On two wheels out east: announcing an Eastern Suburbs bike burb

On two wheels out east: announcing an Eastern Suburbs bike burb

Bike Auckland

3 min read
BikeRaveMissionBay
Mission Bay, the starting point for the Auckland Bike Rave… and so much more.

Live in Auckland’s Eastern Suburbs and think your burb may be missing out on some of the (cycling) action? Well, fret no longer. The launch of a new bike burb group is changing all that!

So, who are we and what are we all about? Well, so far we’re four ordinary locals (male and female, Kiwi, Poms and Dutch) who happen to love biking and want to make the Eastern Suburbs more bike-friendly. (The Dutch bike is the coolest one of all!) We’re all about promoting cycling as a means of local transport, improving local cycling facilities like bike lanes, and just having a bit of fun on two wheels, with events in our local community.

And what is that community? Well, we’re thinking the Orakei Local Board area: Meadowbank, St Johns, Kohimarama, Mission Bay, St Heliers, Glendowie, Orakei, Remuera, Stonefields, Ellerslie. We’ve got a great new cycleway going in with the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive shared path, and we’d like to promote that as an asset for this whole area.

We’re in the very early stages of planning (in fact, our bike burb team currently fits in one Meadowbank living room) and we want to change that (the number of people involved, not the living room). In fact, we’re so new, we don’t even have a name yet – and maybe you can help us with that.

Keen to know more? We’d love to hear from you! Please get in touch: email Kate Thompson or check us out on Facebook.


While we’re talking about the Eastern Suburbs – have you had your say on the next decade of bike planning in the inner east? Read all about it here – feedback closes 20th June. 

Here’s our top tips for feedback, courtesy of Ross Roberts:

1. It’s a numbers game

When you give feedback via the online map, AT will be looking at how many people put a pin in a specific location to see how important it is. So if someone else has already put a pin in your idea, don’t assume this is enough – add weight to their comment by adding your own.

2. It’s all about routes and blockers

Tell AT which route you want to cycle, and pinpoint specific locations (eg roundabouts, pinchpoints) which make the route difficult.

BikeESfeedback
How’s this for starters? The great GI-Tamaki cycleway project in green, the major not-too-hilly routes in red, and some possibilities in yellow. What else can we add?

3. It’s high-level

The detail will come later, so go for broke now. No need to get into the nitty gritty about every practicality – unless you’ve got a great idea, of course!

Here are some big-picture questions to get you started:

  • Are there streets (or entire zones) where a 30kph limit would make all the difference?
  • Are there any off-road shortctuts (perhaps through local parks) which would make a much better cycle route? How about a boardwalk around Hobson Bay to bypass shore road for walking and cycling, or better links through Newmarket Park?
  • Are there any places where having bike parking would make it more likely that you’d cycle there?
  • What would it take to make it safe enough for kids to cycle to school?
  • Where would fully separated cycle lanes be the only solution to make you feel safe? (We think Remuera Road and Broadway are top priorities!)

Feel free to add suggestions below, but most importantly, pop over and put them on the official map or say it words via the feedback form. You can also ask a question online and get a quick answer, or talk to AT staff in person:

  • Great Auckland Bike Market (The Cloud – Queens Wharf, 99 Quay Street, Auckland CBD) Sunday 12 June, 10am – 3pm.
  • Parnell Farmers’ Market (545 Parnell Road, Parnell) Saturday 18 June, 8am – 12 noon

Join us

Bike Auckland is the non-profit organisation working to improve things for people on bikes. We’re a people-powered movement for a better region. We speak up for you – and the more of us there are, the stronger our voice!

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