Last chance to have a say on $35 million for cycling

People wanting to have their say on how the Christchurch City Council proposes to spend almost $2 million each year on cycling, have only five more days to comment on the draft Cycling Strategy.

Consultation on the council’s direction and policy for cycling closes at 5 pm, Friday, 7 May.

The Council’s spending to encourage cycling has been largely unchanged since the first cycle strategy was adopted in 1996, but greater emphasis from central government on improving sustainable transport choices has resulted in the Council proposal to invest another $35 million in cycling over the next 20 years.

Public comments are invited on how the Council plans to use these funds to meet the cycling needs of the community.

The recently adopted Metropolitan Christchurch Transport Statement details a balanced improvement package across all transport modes, proposing a 40% increase to previous cycling budgets. The Cycling Strategy indicates how the first five years of this money will be spent.

“We’ve done the best we can with the money we’ve had for the past eight years but there’ still a long way to go before the facilities are comprehensive enough to take cyclists where they want to go,” says Councillor Chrissie Williams, chair of the council’s Cycle Steering Committee. “The additional $1.2 million provided over the next couple of years will see significant improvements to facilities across the city happen at a much faster pace, making cycling safer and more enjoyable as our network becomes increasingly connected.”

The draft Cycling Strategy is a second update to the Council Cycling Strategy, adopted in 1999. It was developed by a group that included cycling advocates. Copies are available at Council libraries and service centres. Submissions must be in to Council by Friday, 7 May, and can be made by using the postage-paid response sheet from any Council library or services centre or you can visit the council’s www.ccc.govt.nz/haveyoursay website.

All feedback will be used to develop the final Cycling Strategy, available in August this year. For more information or additional copies of the draft strategy contact the council 941 8666.

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