Auckland Transport is asking for feedback on the Local Active Modes Plan (LAMP) for the Waitematā Local Board area (see detailed map, PDF), by Tuesday 17 February.
In short: the LAMP is a beacon of quick sensible fixes for people walking and wheeling, and a great example for other local board areas. It’s a package of quick, simple, affordable fixes, like better links to and through parks, a bit of speed-calming, and… a lot of sharrows.
With a few crucial tweaks, we reckon this LAMP can really shine! So we’re asking AT and the Local Board to collaborate on making the design stronger:
- beef up the surface signage on streets, for the full greenway flavour (sharrow stencils alone ain’t it)
- make sure there’s also wayfinding and threshold treatments to make it 100% clear that these streets are bike-priority routes
- add traffic-calming at key points, using all the clever tactical tools in the toolbox – planters, paint, quick tim-tams
- ensure all the paths are fit for purpose – e.g. access ramps, widening through Cox’s Bay Reserve, designating shared paths at key locations
- preserve our options at intersections, by keeping the green bike boxes
- and, make sure the map matches the territory, by including quiet routes marked on AT’s most recent maps, including the June 2025 Pt Chev cycle map
This feedback includes contributions from Bike Burbs with local knowledge and extensive experience of all-ages cycling in the project area, in particular Bike Pt Chev and Bike Grey Lynn.
Go straight to the feedback page, or read on to hear our view of the plans.
Remember, feedback closes on Tuesday 17 February, so don’t delay!
Why you should support the LAMP?
The improvements are a good idea, overall.
Bike Auckland supports the LAMP approach in principle, because it:
- responds directly to community requests for better local connections.
- starts to build a more fine-grained local network for wheeled active modes
- leverages existing infrastructure to expand opportunities for active travel (the “network effect”), and
- expands the benefits delivered by previous investments.
For all these reasons, it’s a powerful model for any Local Board looking for smart, quick, affordable wins for safety and access, for people of all ages walking and biking.
In your feedback, you may want to stress that you like that biking and walking are getting safety improvements.
Love what we do? Join Bike Auckland today and make a difference for Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s cycle network!
Over-dependence on sharrows: paint is not protection
Sharrows are widely used in the plan, generally on 50km/h streets – in place of dedicated and proven safe cycling amenities. While relatively affordable, sharrows have limited utility as a safety treatment, because paint is not protection. Especially on 50km/h streets – and even when there are low traffic volumes.
Unfortunately, the Speed Rule strictly limits the options for safer speeds. AT should use every tool in its toolbox to reduce both speeds and rat-running.
What other design options are available to AT to help underscore that these streets are safe and quiet “greenway” routes, prioritised for people on bikes?
We have ideas:
- Clear iconography and greenway signage – stronger than simple “share the road” sharrows – to convey that these streets are designated routes for low-stress cycling, prioritised for people on bikes of all ages, where motor vehicles are guests.
- Street markings to support greenway messaging: the Local Path Design Guide recommends removing centre line markings and adding side markings to visually narrow the street width.
- Simple physical traffic-calming treatments wherever possible, to reduce speeds and to discourage/ divert vehicular rat-running. Local examples already exist.
Feedback on specific locations
What is your experience of the streets and junctions being given safety treatments? AT need to hear your experience on a bike in the area. What do you like? Do some areas feel more dangerous, or are more tricky to use? Let them know.
What’s in Bike Auckland’s submission?
Bike Auckland’s feedback includes specific locations we think could be improved in the design, and we’ll share our feedback here when it is finalised.
Feedback closes on Tuesday 17 February.
