Capital’s Council supports framework for safer cycling

A draft framework for a safe, complete cycling network for Wellingtonians was given full support by the Wellington City Council at its meeting today.

At today’s full Council meeting, Councillors agreed to support the draft cycling framework and, following an amendment from Cr Mark Peck, implement local working parties to progress the detail of implementing the cycling routes.

A working party comprising Southern Ward Councillors, Council officers, community stakeholders and Deputy Mayor Justin Lester will consider traffic resolutions for the Island Bay section as Stage 1 of the Southern Route.

As well as the draft framework for future decisions, Council agreed in principle to support the Northern Cycle Route, Eastern Cycle Route, CBD Cycle Routes, Western Cycle Route, South Coast Shared Path and Southern Route.

Councillor Peck says he supports building a cycling network that would make it safer for all people to cycle.

“I’ve listened to the voice of Wellingtonians and it’s clear that they want us to get on with it,” said Cr Peck. “I have had grandfathers asking me to give their grandchildren the ability to cycle safely around our city.

“Building the cycle network will give our community the choice to cycle, both recreationally and for transport journeys. We need to involve the community in this process to make sure what we build meets the needs of our youngest and oldest citizens alike.

“The amendment returns influence to local communities, and Council will need to be more responsive to their issues so we can implement a safe cycling network through Wellington City. In 12 months’ time, we might be wondering what the fuss was all about.”

Deputy Mayor Justin Lester says, “Given the extensive consultation on Island Bay as Stage 1 of the Southern Route, I was pleased to second Cr Peck’s amendment and set up a mechanism to finalise traffic resolutions from Shorland Park to Wakefield Park”.

Mayor Celia Wade-Brown says the framework offers certainty around the scope of the cycling network, and applauded Cr Peck’s amendment to improve public engagement on cycling routes through local areas. “The framework is about providing real choice for transport in our modern, progressive city,” says the Mayor.

“I salute Councillor Peck’s leadership today. His amendment to introduce local working parties for local routes ensures local citizens can engage in Wellington’s transformative cycling network and influence routes going through their neighbourhoods.”

The draft framework will go out for consultation until 29 May.

Important points of the proposed framework:

• It is the high-level blueprint toward a citywide cycling network for Wellington

• The full network will connect:

o 53 schools attended by 25,000 pupils

o 20,000 businesses with 200,000 residents

o Porirua and the Hutt Valley with Wellington City

o Existing cycle infrastructure

o Local finances with significant funding from central government

o Cycling and public transport nodes.

• We will be tailoring cycleways in Wellington with a range of safe cycling options that will fit with the different streets, town centres and parks of the city – ranging from protected cycle lanes to shared streets, ‘quiet’ routes, and high quality off-road solutions, coordinated cycling improvements and town centre upgrades, public transport improvements and roadworks. We will include cycling in our transport decisions – this could result in changes to the way space is allocated for parking in the CBD and suburbs. In the CBD we will optimise streets for people on foot, on bike, on buses and in cars. On-street parking will be secondary to all people movement.

• The Council is looking to provide innovative solutions that fit Wellington situations. These may take the form of new technologies to overcome gradient issues or the acquisition of private land to provide room for cycleways.

• We want to create a connected, safe comprehensive network that caters for both experienced riders as well as less-confident people.

ENDS

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