Remember when buses and trains were the Cinderella of Auckland’s transport system, sitting sadly in the cold kitchen, out of the limelight, at the mercy of ugly stepsisters who zipped off to the ball in their single-occupant vehicles. “Why waste money on slow, grimy machines?” went the reasoning. “Especially for a few sad punters who can’t afford cars or are too old or young to drive? Oh, sure, we have some plans on the shelf. Maybe next year. If we have the money. Now go and do your chores.” Luckily, public transport had some fairy godmothers who saw the light and the potential — and who looked overseas for models of what can happen when you give PT the royal treatment. It didn’t happen overnight, but …
Bike Auckland
Unless you’ve been totally out of media range, you’ll have heard about ATAP: a short acronym for the biggest change in AKL’s transport planning for decades, the Auckland Transport Alignment Project. The news stories have focused mainly on public transport: all the new light rail lines, busways and other improvements on the way. On this score, our friends over at Greater Auckland deserve as much glory as the politicians in Government and Council for boldly articulating the kind of rapid and reliable transport network a fast-growing city needs in the 21st C. Of course, our own eyes went immediately to what’s in ATAP for people on bikes. And the news is good! …
The GPS (Government Policy Statement) for Land Transport sets the nationwide direction for transport investment for the next decade. The Government wants feedback on its new draft from local government, the transport sector and community groups – and individuals are also welcome to have a say. This is your chance to be the change you wish to see in the world! If you want a more bike-friendly New Zealand, please take a second to support the draft GPS and its beefed-up focus on cycling, walking, and safety. Details below. Feedback closes at 5pm on Wednesday 2nd May. The quickest way to have your say CAN, the Cycling Action Network, has put together …
Auckland Transport’s fund for supporting community bike activities has just announced its second round – applications are open from now until Thursday 5 April. Applicants may apply for grants from a minimum of $300 to a maximum of $5,000. (Groups with no formal legal structure can apply for a grant up to $1,000.) You’ll find out if you’re successful by Wednesday 15 April, and projects must be delivered by 30 June 2018. What kinds of projects are eligible? Here’s the full policy: it’s aimed at community groups, large and small (no political parties, commercial entities; unfortunately, schools and members of the Council family aren’t eligible either). The successful projects from the …
Some great news, especially for our Bike Burbs and other local heroes out there getting stuff done: Auckland Transport’s Walking and Cycling department has opened up a special funding pool to encourage community bike events. As AT’s Walking, Cycling, and Road Safety manager Kathryn King said, ‘Many community organisations have great ideas to get more people on their bikes, and we are keen to work with them to deliver some creative projects that encourage more people to ride bikes more often.’ Wellington has a similar fund which has achieved fantastic things, so we’re overjoyed to see something similar here and hope this one-year trial grows to represent the vast range …
Just us, or… is there a bit of a tone-shift lately in the way bikes are being covered in the news? Matt Heath’s Herald column in praise of Lightpath made us smile on a Monday morning. Admittedly, it’s hard not to break out in a grin when you read a description like this: I know it had to close down for a re-pinking, but boy is it futuristic. I ride that Utopian overpass to work every morning. The lights are so bright and blue. The pinks so pink. The convenience so convenient. You feel like you’re on a Tron Light Cycle. Like you’re in a Battlestar Galactica launch tunnel. Matt’s point is, why quibble about …
We sent Bruce Copeland on a road trip to Rotorua last Thursday to represent Cycle Action at the announcement of the second tranche of funding for the Urban Cycleways Fund (UCF). Here’s his report on what it all means for biking in Auckland: Last Thursday had the feel of watching history in the making: at long last some serious cash is being invested in proper cycling infrastructure. (A fiscally prudent motorist may say this is a crazy lolly scramble, but it’s small lollies compared to the big bickies spent on tarmac). Whatever your viewpoint, how has Auckland fared? Have we got our fair share, and is it being spent in the right places? The UCF is a $100m fund designed to …
Although Cycle Action is all about everyday, transport cycling, we are always happy to see a New Zealander doing well in the world of sport cycling. Belmont local Samantha Gray has been selected by Cycling New Zealand as a wildcard to compete at the UCI Amateur Road World Championships in Denmark in September, and she needs to fund her own way to get there. Sam will be representing New Zealand in the Time Trial and the Road Race in the M2 Masters Women Category. We hope you will support these local events to help raise funds to get Sam to Denmark to compete against the best amateurs in the world. For further information see www.facebook.com/samgraycycling and to …
Consultation closes today at 4pm today on the Council’s killer budget for cycling. It’s desperate, nail chewing stuff ! Shape Auckland gives you two options: a Basic Budget, (which knifes cycling and public transport), or the Auckland Plan Transport Network budget, which says we can have it all – more cycling, public transport and a hefty dose of costly, unnecessary new roads – but it’ll cost Auckland big-time! So Cycle Action has worked with Generation Zero on a smart third alternative – one that we can afford, and which prioritises public transport and cycling over more roads. Please submit to support it today – Fix Our City. On Thursday I was invited …
What: Auckland Conversation’s event on “Transport in Auckland – The 10-Year Budget Proposal” When: Monday, 2 March 2015 5:00 p.m Where: Lower NZI Conference Room, Aotea Centre, 50 Mayoral Drive Auckland is the country’s fastest growing region with transport considered the single biggest issue. Major investment will be needed in the next decade to avoid worsening congestion and the impact this will have on our economy, environment and way of life. We have a choice to make. Do we accept a basic transport network which costs less, or do we invest more to get the advanced transport programme set out in the 30-year vision for our region known as the Auckland Plan. If …
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