By Fiáin d’Leafy, Chief Biking Officer at Bike Auckland
NZ band Split Enz told us that ‘history never repeats’ but here’s one thing we’ve seen time and again: Kiwis’ huge appetite and support for people-friendly streets.
Throughout history, the creation of wonderful civic spaces have been cause for celebration. Right now is one of those moments. After a strong show of public support, the Waitematā Local Board approved a return to people-friendly design for Project K. It’s the project which is improving the neighbourhood surrounding the new Karanga-a-Hape CRL Station. The approved design is a win for safety, for accessibility, for climate – and for future generations.
For Project K, so loud was the public backlash to a watered-down design released in April 2025, that Auckland Transport had a dramatic change of heart. It brought back key people-friendly design elements such as the Pedestrian Mall on Mercury Lane, formalising the cycleway along East street, and including speed calming at the Upper Queen St entrance to Cross St.
The backlash was unsurprising, given the public demand for people-friendly urban spaces. Auckland Council’s 2023 Deliberative Forum showed that 65% of urban New Zealanders support cycleways, and after people participate in a discussion about the options, support for cycleways rises to 85% (even if it means removing car parking). The same forum found 95% support for walkable spaces and upgrades to rail.
Project K was already under construction when Auckland Transport watered down its design. Its consultation process had revealed that 76% agreed that the original people-friendly design would improve the area. And, we’re investing more than $5 billion into the CRL. You’d better believe we are going to maximise the benefits of that investment by making the precinct friendly for people.
So I am celebrating, and I invite you to celebrate with me.
My joy, no doubt like yours, is tainted by frustration at how many of these wonderful projects get stalled, the ridiculous amount of volunteer community time required to rescue them, and how inequitable and unsustainable that is. This is especially the case in lower socio-economic communities where people are less likely to have the time and resources available to advocate in the same way.
We have so many positive policies and plans which decision-makers ignore. Consider the City Centre Masterplan (whose vision for Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is to be “a place that all people can enjoy”), and the Transport Emission Reduction Pathway (which talks of the need to “supercharge walking and cycling” to reduce our emissions). And I am disheartened that numerous positive responses from consultation processes do not seem to be as highly valued as one negative presentation.
Regardless, I am celebrating this victory created by everyday Aucklanders raising their voices and demanding better. I’m dreaming of the CRL opening and the awesome space to come. I am celebrating the large and wide range of public support for people-friendly, cycle-friendly spaces.
Project K isn’t alone in the high level of support it has received. Huge, persistent showings of local support rescued three inner west street improvement projects from political demise in 2023. Auckland Transport recently completed one of these projects, Point Chevalier to Westmere, and it has quickly boosted the already-high local cycling numbers. In fact, the new Meola Road cycleway immediately jumped into the top 10 most popular cycle routes in the region. The cycleways are especially popular with kids, with more taking up cycling to get safely to school and sport. Children are quick to embrace the freedom and independence they gain from people-friendly spaces. 86% of Auckland kids say active travel is their favourite way to get from A to B.
With every new safe route connected into the wider cycle network, more people start to ride bikes again. And our cycling numbers jump up by an average 5% growth each year.
Throughout history we’ve seen the same. People want people-friendly spaces and – surprise! – when we provide them, people use them.
Remember when Te Komititanga, the public square in front of Britomart station, used to be a through-road? Now it is constantly buzzing with people. And who doesn’t love our beautiful Quay street? This was once a six-lane road which severed the city from our stunning harbour. It was reimagined into a bustling walkable, bike-able, people-friendly space, stitching the sea and the city together once more.
It’s time we return to our roots. Cities need people, and people need people-friendly spaces. And that’s the kind of history that will always repeat.
