Bike Auckland calls on Government and Auckland Council to unlock transport choices now.

The fuel supply crisis gripping New Zealand is not just an energy emergency. It is a transport crisis and it has been years in the making.

New Zealand's near-total dependence on private motor vehicles has left households and the country deeply exposed. When the fuel supply falters, there is no plan B for millions of New Zealanders. This vulnerability hasn’t appeared overnight, and it won't be fixed by telling people to carry on as normal. Yet that is precisely the message coming from central government.

"New Zealanders are hurting at the pump right now," said Karen Hormann, Co-Chair of Bike Auckland. "We cannot wait years for infrastructure projects enabling mode choice to be signed off. We need a rapid rollout today."

The government's own decisions made this worse

Last year's Government Policy Statement on transport, driven by Minister Simeon Brown, doubled down on car dependency, increasing speeds, undermining safe school environments, and defunding cycling and walking projects. The Roads of National Significance programme, already controversial, looks even harder to justify in the middle of a fuel crisis. These decisions narrowed New Zealand's options precisely when resilience mattered most.

The solutions are already here

This does not have to be a slow-burn response. Many solutions are shovel-ready, partially built, or deployable within weeks. Government and councils can act quickly by accelerating existing projects.

Remove the barriers that keep people stuck in cars when they would rather not be. Surveys consistently show New Zealanders want to walk and bike more. The demand is real, with new and refurbished bikes being snapped up by Aucklanders who are already responding to the crisis and making the shift to active transport. The public is ahead of the politicians.

Quick wins are right in front of us

The most fiscally responsible responses available right now require no new money and no new plans:

Reduce speeds. Lower speeds conserve the fuel we have and dramatically improve the environment for people walking, cycling and scooting. Children can walk and wheel to school safely and independently. New riders can get back on a bike on streets that feel welcoming rather than threatening.

Liberate a lane on the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Unlocking a bridge lane for walking, cycling and scooting would transform much of the unavoidable car dependency in New Zealand’s biggest city. It could be activated rapidly and at a manageable cost. Research has proven it’s feasible.

Deploy quick-win projects. Secure bike parking, wayfinding signage, and behaviour-change campaigns can be rolled out at low cost and at speed.

Pop-up infrastructure works. As New Zealand demonstrated during the COVID-19 lockdowns, temporary infrastructure can be installed quickly when there is the will to do so.

Accelerate what's already in progress. Many projects are shovel-ready or partially built. Speed them up.

We can shift behaviour by shifting the environment

You cannot ask people to leave the car at home if they don't feel safe. Physical infrastructure changes, combined with behaviour change programmes and financial incentives, are the formula for rapidly changing how New Zealand moves. It’s not a lack of solutions; it’s a lack of leadership.

"Decision-makers can help New Zealanders move affordably and safely through this crisis," said Hormann. "This is a moment for leadership. We are calling on the Government and Auckland Council to act with urgency."

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