CAN - Cycling Action Network

What CAN - Cycling Action Network does

Cycling Action Network (CAN) is a New Zealand incorporated society and registered charity (CC36909) founded in 1997 to serve as the national voice for everyday people on bicycles — recreational, commuter, and touring cyclists. Headquartered in Wellington with distributed regional leadership across Auckland, Palmerston North, Nelson, Dunedin, and Gisborne, the organisation coordinates a network of affiliated local cycling action groups and works with national, regional, and local government authorities, transportation consultancies, and cycle industry businesses on cycling policy, infrastructure investment, and road safety. CAN engages in advocacy through formal policy submissions, media releases, letters to editors, the Chainlinks e-newsletter, the CAN Discourse online forum, the biennial CANDo conference, and specialised campaigns such as Cycling Works.

The organisation is volunteer-led with an elected board (Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Regional Members) and approximately 9 paid staff or contracted equivalents. It has no proprietary technology platform and operates on standard web infrastructure. Its product surface consists of annual memberships ($60 standard / $30 low-income/student), tiered donations ($20–$300 one-time and weekly/monthly recurring), and the CANDo conference event. Strategic partnerships include membership in the World Cycling Alliance and close coordination with Living Streets Aotearoa and CyclingNZ, plus a supporting organisation network spanning industry (Ground Effect, Bicycle Junction, WorkRide, Big Street Bikers, All Aboard, Locky Dock), consultancy (Via Strada, Engineering Outcomes), and regional advocacy bodies (Bike Northland, Bike Taupo, Tairawhiti Trails Trust, Greasy Chain, Switched On Bikes).

Revenue derives from membership fees, donations, and supporting organisation contributions. No revenue figures are publicly disclosed. The organisation has explicitly acknowledged that government funding cuts have created financial pressure, signalling constrained operating resources despite its 28-year operating history and 5,000+ supporter base. CAN's competitive position rests on its national scale, longevity, registered charity status, and breadth of allied partnerships rather than any technology or product differentiation.

Name

CAN - Cycling Action Network

Legal name

Cycling Action Network

Website

https://can.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cycling Action Network is New Zealand's national registered charity advocating for everyday cyclists since 1997, coordinating 5,000+ supporters and affiliated local cycling groups through policy submissions, campaigns, and the biennial CANDo conference.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees provide recurring revenue. Standard annual membership is $60, with low-income/student membership at $30. Members receive the Chainlinks e-newsletter and opportunities to shape organizational strategy and campaigns.
2. Donations: One-time and recurring donations from supporters. Donation options include $20, $50, $100, and $300 amounts, with weekly, monthly, or one-time giving options. CAN is a registered charity enabling tax-deductible donations.
3. Supporting Organization Contributions: National, regional and local government authorities, transportation consultancies, and cycle industry businesses serve as supporting organizations, contributing to organizational sustainability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CAN is New Zealand's national cycling advocacy charity, providing a unified voice for everyday cyclists (recreational, commuter, and touring) since 1997. The organization sells annual memberships and accepts donations to fund policy submissions, safety campaigns, technical standards work, media engagement, and coordination of a nationwide network of affiliated local cycling action groups. CAN also hosts the biennial CANDo conference and operates the online CAN Discourse community forum.

Product overview

Cycling Action Network operates as a membership-based advocacy organization offering annual membership programs (standard and low-income options) and hosting the CANDo biennial conference. The organization focuses on cycling advocacy rather than commercial products, providing members with advocacy resources, newsletters, and opportunities to participate in campaigns. Supporting organizations include regional cycling groups and industry partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Membership Annual paid membership in Cycling Action Network at $60 per year, granting access to advocacy resources, the Chainlinks e-newsletter, and the opportunity to help shape CAN's strategy and campaigns in support of cycling advocacy across New Zealand.
• Low Income / Student Annual Membership
• CANDo2026 Conference CAN's biennial in-person conference bringing together cycling advocates from across New Zealand for workshops, training, rides, networking, and advocacy skill development (including the Urban Nerds pre-events).

Quantifiable outcome

• 73 million cycling trips made per year in New Zealand
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and supporting.

• World Cycling Alliance (WCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAN is a member of the World Cycling Alliance, connecting New Zealand cycling advocacy to international networks and standards.
• Living Streets AotearoacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAN works closely with the national advocacy organization for pedestrians, providing unified voice for active transport issues in New Zealand.
• CyclingNZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAN works with CyclingNZ which is largely responsible for competitive and recreational cycling in New Zealand.
• Ground EffectsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGround Effect is listed as a generous donor and supporter of CAN, contributing to organizational funding.
• Via StradasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerVia Strada is listed as a generous donor and supporter of CAN, contributing to organizational funding.
• Bicycle JunctionsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerBicycle Junction is listed as a generous donor and supporter of CAN, contributing to organizational funding.
• WorkRidesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWorkRide is listed as a generous donor and supporter of CAN, contributing to organizational funding.
• Big Street BikerssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerBig Street Bikers is listed as a generous donor and supporter of CAN, contributing to organizational funding.
• All AboardsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAll Aboard is listed as a supporter of CAN, contributing to organizational visibility and reach.
• Locky DocksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocky Dock is listed as a supporter of CAN, contributing to organizational visibility.
• Bike NorthlandsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cycling advocacy organization listed as a CAN supporting organization, part of the national network of cycling advocates.
• Engineering OutcomessupportingTechnology or IntegrationTransportation engineering consultancy listed as a CAN supporting organization, providing technical expertise.
• Bike TauposupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cycling advocacy organization listed as a CAN supporting organization.
• Tairawhiti Trails TrustsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrust developing tracks and trails in Gisborne region, working with CAN Treasurer Gillian Ward and local council on cycling infrastructure.
• Greasy ChainsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cycling organization listed as a CAN supporting organization.
• Switched On BikessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cycling organization listed as a CAN supporting organization.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Bike Northland: A Northland region cycling advocacy organization listed as a CAN supporting organization. It operates as a regional peer within CAN's affiliated network structure.
• Bike Auckland: Auckland's regional cycling advocacy organization (formerly Cycle Action Auckland). It is a CAN-affiliated group operating in NZ's largest city with comparable advocacy focus but at a regional rather than national scale.
• SPOKES Dunedin: Dunedin's cycling advocacy group, with CAN South Island Regional Member Nathan Kershaw as a current member. It represents another regional node in CAN's affiliated advocacy network.
• Cycle Wellington: Wellington's regional cycling advocacy organization. CAN Chair Alex Dyer is Co-Chair of Cycle Wellington, demonstrating the direct linkage between CAN's national leadership and the regional advocacy network.

Broad incumbents

• PeopleForBikes: The largest cycling advocacy organization in the United States, representing millions of riders and advocating for federal and state policy. It is the closest international analogue to CAN's national advocacy mandate.
• European Cyclists' Federation: A pan-European cycling advocacy federation coordinating policy advocacy across EU member states. It is a sister organization to CAN's international partner, the World Cycling Alliance, providing a useful comparison for continental-scale cycling advocacy.
• CyclingNZ: The national body for competitive and recreational cycling in NZ. While it shares the cycling mission with CAN, it operates at a broader scale with a different focus on sport rather than advocacy, and is listed as a CAN partner.
• World Bicycle Relief: A global nonprofit that promotes cycling access and infrastructure in developing regions. While focused on access rather than policy advocacy, it operates at a similar scale and mission orientation as CAN's cycling-promotion work.

Direct peers

• Adventure Cycling Association: A US-based nonprofit focused on cycling advocacy and infrastructure, including route development and policy work. It shares CAN's mission of promoting cycling through coordinated advocacy and member-supported campaigns.
• Living Streets Aotearoa: New Zealand's national advocacy organization for pedestrians, working alongside CAN on active transport issues. It is the most direct structural peer, employing a similar membership-and-advocacy model targeting government policy on walking and infrastructure in NZ.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/can---cycling-advocates-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CAN - Cycling Action Network