Auckland’s eastern suburbs are finally joining up into a safe cycling network — but one crucial link is still missing: the Merton Road West protected cycleway, previously blocked by the Ōrākei Local Board.
Auckland Transport (AT) returns to the Ōrākei Local Board with new designs in under two weeks. This is the moment to act. Please write to the Ōrākei Local Board and share why completing this link matters for a safe, connected network for generations to come.
Find out more about why it matters below, or jump to how to contact the Ōrākei Local Board.
Why does Merton Road West matter?
The final part of the Morrin Road cycleway from Stonefields to Glen Innes is now completed. It provides a safe cycling path for the 4,000 plus Stonefields residents to Glen Innes, the train station and to the Te Ara Ki Uta Ki Tai Shared Path to Tamaki Drive. These types of links are a critical part of the infrastructure needed to cope with population growth and climate resilience for generations to come.
There’s an obvious next link in what should become an integrated network of paths to connect households to their community facilities along with the rest of the Links to Glen Innes cycleways delivered recently. It’s the Merton Road West cycle path.
AT have designed a fit-for-purpose protected cycle lane here to connect the suburbs of St Johns Park and St Johns to Glen Innes with a safe and easy route – plus it gives locals safe cycling access to destinations like cricket, tennis, football, netball and the swimming school. Many of the people using these recreational facilities are young people who don’t drive, but could get around independently if there were a safe option to do so.
The Merton Road West cycle link has been long planned by AT. However, the initial proposal was sent back to AT for a re-design by the outgoing Ōrākei Local Board (OLB) last year. Their concerns? Loss of parking.
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What’s the latest on the Merton Road West cycleway?
Now, new plans have been submitted to OLB. This is our chance to make sure we get a protected cycle path that is suitable and safe to ride for people of all ages and abilities. A path that continues the quality of the path already in place on Merton Road East.
Bike Eastern Suburbs will present to OLB in support of the Merton Rd West cycleway at their upcoming business meeting.
Merton Road West extends an existing and future planned cycling network. As things stand today, Merton Road West sits metres from the end of Te Ara Ki Uta Ki Tai. And in future, that won’t be its only connection to major cycle paths. It is an essential link that should, in future, extend to Lunn Ave and beyond. Not building the Merton Road West cycleway, or building a sub-standard compromise, will have knock-on effects for generations to come.
It took over 40 years to get the Tamaki Drive cycleway that now sees up to 2,000 trips a day. What we build on Merton Road West will be locked in for decades into the future. Getting it right is important.
Please act on Merton Road West
Please write to the Ōrākei Local Board and let them know the importance of this cycleway to you, your community and beyond.
While local voices are powerful, you don’t have to be a Merton Road local to believe Auckland’s kids deserve a safe, connected network. These critical links across our region will make Tāmaki Makaurau a bike-friendly city, giving Aucklanders transport choice.
A major sticking point with OLB is the loss of parking spaces for cycleways, especially around the swim school. But that argument doesn’t stack up. If it was safe for parents to take their kids to swimming lessons by bike, every parent arriving by bike with their child would free up a car park. If ten or twenty parents do it, then no one will need those roadside parks. This is happening in other communities in Auckland such as Point Chevalier. They have seen the way forward. We are not anti-car, diehard cycling evangelists. We are pro-transport choice. There are benefits to the entire community if households can swap a car for a bike or scooter.
Merton Road may not be your local street that you use. However, it is another small link in connecting up the whole of Auckland. Your input here will help secure this piece of the jigsaw. In turn this will one day allow people the freedom to easily choose between the forms of transport that best suits their journey, rather than having no choice but to take the car Every. Single. Time because of safety concerns.
Please remind OLB that the eastern suburbs want and need cycling connections.
How to raise your voice for Merton Road West
Please write to the OLB members in your own words, using the points above or adding your own experiences and insights. It doesn’t have to be long, technical or elegantly worded. You just need to tell them you ride a bike and would like a protected cycleway on Merton Road.
Time is tight on this one. Please write before the 18th February. We need to show them strong support before their meeting on the 19th February.
You can contact all the local board members in one email.
troy.Churton@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
amanda.lockyer@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
scott.milne@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
sarah.powrie@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
margaret.voyce@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
angus.mcphee@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
david.wong@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
CC Auckland Transport’s Head of Active Modes tania.loveridge@at.govt.nz so everyone can see how important this is.
You can also help raise awareness by talking to other locals about why the Merton West protected cycleway is a crucial link and will support business and residents in the area. Consider posting about the issue on Facebook and tag the local board.
