Tamaki Drive is reputed to be the most congested, contested and desirable stretch of road in the Auckland Region. At peak times, walkers with dogs, children and strollers; cars; cycles; buses and trucks jostle for space while commuting, transporting goods and people, or simply delighting in Tamaki Drive’s superb panoramic views of Auckland’s harbour and gulf .
A new initiative is underway involving Auckland Transport, NZ Police, Cycle Action Auckland and members of Auckland’s road cycling community. The initiative was launched by the cyclists who are keen to see more pleasant and safer cycling conditions on Tamaki Drive.
“Tamaki Drive is valued because it has ideal terrain, few traffic lights and is handy to so many residents for fitness and recreation cycling. We recognize that is also valued by many other Aucklanders. It’s in all of our interests to work collaboratively so we can enjoy the road in safety, respecting the rights of all road users”, says Mark Taylor, owner of Mt Eden Cycles and leader of road cycling groups using Tamaki Drive.
The first meeting held on Wednesday heard from experienced road cyclists. Barbara Cuthbert, Spokesperson for Cycle Action, welcomed their input. “In the short-medium term we can only expect quick fixes to the actual road surface to improve road safety. The approach from Mark Taylor and other road cyclists provides the perfect platform for us to change the road culture of Tamaki Drive. We’ve got a great raft of smart ideas on the table from only one meeting, so I’m positive we will make a difference. Our goal is to achieve this for the Rugby World Cup and beyond, as we know many Auckland residents and visitors use Tamaki Drive for walking, cycling and driving every day”.
Barbara reports “ I am very grateful for the open-minded approach of Auckland Transport and NZ Police in joining us to help make this happen. We look forward to putting our ideas out for wider community input within the next month.”
