Kia ora! I’m Rose Scott, Bike Auckland’s Marketing Coordinator – or, more simply, the person behind our social posts. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been creating content to show why voting matters and how it shapes our city. Along the way, I’ve been able to add my own perspective – especially on why local elections are so important for students and for anyone who wants safer, more connected streets.
Local government can sometimes feel distant, yet it has a huge influence on our daily lives. From the bus lanes we rely on, to the crossings outside our universities, to the cycleways we wish existed in our neighbourhoods – local boards and councils are the ones shaping them. To explore this further, I spoke with Bobby Shen, a lifelong Roskill local and current member of the Puketāpapa Local Board, now serving his second term after first being elected in 2019.
Bringing local voices to the table
When I asked Bobby about his role, he put it simply:
“My role foremost is serving the community and carrying the voices of the community to the decision-making table.”
That idea of carrying community voices feels especially relevant for people who ride bikes. Bobby himself commutes by e-bike from Roskill to the City Centre, so he understands first-hand what it means to navigate Auckland’s roads on two wheels. That lived perspective matters, because local boards aren’t just abstract decision-makers – they allocate funding, set priorities, and can champion the kinds of projects that make a difference in our everyday lives.
As Bobby explains, boards can use their Capital Transport Fund to support small-scale improvements like safer crossings, while also advocating for larger infrastructure changes. In other words, having a cycling perspective on the board can shift the kinds of projects that actually get off the ground.
Advocacy in action: Frost Rd & Mt Albert Rd
One project Bobby highlights from his time on the Puketāpapa Local Board is the upgrade of the Frost Road / Mt Albert Road intersection. It’s a busy spot near the three Mt Roskill school campuses. For years, people considered it unsafe — especially for kids biking to school.
“AT originally proposed new traffic lights, but there was no safe place for bikes alongside cars. After we pushed back, they added cycle lanes and bike signals to make it clearer and safer for everyone.”
The upgrades now connect with nearby shared paths and greenways, making the area safer and more accessible. For Bobby, a highlight is the sensor-equipped cycle box that changes the lights to help cyclists tackle the steep hill safely. It simply didn’t exist before.
Why bikes need to be part of the conversation
Still, Bobby admits it can be a challenge to keep active transport on the agenda.
“Quite simply the lived experiences of people who use bikes and other active transport can be overlooked. This includes kids who use bikes and scooters to get to school.”
I think this point resonates widely. Too often, planners design our transport system around cars first, leaving biking and walking as an afterthought. But if we take children’s journeys to school seriously, or think about students riding across the city to class, we start to see how essential those “different use cases” are. As Bobby points out, safer routes don’t just help people on bikes. They create clarity for everyone, improving how pedestrians, riders, and drivers share space.
For me, that’s the real takeaway. Representation isn’t just about advocating for cyclists; it’s about designing cities where all modes of transport work better together.
Why your vote really matters
With local elections coming up, Bobby left no doubt about the importance of voting:
“The local elections are a vital part of a well-functioning democracy… These people are the decision makers of how transport funding and initiatives are allocated and delivered.”
It’s easy to overlook local elections compared to central government elections. But as Bobby reminds us, local government often has more influence on your daily life. Most of the roads you walk, bike, or drive on are managed locally. And when central and local government align, projects like safe cycleways are far more likely to be delivered.
This is a message I think students especially need to hear. When we talk about voting, we often think in terms of “big picture” issues like climate change or education policy. But the cycleways linking our suburbs to campus, the buses we catch every morning, the trees and green spaces we walk past on the way… All of that comes down to local decision-making.
The bottom line
Local boards may not have the profile of Parliament, but they shape the streets we move through every day. Bobby Shen has a dual perspective as both a board member and a bike rider. It underscores how essential it is to have cycling voices in decision-making. As he finishes his term on the Puketāpapa Local Board, his reflections show the influence local representatives can have in building safer, more connected communities. For students like me – and for anyone who wants a safer, more connected Auckland – the message is clear. Your vote matters more than you think.
If this article resonated with you, Bike Auckland has plenty more election resources to help you navigate election time:
Be sure to share these resources with your local community groups. Help more voices be heard and better outcomes achieved.
