wear, what to wear?
A great topic sure to get the comments flowing.
In places where everyday cycling is popular, it's rare to see people riding in cycling gear. As they say in Copenhagen, there are no cyclists, just Copenhageners.
Wearing normal clothes may even make you safer. Ian Walker's study in Bath showed that drivers gave more space to non-helmeted riders. This is known as the Mary Poppins effect. No one wants to run over Mary Poppins. Perhaps drivers make subconscious assumptions about lycra'd riders and leave less space.
Here's a complete list of what you need to go biking: a bike.
If we want to get more people on bikes, more often, let's not require them to join a bike tribe, with special clothes, language, and customs.
Suggest you check out Bike Snob USA for his take on cycling clothes. http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.co.nz/
While it's true that some bike clothing is more comfortable if you are heading out for a couple of hours, most trips can be made in whatever you are wearing now.
Pedal on,
Patrick Morgan, Cycling Advocates Network can.org.nz

Here at Cycling Advocates' Network we run Bus/Bike workshops, where we take bus drivers for a pedal, and they let us drive their buses. Then we chat about what we learned. It's a powerful tool in gaining insights into why people cycle / drive as they do.
We once ran the workshop with Wellington Police. It was enlightening to see Police take shortcuts like the ones RB writes about. They turned without indicating, wandered through Stop signs, and overtook queues of slow moving traffic. Not strictly legal, but it's what you do.
The problems are poor road designs, confused rules, crappy enforcement, and low driving/cycling standards.
The good news is that we can fix all these problems if we care enough.
In the meantime, pedal on and don't be a dick.

Great analysis David.
More people cycling more often = saves money, boosts health, more resilience, more fun. What’s not to like?
Cycling Advocates Network is working hard on bringing this vision to Chch, and elsewhere. Check us out. Help us to help you.

What do we want?
1. Connected cycleways in cities, and shoulders on key rural roads.
2. On-road cycle training in schools and for adults who want to cycle for transport.
3. A new, fresh public education programme for safe road use.