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    • Welcome to the Cycle Wellington blog archive
      • Cycle Wellington now has a new website at cyclewellington.org.nz. This site is being kept as an archive of our previous blog posts. You can expect to see much of the other pages move over to the new site over time, so if you can’t find what you’re looking for here, please visit the new site. The new site also provides new capabilities for us to better connect with you, so please join through that. We would be very grateful if you are able to support Cycle Wellington with a recurring donation. Thanks for your ongoing support.

    • Cycle Wellington June 2021 Newsletter
      • Kia ora koutou <img src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/cyclewellington/mailings/4/attachments/original/berhampore_01.jpg?1622758228" alt="Close up of a planter box that was a part of the short-lived Berhampore popup bike lane built by Cycle Wellington's Urban Repair Crew." /> It goes without saying that May 2021 has been a huge month for everyday cycling in Wellington and New Zealand. The events of the last few weeks have resulted in a major turnaround of votes for the Long Term Plan at Wellington City Council. In the end the most ambitious plan was voted in, securing $226M to fund a complete cycling network across Wellington in 10 years! We are over the super blood moon about this and are so grateful to all of the people of Wellington who made the effort to let the council know how important this outcome was. We may never know what specific arguments or actions tipped the balance in our favour, but we can be sure that everyone’s contribution was crucial. We are also grateful for the leadership and attentiveness demonstrated by so many of our representatives in council. It is clear that, as a city, we can no longer kick the transport can down the road. We all know we must transform the mobility mix to reduce emissions and realise the many other benefits of enabling everyone who can or wants to, to move about in active, less harmful ways. Tautoko to our Council! Cycle Wellington supporters will have your backs as Wellington embarks on this important work. Ngā mihi nui, Alex Dyer and Linda BeatsonCo-Chairs Cycle Wellington Calls to action Show our Councillors some love We are so encouraged by the leadership demonstrated by our city council by voting to fully fund a complete cycling network in the next 10 years. Please contact them and express your gratitude. Appropriate funding is an important component of the challenge ahead, but the whole council will need our support and encouragement as we transition more public space to healthier ways of getting around. https://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/about-the-council/mayor-and-councillors Thorndon Quay / Hutt Road consultation Consultation closes Tuesday 8th JuneLet’s Get Welly Moving have a public consultation running on their proposal to deliver a better, safer Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road. Cycle Wellington is largely very supportive of what is being proposed. We hope that the final width of the cycling space will safely accommodate the large growth in cycling journeys being predicted. Please engage and submit here:https://lgwm.nz/our-plan/our-projects/thorndon-quay-and-hutt-road/have-your-say-thorndon-quay-and-hutt-road/ Traffic and Parking Bylaw consultation Consultation closes 5pm 11th June The current Traffic and Parking Bylaw consultation includes a number of proposals that will be valuable to better prioritising public street space in Wellington. Please check it out and submit here:https://wellington.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-information/our-wellington/2021/05/traffic-and-parking-bylaw Minor improvements map CW collects observations of poor cycling conditions and ideas for how to improve them on a google map. The map is shared with council officers to help them prioritise minor improvement works.  View the map to see what has already been suggested. This tool works best on a desktop browser. Please continue to submit ideas for locations you would like to see enhanced. Please also share with groups that may have some ideas. Petition: Newtown to the central city clear zones Please show your support for the establishment of more clearways at key times between Newtown and the central city.https://www.change.org/p/wellington-city-council-we-need-routes-from-newtown-to-the-cbd-safer-for-cycling-and-better-for-people-on-buses  National speeds setting review Consultation closes 5pm on Friday 25th June 2021Waka Kotahi are consulting on changing the ways that speeds are set for a large range of scenarios on New Zealand roads. This is an important opportunity to contribute to some better approaches for valuing places and people over heavy vehicle journeys and time savings. Please take the time to have a look through all the proposed changes and provide feedback in support of lowering speeds where possible.https://nzta.govt.nz/about-us/consultations/land-transport-rule-setting-of-speed-limits-2021-consultation/  Hīkina te Kohupara discussion – Ministry of Transport climate consultation Submissions close 5pm Friday 25th JuneThe Government is seeking feedback on options to accelerate the New Zealand transport sector to meet the draft advice and recommendations of the Climate Change Commission, and moving to a net zero carbon transport system by 2050.https://www.transport.govt.nz/consultations/hikina-te-kohupara-discussion  Upcoming bikeness Brooklyn Rd uphill bike lane have a go 10am – 3pm Saturday 12th JuneBottom of Central ParkWellington City Council will be putting on a BBQ and are arranging eBikes to try. We think dressups and music are in order!https://twitter.com/WgtnCC/status/1397312146111967239  Urban Nerds meetup 5:30 – 7:00pm Tuesday 8th JuneFortune Favours, Leeds StreetMeet with urbanists from all walks (and cycles) of life in a fun, informal catch up.https://urbanerds.nationbuilder.com/join Next Cycle Wellington Meeting 6pm Tuesday 6th JulyBicycle Junction, 1 Marion St, Te Aro Project updates WCC Cycleway Masterplan 2015 review This plan is being reviewed in light of WCC voting for an accelerated roll-out of cycle ways in the Long Term Plan, and the impact of LGWM.  The focus is on priorities and where to start first to get the greatest take up of cycling.  Brooklyn Cycle Lane Installation due to be finished this week, there will be an official ‘open day’ Saturday 12th June 10am – 3pm. Council officers will be taking feedback – have your say, bring some mates, and enjoy the lane!  Wilson St WCC are considering Wilson St as a quiet route through Newtown, and are getting feedback from the community about how the street could work for this.  A meeting is planned for 19th June to discuss feedback so far.  Round The Bays Work continues on this route, we are closer to a continuous path from the waterfront to Miramar.  Recent goings on Berhampore popup bike lane The Cycle Wellington Urban Repair Crew held an action in Berhampore. Thanks to all the mahi from our supporters. Together we demonstrated that the repurposing of street space can be achieved in much quicker timeframes than we usually see. Our action attracted a large amount of media coverage across the country.  https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2021/05/25/diy-safety/https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018796779/fed-up-cyclists-build-pop-up-cycle-lane-on-wellington-s-adelaide-roadhttps://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/wellington/300315971/unauthorised-cycle-lane-returns-to-wellington-streets-sparking-second-standoff-with-authoritieshttps://thespinoff.co.nz/society/27-05-2021/the-guerilla-bike-lane-of-wellington-was-born-out-of-the-betrayal-of-cyclists/ https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/443509/wellington-city-council-votes-for-bells-and-whistles-cycleway-plan Liberate the lane Auckland trip <img src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/cyclewellington/mailings/4/attachments/original/auckland_collage.jpg?1622758120" alt="Collage of pics from the liberate the lane event crossing the Auckland harbour bridge." /> Our cycling whānau in Tāmaki Makaurau, Bike Auckland held a rally to ‘liberate the lane’ on the Harbour Bridge. Their request is to run a 3 month trial of dedicated space for people to walk and bike over this critical link in the Auckland transport network. Following a breakdown of the development of the SkyPath project due to technical concerns, the time has come for some general traffic space to be repurposed to enable healthier, more efficient ways of getting around. It has been 12 years since the Get Across rally was held. Alex Dyer, Patrick Morgan, Jonathan Coppard and Mark Johnston caught the train with their bikes to ride in solidarity with people on bikes in Tāmaki Makaurau.https://www.podcasts.nz/liberatethelane-the-auckland-harbour-bridge-protest/https://www.bikeauckland.org.nz/ Improving inclusivity at Cycle Wellington We’ve had some wins, but the hard truth is too many people are turned off by how we advocate. It’s not easy to hear that, although well-intentioned, the impact of our advocacy too often comes across as unwelcoming, especially to women and marginalised people. We need to do better – to be inclusive, to be effective, and because it’s the right thing to do. We’d love to hear your thoughts.https://cycwell.wordpress.com/…/03/improving-inclusivity/ New Bike Buddies Wellington facebook group Bike Buddies Wellington focuses on connecting inexperienced riders with more experienced buddies in their neighbourhood to help make the roads feel more safe and friendly for those who currently cycle less. Please join if you would like to buddy someone or you’d like a buddy in your neighbourhood!https://www.facebook.com/groups/144380461060899/  World Bicycle Day <img src="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/cyclewellington/mailings/4/attachments/original/wbd_collage.jpg?1622757991" alt="Supporters of Cycle Wellington chatting at a picnic for World Bicycle Day" /> Thursday 3rd June was 2021 World Bicycle Day. Cycle Wellington held a picnic at the Te Papa Forecourt, and biked to Oriental Bay. .

    • Improving inclusivity
      • We’ve had some wins, but the hard truth is too many people are turned off by how we advocate. It’s not easy to hear that, although well-intentioned, the impact of our advocacy too often comes across as unwelcoming, especially to women and marginalised people. We need to do better – to be inclusive, to be effective, and because it’s the right thing to do.This affects how we moderate the Cycle Wellington Facebook group, when and how we meet, and how we advocate. As an initial step, Cycle Wellington ran a workshop to hear concerns and work towards solutions. Here’s the raw notes. What’s working: Relationships with council Open to change Theory of change – how to get things done Popular platform Large group membership Connections to international bike advocates Good working relationships with authorities, local govt Sharing successes Real names ( mostly) Some are bonded into action and community of interest Genuine goodwill to get everyone pedalling News media profile Relationships with journalists – understand their needs Monthly progress with WCC – budget, projects, relationship Increasing action at council and govt levels Minor improvements map Recent Long Term Plan quick submit form Lots of passion and engagement from the community People connect and reach out about their issues Hearing about the here and now in cycling albeit not detailed Prompt courteous admin Patrick listening and putting up submissions Not working Lack of inclusion It can drain my energy sometimes Nuance and depth are hard to achieve online The same thing as other online forums – it is easy to shout and post comments without taking time to listen and think People dislike the tone and content of some conversations Aggression Online activity can displace in real life actions The women who do comment ( and the men) are the usual bunch of people Things going off piste and degenerating fast Posting online from your phone/home does not encourage inclusive behaviour or respect Overwhelming firehose of content Online interactions even with people you know, are not as real as personal interactions Facebook as a central dump Not everybody wants to be on FB Facebook doesn’t work for some Missing minutes of meetings Daunting to speak up for too many Hard to see what has been achieved or participated in Hard to see what needs doing and how to contribute Missing voices and decision makers Playing into stereotyped ‘cyclists’ ‘commuters’ from funding priorities Mostly men who comment or fill the FB feed Euro-centric All male admins Very little about women/disabled/POC/ families on the feed Not a very diverse group Conversations are male dominated Te Tiriti o Waitangi So much mansplaining Women assumed to be beginners Difference or views of women minimalised with various tactics/ways of responding Doesn’t amplify my lived experience as a cyclist Doesn’t say advocacy – could just be a FB group Solutions suit some lived experiences and all the ‘advice giving’ people ( there’s a small group) appear male Total focus on access, getting something built over equity – building it right so don’t further exclude Performing the white male to fit it ( I think there’s more nuance) Not looking enough at cycle community behaviours? Missing the fun stuff – there is none or very little. In between all the serious things we need to begin to remember the joy of why we bike. Membership blanks – don’t know the make up of the membership base Solutions Use emails of current members, rely less on Facebook Coordination of calendars to schedule events at family-friendly times Advice about Wellington roads, route planning, bike selection and maintenance, some infrastructure conversations. Exercise 1: What does inclusivity mean to you? Method 1: The responses were typed verbatim into a word document and a word cloud was undertaken to based on frequency to get an idea of the main terms that came up in response to the question. Manakitaanga, participation, being fair, respectful, everyone is accepted on their terms in a non-threatening environment, being welcomed, safe, generosity of spirit and space, allow views not just the prevailing view, positive, wisdom, current, address power, seeing myself in the group, listening before speaking, showing empathy, accessibility, being an ally, acknowledging privilege, addressing power imbalances, not judging, being aware of biases, language, microagressions, diverse group representation, actively including minority groups people and perspectives, including everyone from the ground up, not making decisions on behalf of others but listening to what they have to say, to be asked about things and for our answers to be listened to and taken on board, inclusivity is an outdated concept it makes invisible the inside and so assumes it is normal worthwhile and I want to join, equity and justice help us think about why bikes, not what bikes, equals more bikes, why helps us join together to negotiate justice not fight each other, equity. Method 2: Long table analysis of the same responses (typed verbatim into a word document) and assembled into broad themes. The themes are then analysed and interpreted and presented in the form of a written statement. Manakitaanga *Power imbalanceLanguageParticipationAddressing power imbalancesLanguage – are we using the right words/conceptsBeing fairAcknowledging privilegeEquity – refers to fairness and justiceRespectfulNot judgingEquity and justice help us think about “why” (bikes) not “what” equals more bikesAccepted on their terms in non-threatening environmentBeing aware of biasWhy helps us join together to negotiate justice not fight each other.Being welcomedActively including minority groups – people and perspectivesInclusivity is an outdated concept, it makes invisible the “inside” and so assumes it (the inside) is normal, worthwhile and I want to join.SafeDiverse group representationGenerosity of spirit and spaceIncluding everyone from the ground upSeeing myself in the groupNot making decisions on behalf of others but listening to what they have to sayShowing empathyTo be asked about things and for our answers to be listened to and taken on boardAccessibilityListening before speakingBeing an ally The comments can be loosely grouped, and with some overlap, into three main themes. Manakitaanga, Power and language. Manakitaanga: translates to hospitality, kindness, generosity, and support – a process of showing respect and generosity and care for others. (Maori Dictionary). Among this theme you can see those concepts demonstrated broadly with the use of terms like: being safe, welcomed, respected, generosity and fairness. Power: In this theme there is an undertone of power imbalance and unfairness where the comments make assertions about how the group operates now. This is evident in statements like: being asked about things (first) and then being listened to, for the group not to make decisions on behalf of others but for them to be listened to, actively including minority groups and having a diverse group representation, implying that some in the group are not being asked, or listened to or even being represented/included. Language: Perhaps we should begin with this one as this is where the key concepts of fairness, equity and justice are presented. I think this is a valid point as we discussed previously, as it is not immediately clear to us how this exercise fits in to the organisation/group (vision or goals) and what are the group trying to achieve? And we may well be starting in the wrong spot. Exercise 2: Points of difference The point of difference exercise was useful for acknowledging how we can have differences as a group. The answers for this group were largely based in two categories: Ascribed features like: Age, sex, gender, nationality, ethnicity and religion. Achieved features like: marital, parental, family structure, socio-economic class/income, access to infrastructure, and health. As well as , again nationality, religion, sex and gender. There were some comments around some self described features like being a local, familiar confident rider (male and strong). A fat bike user, usually have a moutain of gear (female), being vegetarian. And a reference to culture expressed as why/how we ride bikes. Resources for admins and as people interested in the woman-online-experience: 1. Tauiwi Tautoko by Action Station, a group of volunteers trained and researched to stop hate speech online. Here is the why: https://actionstation.medium.com/tauiwi-tautoko-88510ebdb0c6 And here is the research that’s come out of it and others about online hate-speech: https://actionstation.medium.com/next-steps-on-your-anti-racism-journey-e5e436c97efd 2. Women in Urbanism has run a campaign about Street Harassment. More here: https://www.womeninurban.org.nz/street-harassment

    • A plea to Wellington City Council
      • 27 May, 2021, to Wellington City Council at the Long Term Plan meetingThank you for opportunity to speak.  I’m submitting just not for myself but for my family, and my brother Ben. Ben is the big boy in the photo I keep in my son’s room, so he knows that he had an uncle who loved him very much.  Ben can’t be here today because ten years ago he was killed by a careless driver in Karori when he was cycling home to Mount Cook. Ben had just finished cooking my birthday dinner and he said to me ‘don’t worry, I’ve got my lights.’ I know he would have been here today because loved politics, and cycling, and local Government and was a giant nerd.  You have a choice today about how much investment is right to put into cycling safety infrastructure. There are four options on the table, but only one of them delivers the full programme within ten years, option four. This is also the only option which will deliver a cycling network Ben would have taken that night, from his house in Mount Cook and back all the way out West to Karori.  I know this question has been framed in terms of cost, and debt, and rates, “nice to haves” and certainty, and competing priorities. I know all of you feel the pressure of keeping rates down, and being re-elected, and doing the right thing. I also know that many of you in this room understand that the only real way to everybody safe on the roads is to build physically separate infrastructure. All drivers make mistakes. Safety isn’t an individual matter – the power is in your hands to create systems that prevent injuries, and death. I know this because I spoke to many of you at the time of Ben’s death. I hugged some of you. I have watched as you have increased investment in cycling in Wellington, and I thank you for it so much. I wrote to some of you and I read your heartfelt replies that you would do everything in your power to make our road networks safer, if only you had the agency and the support.  I’m here to tell you today that you do have the agency, and you have my support. You all know that Wellington city has a dismal record of keeping cyclists safe and alive. You have seen the Waka Kotahi report. If any of you in this room does what you know in your heart is right to create, to create a full cycling network, and you cop flak for it, I will stand by your side and I will explain to anyone why this isn’t about rates, or numbers or debt or even votes but it’s about protecting people like my brother Ben.  Ben’s funeral cost $12,000 dollars. His death was cheap. NZTA put the full cost of each road death at $4 million dollars. His death was expensive. Ben’s death was the worst thing, that has ever happened to me and my family, in a hard life. We will never ever be able to explain to you the full cost of losing Ben in the dead of night on a rainy Wellington road.  This little boy in the picture is my son. He lives in Karori and he will be 12 this year. Ben in this picture was 22. This was the year he died. In ten years time, this little boy will be 22. If he gets on his bike and goes out the door at night, I want to be able to sleep, knowing that you did everything you could today to keep him safe, and everyone else who goes by bike. A whole generation is a long time to wait for real change. Please, be bold. Your decision today could protect another family from sitting here in ten years time holding a picture of someone they will never see again.  Nga mihi nui, thank you for your time.Jennifer Lawless

    • Cycle Wellington’s Top 5 submissions on the LTP
      • A lot of Wellingtonians took the time out of their busy schedules over the couple of weeks to come in to the council offices and make a submission on the Long-Term Plan. Individuals have 5 minutes to speak to their submission and answer any questions from councillors. It can feel intimidating the first time, but our Wellington City Councillors are actually a pretty nice bunch of people and want to hear what you have to say. We are however pretty disappointed in the Mayor, who was so absent from the hearings that he ended up missing out on listening to everyone we selected in our top 5. 5. Trudy, New to cycling. Trudy talked about her experiences as a new cyclist in wellington, making a point about how cycling infrastructure reaches a wide group of people. Leaving lots of time to respond to questions from councillors, she also gave some great answers about her confidence in ‘pop-up’ bike lanes and the difficulties finding bike parking in the city. 4. Marianne, Kids Freedom Fighter. Backed up by a solid powerpoint presentation, Marianne talked about the independence a safe cycling network would bring to children in Wellington. She presented an idea from Florrie (age 8) that the new integrated cycling network should be called the “Kids Freedom Network”. Even Sean Rush came onside at the end! 3. Davey, Getting involved early. Davey talks about he likes the freedom of biking ahead on his own, but wishes there were more places that he could do so, and that he would like to bike from his house rather than having to be driven out to the Hutt Valley to ride safely. 2. Ian, Ringer of Bells. If you want to make an impact on councillors after days of hearings, this is how you do it. I’ll let Ian speak for himself on this one. 1. Kate, Last: but not too late. The final submitter on the very last day of hearings, Kate made the journey in to the council offices in the dark with her partner and young child after many councillors had already tapped out. She describes their experience making their way into town only to find no cycle parking outside the council offices. Big bonus points for shouting out Cycle Wellington, and for leaving the councillors with some appropriate final remarks. A big thanks to everyone who completed our quick submit, and to everyone else who made a submission or took the time to speak to council. We’re going to keep on pushing for a future Wellington that’s better for people on bikes. You can watch our Cycle Wellington submission here: https://youtu.be/Ftha77IXcEU?t=18194 Or read our full written submission: cycle-wellington-submission-2021-long-term-planDownload

    • The case for boosting biking in Wellington
      • On 17 May, Councillors heard from heaps of people who want better biking in Wellington. Here’s Marilyn Northcotte’s presentation. Kia ora Tatou; Ko Marilyn Northcotte ahau.I work as a cycle skills instructor with the local education programme Pedal Ready. My main area of work is in teaching adults though I have spent many years teaching children how to cycle on the road as well. I have been reading the information on the 10-year plan, and one or maybe two statements stood out to me… Cycleways is an area where we have the ambition to seriously lift our game.…. We’re proposing to accelerate the development of a network…etc…so it is possible for more Wellingtonians of all ages and abilities to make some trips by bike… Usually when adults come to me for tuition it is with a goal in mind (usually a journey) …. I would like to ride to Oriental Bay, I would like to start riding to work a bit, or I would like to be able to ride to school with my kids, or for all of us to go on a family bike ride. The thank yous: I live in the Northern suburbs, and mainly come back and forth to town by bike…. So, I would just like to say thx by the way for the wonderful work that has been completed along the Hutt Rd. As a regular rider back and forth on that route I have certainly seen an increase in the numbers of riders along there and I think the counter data will support that as well. And it is not always infrastructure work, but also the supportive measures like lowering the speed limits, so thank you for lowering the speed limits in the inner city to 30kms. The kind of work we do in cycling education is also seen as a supportive measure. And there are many things in the long-term plan to look forward to. The thing is….is that some of the existing plans (like Thorndon Quay and the Newtown connections) have been taking far too long and Council has been too slow to deliver. As someone who works with newer and would be riders, or those returning to riding, (we call them re-engagers) I can tell you from my experience, that this category of riders needs safe places and opportunities to ride their bikes and move around in their communities and get to a variety of locations… like schools, and community centres, the dairy or the park for example. So, the puzzling thing is … why is option 3 the preferred option, when it is Option 4 that will provide a safe network sooner, the one we want to enable more Wellingtonians of all ages and abilities to make some trips by bike? In cycle skills training at whatever level, after we cover any skills tuition at the various touchpoints, school, clubs, workplace…. for newer or would be riders or re-engagers, it simply comes down to time on the bike, which is riding around time ( every chance they get) and using their bikes to get to places. And currently, (and perhaps for the foreseeable future) this will not happen if the network is not provided. The call to action is clear…. Choose Option 4 and realise the Council’s ambition to seriously lift their game when it comes to cycleways. Deliver more, faster. In accelerating the implementation of the entire cycling network, we can work to ensure the next generation of young people, adults and re-engagers will have a better opportunity to choose cycling for at least some of their trips, instead of driving or being driven, and we will change the traffic profile of our city … sooner. Nga mihi nui and thank you for your time.

    • Planning for the long-term
      • Wellington City Council is consulting on its Long-Term Plan (LTP) until May 10th. You can read more in the official consultation at https://www.letstalk.wellington.govt.nz/hub-page/long-term-plan. We encourage you to read on to find out about some of the issues we have with what’s in the plan, and go make a submission. There are multiple decisions being consulted on, more than one of which affect cyclists! Burst pipe currently in Aro Valley, Wellington. Also featuring one very brave cyclist. pic.twitter.com/l3rPLpoF8O — Abbey Wakefield (@Beywake) January 28, 2021 What is a Long-Term Plan? Every three years councils are required to consult on and approve a plan for the next 10 years. This plan will go into detail about how the council intends to raise money, and how it plans to spend it. This money is split into two categories: Operational Expenditure, and Capital Expenditure. Operational expenditure is what the council plans to spend on everyday activities such as paying staff, running facilities and maintaining roads. Capital expenditure is building new things, which is what we’re primarily interested in here at Cycle Wellington! While the plan sets out the next 10 years, the council will be required to create a new LTP in 2024, meaning that what the plan funds over the next three years is the most important. What’s happened so far? If we are serious about climate action – and I am – this must be a priority. Thanks @TalkWelly for the hard work that went into this. https://t.co/yssrq8VeOt — Dr Jenny Condie (@DrJennyCondie) September 11, 2019 We’ve already presented to Council in discussions around the draft of this LTP. We’re deeply disappointed that we were unable to get support at the council table to put the full cycling programme out for consultation as the recommended option. The vote failed 7-8 without the support of Deputy Mayor Sarah Free or Councillor Jenny Condie. Both councillors said they would support building a complete network by 2028 when they were seeking your vote at the last election, but have now walked back on that commitment. One achievement was an amendment from Councillor Laurie Foon adding an extra $45 million dollars from years 4-10 to the recommended option. While this is a significant amount of money we don’t understand why this extra funding wasn’t added from year 1. By the time this funding is relevant you’ll be writing your submission on the next Long-Term Plan, which could well be proposing a completely different budget for cycling. What’s in the Plan? Let’s Get Welly Moving will be responsible for delivering much of Wellington’s future cycling network. This includes the City Streets Program and routes along bus priority corridors. This means that none of these are included in the consultation or discussion around the Long-Term Plan other than WCC funding it’s portion of LGWM’s budget. We’ll need to continue to pressure LGWM for progress and make sure that improvements are beneficial for cyclists as well as for public transport. The long term plan provides four options for funding cycling in Wellington. The recommended option, titled “High Investment” plans to spend $120 million over the next ten years. This includes $1 million per year for minor improvements and tactical urbanism. In the next three years this budget provides for the completion of the cycle path around Evans Bay and into Miramar. This would mean only a few kilometers of new cycleways delivered by the council in the next three years. Source: Draft Bus Priority Action Plan (LGWM) Our Recommendations 1. Support Option 4 to build a fully-connected network by 2031 Research shows that to support people cycling it is necessary to provide a fully connected network that allows people to cycle to wherever their destination is safely. Only one option proposed in the LTP has the potential to deliver this and that is Option 4: Accelerated Full Programme. Therefore we strongly recommend supporting this option. 2. Prioritise children before seawalls One change from the previous LTP is the reduction of priority for a connected cycle network in the northern suburbs of Johnsonville, Newlands and Paparangi. This network of cycle lanes in the northern suburbs would provide a connected network to support over 2500 children to cycle to school at Newlands College, Newlands Intermediate and four primary schools in the area. We were disappointed to see these cycleways given lower priority (6, see below) than the completion of the Great Harbour Way (5, see below) on the basis of “low value for money”. The Great Harbour Way is a largely recreational route with extremely high costs due to the road-widening and coastal defences required to provide this route around the entirety of Wellington’s coastline. These three sections amount to more than a quarter of the total budget. We asked WCC to be clear in the consultation around the co-benefits this would deliver in terms of protecting the existing road and properties from storms and sea-level rise. Only a very small proportion of the costs of these coastal projects are spent on cycleways. We think that safe journeys for vulnerable road users such as children should be the highest priority. Churton Park and other northern suburbs currently have the highest rates of car dependency in Wellington City. Draft cycleway priorities. Note: This draft does not include the extra funding present for option 3 in the final LTP consultation, and is not adjusted for inflation. 3. Double the Cycling Minor Works Budget to $2 million per year Under the High and Full funding options the LTP allocates $1 million per year to this category which is no increase from recent years. This budget is where the council funds small cycling improvements all over Wellington, including cycle parking like the bike racks in Grey Street. We’re constantly told that there’s not enough money in this budget for improvements we ask for. We also don’t think it’s a budget where the council is constrained by capacity in what it can deliver. Doubling this budget to $2 million per year would vastly improve the councils ability to provide parking and other minor improvements over the next decade. 4. Create a new dedicated funding category to deliver rapid changes to the urban environment All around the world we’ve seen cities like London, New York and Paris react quickly and dynamically to reallocate road space for massive growth in cycling. Here in Wellington, we’re still waiting to see any significant improvements delivered for cyclists. In the next month we will see Wellington’s first attempt at such a project in the Brooklyn Road uphill Cycleway. We think cycle lanes could be delivered quicker, easier and cheaper with the addition of a dedicated fund for this type of work. Currently the LTP suggests this work could be funded out of the already limited Minor Works Budget, but we think the scale needed to deliver a connected cycle network over the next decade requires a well-resourced and dedicated fund. This fund would also deliver public space improvements outside of cycling in the form of Low-Traffic Neighbourhoods and parklets. 5. Ring-fence cycling funding You might not have noticed, but WCC has a habit of underdelivering on cycleways. This means that while large numbers of multiple millions of dollars are thrown around in the news and social media, whole projects go by with their allocated funding unspent. In the three years since the last LTP more than $16 million has gone unspent from Newtown Connections, the Parade Upgrade and Miramar networks that were planned to have been built. It’s not very clear where this money goes and WCC still hasn’t responded to several Official Information Act requests. Sometimes it gets carried over to the next year, other times it gets reallocated to cover budget blowouts on other projects such as the seawalls and other coastal defenses for the Cobham Drive and Evans Bay projects. We have an expectation that money allocated to cycling through an extensive LTP consultation process actually get’s spent on cycling. Even if we manage to increase the budget for cycling there’s no guarantee that WCC will actually build cycling infrastructure with the money. Even more concerning is that this use of unspent funding is being explicitly used in advance as a method to cover funding shortfalls elsewhere. For example the current plan to fix the Central Library is not properly funded and will breach the council’s planned debt limits. How do they plan on addressing this? This breach will be mitigated by anycapital underspend being used forthe library project rather thanon new projects. LTP Consultation Document, pg. 43, Decision 6: Central Library In order to prevent this kind of pilfering of the cycling budget in the future we think the budget should be ring-fenced. Ring-fencing the cycling budget would ensure that any money allocated must be spent on cycling and not reallocated elsewhere. We also think the council should properly fund its projects by increasing rates or taking on additional debt. You can help prevent this by supporting Option 2 or Option 3 for the Central Library decision in the consultation to either delay the library strengthening or fund it properly through rates. Can we afford it? The council has many mechanisms to increase funding for projects such as increasing rates or taking on more debt. Mayor Foster has chosen to deliver a fiscally conservative plan that we think will cause Wellington to miss out on the enormous physical, mental, social, environmental and financial benefits of investing in cycling. Regan Dooley from Island Bay Healthy Streets has done some great back of the hand math on how much driving is costing us in Wellington: $1.3 Billion per year, and that doesn’t include the health costs or losses caused by congestion. We support lifting the debt ceiling closer to its limit and increasing rates in order to maximise on the investment returns for Wellingtonians on cycling. Can it be built? The private sector needs a financial commitment from the council in order to invest in staff and equipment for the next decade. The recommended option 3 will not provide much confidence for the industry to increase workforce or capacity for the future. The council has also made it harder for themselves to deliver projects by consulting multiple times on single projects and prioritising projects requiring significant physical works such as seawalls. In order to increase the deliverability of projects consultation needs to be streamlined and projects reallocating space rather than building new space prioritised. Not having enough money is a common excuse we’ve heard over the last decade and we want that removed as an obstacle to progress. Submissions close May 10th, So submit now by clinking here!

    • Planning for the long-term
      • Wellington City Council is consulting on its Long-Term Plan (LTP) until May 10th. You can read more in the official consultation at https://www.letstalk.wellington.govt.nz/hub-page/long-term-plan. We encourage you to read on to find out about some of the issues we have with what’s in the plan, and go make a submission. There are multiple decisions being consulted on, more than one of which affect people riding bikes! Burst pipe currently in Aro Valley, Wellington. Also featuring one very brave cyclist. pic.twitter.com/l3rPLpoF8O — Abbey Wakefield (@Beywake) January 28, 2021 What is a Long-Term Plan? Every three years councils are required to consult on and approve a plan for the next 10 years. This plan will go into detail about how the council intends to raise money, and how it plans to spend it. This money is split into two categories: Operational Expenditure, and Capital Expenditure. Operational expenditure is what the council plans to spend on everyday activities such as paying staff, running facilities and maintaining roads. Capital expenditure is building new things, which is what we’re primarily interested in here at Cycle Wellington! While the plan sets out the next 10 years, the council will be required to create a new LTP in 2024, meaning that what the plan funds over the next three years is the most important. What’s happened so far? If we are serious about climate action – and I am – this must be a priority. Thanks @TalkWelly for the hard work that went into this. https://t.co/yssrq8VeOt — Dr Jenny Condie (@DrJennyCondie) September 11, 2019 We’ve already presented to Council in discussions around the draft of this LTP. We’re deeply disappointed that we were unable to get support at the council table to put the full cycling programme out for consultation as the recommended option. The vote failed 7-8 without the support of Deputy Mayor Sarah Free or Councillor Jenny Condie. Both councillors said they would support building a complete network by 2028 when they were seeking your vote at the last election, but have now walked back on that commitment. One achievement was an amendment from Councillor Laurie Foon adding an extra $45 million dollars from years 4-10 to the recommended option. While this is a significant amount of money we don’t understand why this extra funding wasn’t added from year 1. By the time this funding is relevant you’ll be writing your submission on the next Long-Term Plan, which could well be proposing a completely different budget for cycling. What’s in the Plan? Let’s Get Welly Moving will be responsible for delivering much of Wellington’s future cycling network. This includes the City Streets Program and routes along bus priority corridors. This means that none of these are included in the consultation or discussion around the Long-Term Plan other than WCC funding it’s portion of LGWM’s budget. We’ll need to continue to pressure LGWM for progress and make sure that improvements are beneficial for cyclists as well as for public transport. Source: Draft Bus Priority Action Plan (LGWM) The long term plan provides four options for funding cycling in Wellington. The recommended option, titled “High Investment” plans to spend $120 million over the next ten years. This includes $1 million per year for minor improvements and tactical urbanism. In the next three years this budget provides for the completion of the cycle path around Evans Bay and into Miramar. This would mean only a few kilometers of new cycleways delivered by the council in the next three years. Our Recommendations 1. Support Option 4 to build a fully-connected network by 2031 Research shows that to support people cycling it is necessary to provide a fully connected network that allows people to cycle to wherever their destination is safely. Only one option proposed in the LTP has the potential to deliver this and that is Option 4: Accelerated Full Programme. Therefore we strongly recommend supporting this option. 2. Prioritise children before seawalls One change from the previous LTP is the reduction of priority for a connected cycle network in the northern suburbs of Johnsonville, Newlands and Paparangi. This network of cycle lanes in the northern suburbs would provide a connected network to support over 2500 children to cycle to school at Newlands College, Newlands Intermediate and four primary schools in the area. We were disappointed to see these cycleways given lower priority (6, see below) than the completion of the Great Harbour Way (5, see below) on the basis of “low value for money”. The Great Harbour Way is a largely recreational route with extremely high costs due to the road-widening and coastal defences required to provide this route around the entirety of Wellington’s coastline. These three sections amount to more than a quarter of the total budget. We asked WCC to be clear in the consultation around the co-benefits this would deliver in terms of protecting the existing road and properties from storms and sea-level rise. Only a very small proportion of the costs of these coastal projects are spent on cycleways. We think that safe journeys for vulnerable road users such as children should be the highest priority. Churton Park and other northern suburbs currently have the highest rates of car dependency in Wellington City. Draft cycleway priorities. Note: This draft does not include the extra funding present for option 3 in the final LTP consultation, and is not adjusted for inflation. 3. Double the Cycling Minor Works Budget to $2 million per year Under the High and Full funding options the LTP allocates $1 million per year to this category which is no increase from recent years. This budget is where the council funds small cycling improvements all over Wellington, including cycle parking like the bike racks in Grey Street. We’re constantly told that there’s not enough money in this budget for improvements we ask for. We also don’t think it’s a budget where the council is constrained by capacity in what it can deliver. Doubling this budget to $2 million per year would vastly improve the councils ability to provide parking and other minor improvements over the next decade. 4. Create a new dedicated funding category to deliver rapid changes to the urban environment All around the world we’ve seen cities like London, New York and Paris react quickly and dynamically to reallocate road space for massive growth in cycling. Here in Wellington, we’re still waiting to see any significant improvements delivered for cyclists. In the next month installation of the Brooklyn Road uphill bike path will begin as part of the Innovating Streets programme. We think cycle lanes could be delivered quicker, easier and cheaper with the addition of a dedicated fund for this type of work. Currently the LTP suggests this work could be funded out of the already limited Minor Works Budget, but we think the scale needed to deliver a connected cycle network over the next decade requires a well-resourced and dedicated fund. This fund would also deliver public space improvements outside of cycling in the form of Low-Traffic Neighbourhoods and parklets. 5. Ring-fence cycling funding You might not have noticed, but WCC has a habit of underdelivering on cycleways. This means that while large numbers of multiple millions of dollars are thrown around in the news and social media, whole projects go by with their allocated funding unspent. In the three years since the last LTP more than $16 million has gone unspent from Newtown Connections, the Parade Upgrade and Miramar networks that were planned to have been built. It’s not very clear where this money goes and WCC still hasn’t responded to several Official Information Act requests. Sometimes it gets carried over to the next year, other times it gets reallocated to cover budget blowouts on other projects such as the seawalls and other coastal defenses for the Cobham Drive and Evans Bay projects. We have an expectation that money allocated to cycling through an extensive LTP consultation process actually get’s spent on cycling. Even if we manage to increase the budget for cycling there’s no guarantee that WCC will actually build cycling infrastructure with the money. Even more concerning is that this use of unspent funding is being explicitly used in advance as a method to cover funding shortfalls elsewhere. For example the current plan to fix the Central Library is not properly funded and will breach the council’s planned debt limits. How do they plan on addressing this? This breach will be mitigated by anycapital underspend being used forthe library project rather thanon new projects. LTP Consultation Document, pg. 43, Decision 6: Central Library In order to prevent this kind of pilfering of the cycling budget in the future we think the budget should be ring-fenced. Ring-fencing the cycling budget would ensure that any money allocated must be spent on cycling and not reallocated elsewhere. We also think the council should properly fund its projects by increasing rates or taking on additional debt. You can help prevent this by supporting Option 2 or Option 3 for the Central Library decision in the consultation to either delay the library strengthening or fund it properly through rates. Can we afford it? The council has many mechanisms to increase funding for projects such as increasing rates or taking on more debt. Mayor Foster has chosen to deliver a fiscally conservative plan that we think will cause Wellington to miss out on the enormous physical, mental, social, environmental and financial benefits of investing in cycling. Regan Dooley from Island Bay Healthy Streets has done some great back of the hand math on how much driving is costing us in Wellington: $1.3 Billion per year, and that doesn’t include the health costs or losses caused by congestion. We support lifting the debt ceiling closer to its limit and increasing rates in order to maximise on the investment returns for Wellingtonians on cycling. Can it be built? The private sector needs a financial commitment from the council in order to invest in staff and equipment for the next decade. The recommended option 3 will not provide much confidence for the industry to increase workforce or capacity for the future. The council has also made it harder for themselves to deliver projects by consulting multiple times on single projects and prioritising projects requiring significant physical works such as seawalls. In order to increase the deliverability of projects consultation needs to be streamlined and projects reallocating space rather than building new space prioritised. Not having enough money is a common excuse we’ve heard over the last decade and we want that removed as an obstacle to progress. Submissions close May 10th, so submit now by clicking here!

    • March 2021 NEWSLETTER
      • Kia ora koutou – It is no secret that Wellington City and it’s Council face some significant challenges justnow. We have pipe problems, transport problems, housing problems, funding problems,environment problems. We could go on. In our view, this is the time to be bold. This is the time for fixing things and adapting our city in ways that deliver the most good for the most people, and for the future. With regards to cycling infrastructure, the Wellington City Council 2021 Long Term Plan (LTP) is not bold. We are concerned by the focus on reduced spending on active transport.The LTP is going out for consultation during April. The preferred option, now optimistically labelled ‘High Investment’, does not deliver greater investment than recent funding levels until years 4-10 of the plan when an extra $45M ($33M more than current levels) will kick in – spread out over those 6 years. But, there will be another LTP before that happens, so it’s kind of symbolic until then. We want to see the extra funding included from day one. Things have become extremely murky for everyone involved due to more projects being sucked into the Let’s Get Wellington Moving vortex. We hope to see some greater clarity soon from all partners collaborating to make Wellington a zero carbon city for people. And we will be working to provide some clarity about where we expect the funding for cycling in the LTP to land when it is adopted.Safe space for cycling is critical infrastructure! Keep pedaling!Ngā mihi nui,Alex Dyer and Linda Beatson, Co-Chairs Cycle Wellington Calls to action Minor project ideas Wellington City Council have a minor projects budget and are collating a range of locations for new bike parking, ​tool stands​, and ​stair rails​. Please submit your ideas for locations using this form. Climate Change Commission Draft Recommendations – Submissions close 28th March Please send in your feedback for this critical national consultation about our shared future. Here’s a guide from Cycling Action Network: Regional Public Transport Plan 2021Greater Wellington Regional Council are seeking feedback on their Regional Public Transport Plan. This consultation has major impacts on the wider transport system funding. Watch out for a predilection for Park n’ Ride facilities. (CW would like to see more facilities that enable people to ‘Ride n’Ride’!)

    • A Longer Term Plan for Healthy Streets in Wellington
      • The following was presented in person to Wellington City Council during public participation in the Annual Plan/Long-Term Plan Committee Meeting on 18 February 2021. Investing properly in streets for people of all ages and abilities to make active everyday journeys is a critical part of successfully delivering Te Atakura and addressing the Climate Emergency we are in.WCC needs to keep its promises and Get Welly Riding.This is the time for Councillors to stand tall and support what they were elected to do.Please continue lifting the vision for mobility in this city. We love the great facilities that WCC have been creating these last few years. Don’t lose this precious momentum.The recommended investment to develop healthy streets is incongruous with many of the priorities outlined in this LTP. Kirsten, Mia & Nico with their big blue family station wagon they started using a day before L4 lockdown.Pic: Julia Hilgenfeldt Lifting the vision We all have a vision for a Wellington that is full of people who enjoy living and moving about. Especially those choosing to ride bikes, walk, and take public transport. Everyone should be able to enjoy the wellbeing of healthy, active, community enhancing mobility. I envision a city of people who are empowered by their mobility environment. Where children can travel safely and independently about their own neighbourhoods. I yearn for the quiet, clean air filled with birdsong that we all enjoyed during Level 4 lockdown, more greenery, and places to dwell. I look forward to a time when people’s response to urban cycling is no longer “I’d like to do that, but it’s far too dangerous!’ I look forward to more households being able to get around without owning a car. I am excited by the potential of healthier streets to increase connectivity and reduce loneliness in our communities. WCC must invest properly in streets for people Just as Wellington water infrastructure has been neglected to a state of disrepair, so too we have seen an unacceptable degradation of the way people can travel around. Decades of focus on journeys by car has resulted in our streets breaking and becoming clogged with an unsustainable volume of vehicles. Addressing transport in Wellington is as key as “fixing the pipes”. Human-scale mobility systems are critical to our health and wellbeing. Investing in our streets to perform better for people, not cars, is essential to enable this. Incongruous priorities The draft LTP says that safe transport infrastructure and accelerating a zero-carbon transition are priority objectives. The suggested recommendations in this draft plan are putting on the brakes. This council has declared a Climate Emergency. Delivering a reduced programme of cycleways goes against the objectives of the plan and the commitments that this council has made to reduce emissions. Healthy streets enabling active travel are critical infrastructure for our future. That this LTP aims to cut the important cycling corridors to Get Welly Riding significantly undermines the impression of an organisation prioritising safe, zero-carbon, waste-free, resilient, reliable, critical / core transport infrastructure. Not funding The Parade Upgrade means that you are walking away from the consultation and commitments made to the people of Island Bay. Councillors need to respect that contract to maintain the council’s social license and trust that it will do what it says it will.  There are many residents and ratepayers in Wellington who are happy to pay higher rates to properly fund essential projects. Bike lanes are essential for addressing transport equity, climate change, public health, improving Wellington’s appeal, and saving ratepayers money. Cutting bike lane projects because of rates pressure is compounding the problem for our children’s generation who don’t have a voice. I, and many others feel this way as ratepayers and are eager to pay more to make our mobility environment healthier. Space that is safe for walking, cycling and other forms of active transport is one of the most sustainable economic developments we can invest in.  Your own website lists evidence that every dollar spent on cycling by this council would save Wellington ratepayers $20 in the form of fewer injuries, reductions in emissions, health benefits and less spending on fossil fuels. More people on bikes means less money spent on repairing damage caused by heavy vehicles. We can’t understand why such a valuable return on investment hasn’t been utilised as part of the cost savings in this plan. What to do? So what do we think this draft LTP should look like regarding cycling? We don’t think that a draft LTP put out for consultation should include options that are contradictory to the council’s priorities, climate targets and legal obligations such as those in options 1, 2 or 3. We think that the recommended option should at a minimum fulfill the entire programme of works promised in previous plans and deliver promised improvements to the Island Bay Cycleway. Furthermore, we think that Wellingtonians should be consulted on the option of the council delivering an increased and accelerated programme. The consultation will not allow Wellingtonians to truly express their views if the best option they can ask for is that which has previously been promised. We consider that progress in Wellington is not being made fast enough, and we are being left behind Auckland, Christchurch, and cities overseas, such as Paris, that have made transformative changes under visionary leadership. It is clear that Wellington City Council has the capability to deliver an ambitious long term plan if you choose to.  This LTP prioritises the cutting of rates over the cutting of emissions. The same misplaced priorities left us to clean up the pipes previous generations should have maintained. We hope that you will make a choice to deliver on a Long Term Plan that ensures a Wellington and a world worth living in for our children and future generations.

    • February 2021 NEWSLETTER
      • Kia ora koutou Great news! ​Te Ara Tupua ​-Ngā Ūranga to Pito-one path has been consented.​ We are over the moon about the decision. This is a game-changer.After decades of delays, we are overjoyed there will soon be a safe and attractive path between the Hutt and Wellington. There’s no doubt that cycling is booming, as more people discover the convenience and joy of riding a bike.But until Te Ara Tupua opens, CW are still fighting for safety measures on State Highway Two. We’re calling on Waka Kotahi NZTA to take action to make it safer for people on bikes along this corridor immediately. Speeds should be lowered to reduce traffic risks.We are also excited to see the ​Climate Change Commission’s draft advice​ for a better,low-carbon New Zealand. Let’s make sure bicycles are a key part of the way forward.We’re working on a submission guide to help you push for cleaner, sustainable, fun mobility when you have your say.Keep pedaling!Ngā mihi nui,Alex Dyer and Linda BeatsonCo-Chairs Cycle Wellington Calls to actionWCC ePetition: Make safe space for cycling on Thorndon Quay Closes ​22 February 2021Let’s make Thorndon Quay safe for people on bikes.We’re calling on Wellington City Council to change all of the angle parking to parallel on Thorndon Quay in order to make space for people on bikes. This is an urgent safety change required while the longer project, through Let’s Get Welly Moving, takes its course.Thanks to the 350+ people who have already signed the petition calling for safe space. Please sign and shareLocky Docks sitesLocky Docks are looking for more locations they can provide bike parking around Wellington.If anyone can suggest any privately owned land that is suitable, close to the central city or in village centres in suburbs (e.g.Brooklyn, Hataitai, Island Bay… etc), please reach out and have a chat with them. Upcoming bikenessPicnics In Parks – PARK(ing) Day Friday 5 MarchThe Picnics In Parks movement is looking to hold a series of picnics during this year’s PARK(ing) Day. The idea is to hold a set of basic picnics in parks outside select cafes around town to complement the official parklet sculptures. Please contact ​alex.m.dyer@gmail.com​ if you’re interested in hosting a picnic on the day.More info about the main event here: https://www.sculpture.org.nz/store/doc/PARK(ing)-Day-2021-Call-for-proposals.pdf ReBicycle Fix up6-8pm Wednesdays​ Mechanical TempestOur ReBicycle Fix up workshop is back inaction on Wednesday evenings, 6-8pm.These five boys were super happy to get ‘new’ bikes this week. Loads more bikes have been donated and are waiting to be fixed up ready for a new home. If you have basic mechanical skills come on down and give us a hand. https://rebicycle.nz/ Big Bike Film Night – Wellington screenings6pm Sunday 21st & 6:15pm Monday 22nd February Penthouse Cinema BrooklynShowcasing our 2021 collection that has everything a cycle-centric audience could want –action, drama, humour, and plenty of inspiration; the evening is unashamedly and utterly,utterly, utterly designed and devised for the two wheel devotee!https://www.bigbikefilmnight.nz/screenings/big-bike-film-night-new-zealand/ Family Cargo bike ChampionsEntries close on Sunday 7th of March, 2021Bicycle Junction are running a programme of cargo bike trials for parents at a range of Wellington schools. People who take up the trial challenge can win an electric cargo bike! Aotearoa Bike Challenge February 2021The Aotearoa Bike Challenge is back for 2021! Gather a team at your work, track your progress riding your bike and be in to win prizes and bragging rights. Register here. ​ Urban Nerds meetup February 9th-5:30-7:00pm Fortune Favours, Leeds StreetMeet with urbanists from all walks (and cycles) of life in a fun, informal catch up. The invitation setup has recently changed, so if you’re keen to be in the loop ​sign up here​. Next Cycle Wellington Meeting 2nd March 2021 6pm at the Sustainability Trust, Forresters Lane, Te Aro Project updates WCC Cobham DriveIt’s looking great. The opening date hasn’t yet been confirmed as there’s still work to do. Miramar Ave.Once the crew has finished on Cobham Drive they will start work on continuing the route through the cutting to Miramar Ave. Innovating streets A Brooklyn Hill bike lane co-design is in progress. We could see an install in a few months, depending on the materials needed. Parklets on Marion St (Bicycle Junction), Riddiford St (Black Coffee) and Allen St (Fringe) to be installed from 9 Feb. Please use these. More at https://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/projects/innovating-streets Bike counters data movedThe location where you can access bike counter data can now be found here. Waka Kotahi NZTA / LGWM Te Ara Tupua consentedAs described above, we are very happy about the consenting of this project and look forward to its construction. We continue to work for speed reductions to be implemented until construction is completed. Recent goings onCycle Wellington SurveyIf you didn’t catch the post about the findings from our survey last year, please ​check it out here​. About CWCycle Wellington is a group of people who are passionate about making Wellington a better place to ride bikes. Support Cycle WellingtonDo you love cycling? Want more people riding bikes, more often? Got a great idea to make cycling in Wellington even better? Get involved with Cycle Wellington!Join Cycle Wellington through the ​Cycling Action Network​ by using your Wellington address.Make a donation to Cycle WellingtonShow your support of CW by buying a shirt on our online shopFollow CW: Facebook​, ​Instagram​, ​Twitter​, ​Blog

    • Wellington’s bike boom is unstoppable
      • by Patrick Morgan, Cycle Wellington1 February 2021 There’s no doubt that cycling is on the up.Wellingtonians are biking more and more, with numbers doubling in the past decade. E-bikes flatten hills, defeat headwinds, and help you go further. For those who don’t mind getting a work-out, low gears make every hill possible. Volunteers are busy digging mountain bike trails all over the place. Most buses have bike racks, and you can take you bike on trains and ferries at no cost. NZ Cycle Trails are popular as domestic tourism booms. Bikes mean business. Bike shops did a roaring trade during 2020 as people rediscovered cycling. A hot item is a cargo bike that can haul your kids and groceries. Families are getting rid of cars and making more trips by bike.People of all ages love the convenience, speed, affordability and sheer joy of riding bikes. In response, Wellington has been building bike lanes, adding bike parking, setting safe speed limits and supporting programmes like Bikes in Schools that get more kids riding, more often. Employers are installing secure bike parking and encouraging staff and customers to use bikes. Are we moving fast enough and getting it right first time? Hell no, but momentum is building faster than a biker zooming down Brooklyn hill. However, I accept that change is hard, and scepticism endures (Why we need more than just cycle lanes in Wellington, 1 February, ) Luckily, opponents of cycling are running out of excuses. That’s why the Government, councils, and businesses are investing in cycling like never before. The Climate Change Commission has called for the doubling of cycling by 2035. I reckon we need to be more ambitious, to realise the carbon-crushing potential of cycling. If you want to get on your bike, help is at hand. Today marks the start of Bike Month, where you can log your rides at Aotearoa Bike Challenge, and win stuff by competing against your friends and workmates. Need to sharpen your skills? Take a free Pedal Ready course Want your kids to ride more? Visit a school with a Bikes in Schools track, or explore the great trails in our region like the Remutaka Cycle Trail, Makara Peak, Te Ara Whareroa, Te Ara Tawa, or the Hutt River Trail. More and more people are embracing the joy and freedom as we bike to the future.

    • Wellington Bike Love episode 9: KAIN & JESS with their daughter
      • Kain, Sonja, and their daughter have been without a car for six years. It began back in Germany with the problem of finding a parking spot and cycling was a good alternative. With the move to Wellington, this did not change. Although a good infrastructure does not exist here yet. “Our daughter doesn’t ride her bicycle here alone as she was used to in Berlin. There is not enough space, cars passing by too close, ”mentions Jess. Still, cycling is their favorite mode of transport. “Healthier. An easier way of getting around. No hassle with parking ”describes Kain the main motivators. Their daughter says happily: “It’s good for the environment. Cars aren’t fun. ” And the closeness to water and beaches adds another positive layer for cycling in Wellington. While the whole family has their own, unique relationship to their bikes, Kain describes it as a close bond. “It is an extension of me. A part of my personality.” For their daughter it is a toy to have fun with and Jess sees it as something functional. But all of them agree that cycling has become an important part of their lives. [Credit to Stephen Templer and Sean Duffell for the mural artwork that served as background.] [ By Julia Hilgenfeldt. All stories of the project can be found here: https://julsontheway.com/art-projects/wellington-bike-love.]

    • Bike to the future
      • As a year like no other draws to a close, what’s ahead for cycling in Wellington? Cycle Wellington needs to be responsive to our supporters, so recently we surveyed you. Thanks to the 404 people who had their say. You told us you like what we do, but we need to up our game and work harder. We agree. So we’ll be– improving the visibility and branding of Cycle Wellington– upgrading how we communicate with you– amplifying the voices of disadvantaged people– launching a membership programme to improve our effectiveness– hitting the streets with more actions– reaching out to businesses– broadening our agenda– riding our bikes. This work has been made possible by a generous donation from a Cycle Wellington supporter, who funded the Alastair Smith Memorial Award. Alastair Smith, who passed away in November 2019, was a passionate and effective powerhouse in our efforts to make Wellington better for people riding bikes. In 2020, the Award recipient is Tom Hovey. Tom is a cycling advocate with extensive digital engagement experience. He owns his own digital consultancy and understands the cycling environment.“We’ve seen some improvements, but there’s much more to do to make Wellington a better city for people who want to ride,” said Tom. “I’m delighted and honoured to have this opportunity to apply my skills, and look forward to making more progress in 2021.” Season’s greetings to you all.

    • Make safe space for cycling on Thorndon Quay
      • We all deserve safe streets. Let’s make Thorndon Quay safe for people on bikes.We call on Wellington City Council to change angle parking to parallel parking on Thorndon Quay, to make space for people on bikes.Thorndon Quay is a key route in Wellington’s cycling network, linking the city with northern suburbs. Sadly, it has a high crash rate. That needs fixing urgently. Please sign our petition at (TBC) FAQQ: What about Let’s Get Wellington Moving plans?A: The LGWM project is considering an upgrade of Thorndon Quay, but these could be years away.Q: Does Thorndon Quay need bike lanes?A: Yes. We expect these will happen in the LGWM upgrade, but in the meantime we need to make Thorndon Quay safe.Q: What about parking?A: A WCC study has shown that even at peak demand, there is plenty of unused car parks on Thorndon Quay. Wellington has more than 29,000 car parks in the central city. Join the conversation at https://www.facebook.com/fixthorndonquay

    • Wellington Bike Love episode 8: SANKET
      • The buses were too crowded, the streets full of traffic. A bicycle was the solution for Sanket. A way to get easily to and from work with the added benefit to save some time. Even during the time of Covid, to stay safe with the right amount of social distancing. One of the frustrating factors of using the bicycle, he mentions instantly: “If it’s windy then that is Wellington”. After a long pause, he adds “The bus drivers are a bit harsh” This is the scary and annoying bit of commuting for him, but the excitement outweighs the discomfort of those situations. Here’s what he likes most about cycling in the city: “The whole fact I am able to commute,” he says. The convenient locations of both his home and work. Every day he looks forward to riding home to enjoy the views along the waterfront. Sanket views his bicycle as a very close part of his life. Since he moved to Wellington he used it more than his car. “It is definitely a wonderful loving relationship,” he says. [Credit to artist Tess Sheerin and Island Bay youth for the mural artwork that served as background.] [ By Julia Hilgenfeldt. All stories of the project can be found here: https://julsontheway.com/art-projects/wellington-bike-love.]

    • Wellington Bike Love episode 7: KARIEN
      • With cycling in her blood, Karien brought her bicycle over from the Netherlands. She put it to good use for years, until she moved to the top of a hill, and it became an ornamental piece in her living room. A few years ago the bus system changed, the convenience of public transport was gone and travel stress increased. The bicycle looked appealing again! Being used to cycling on flat terrain, the hill was a challenge though! An e-bike was the solution. Since then, Karien commutes and cycles around the city in any weather in any clothes. “From normal clothes to a dress and high heels for a good night out.” From her perspective, cycling in Wellington is “fairly dangerous, especially on rainy days or at night.” With a healthy dose of awareness, she passes parked cars, looking out for doors that might open unexpectedly. The Mt. Vic tunnel is by far the worst part of her commute, she says. But once Karien rides through Roseneath, looking at the sunrise over the mountains, or along the calming water at the waterfront, watching people rowing, she nearly forgets the risks. The amount of freedom in return is totally worth it. Her bicycle is her most prized possession with an indescribable love towards it, she explains. [Credit to artist DSIDE for the mural artwork that served as background.] [ By Julia Hilgenfeldt. All stories of the project can be found here: https://julsontheway.com/art-projects/wellington-bike-love.]

    • Wellington Bike Love episode 6: JIM
      • A knee injury opened the door to cycling. A friend wanted to help and gave Jim an old bike to recover quicker. Still, the hills of Wellington were too challenging. As the technology around e-bikes improved, he invested in a conversion for his bicycle. A decision that changed his life dramatically. “Cycling has been a revolution on how I approach my life. I absolutely love it,” he says enthusiastically. Especially, the time factor is one of the most convincing aspects for him. Being able to get home from anywhere in 20 minutes without worrying about a car park, bus schedules, anything. “The logistics disappeared,” Jim exclaims. The newly won freedom and time is invested in his family life – making sure everyone gets breakfast, lunch and dinner. With everything in life, there is also a little shadow side that comes with commuting by bicycle regularly. “The lack of space given to cyclists. The lack of tolerance.” He explains. “Cars go by too close.” Constant awareness is needed. The experience of an incident with an opened door didn’t stop him from riding his bike; it only changed his approach. Carefully, he now picks the routes that minimize the chance of that. His bicycle is like a colleague for him. Jim treats it with respect, maintained and cleaned to enjoy more years of cycling. [ By Julia Hilgenfeldt. All stories of the project can be found here: https://julsontheway.com/art-projects/wellington-bike-love.]

    • Wellington Bike Love episode 5: KORA
      • A bicycle named “Franken-bike” is Kora’s main way of traveling around Wellington. The independence she experiences with a bicycle is indescribable. No need to wait for a bus. It is cool, good for the environment and good for her with some passive exercise, she explains. Going downhill is the most exciting part of cycling. She only goes the hills up to speed those down again. “At times it can be difficult and quite dangerous to be part of the traffic,” Kora says. “Especially on Adelaide Road.” The inconsistent bike lanes give a slightly bitter flavour to cycling in the city. Nevertheless, she has seen positive changes over the last year. Improved infrastructure, more people on their bikes, and in general Wellington got more friendly towards cyclists. “A trusty little thing. Light and functional,” as she describes her bicycle. Her partner has helped her to maintain it, but she prefers to keep it “a little janky” to keep people from stealing it. [ By Julia Hilgenfeldt. All stories of the project can be found here: https://julsontheway.com/art-projects/wellington-bike-love.]

    • What is an “Upper Stebbings Valley” and why should I care?
      • If you’re a cyclist in Wellington it’s rather statistically unlikely that you hail from the northernmost suburbs such as Churton Park or Grenada Village. So for those of us who live elsewhere in Wellington, why should we care about the conditions for cycling in new housing developments proposed by Wellington City Council in Upper Stebbings Valley and Glenside West? The proposed developments Wellington City Council is consulting on. <img data-attachment-id="16237" data-permalink="https://cycwell.wordpress.com/drivepercent-2/" data-orig-file="https://cycwell.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/drivepercent-2.png" data-orig-size="569,768" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="drivepercent-2" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://cycwell.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/drivepercent-2.png?w=222" data-large-file="https://cycwell.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/drivepercent-2.png?w=569" src="https://cycwell.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/drivepercent-2.png?w=569" alt="Percentage of residents that commute to the CBD who do so by driving Statistical Area Drive Churton Park North 67.2% Endeavour 60.8% Churton Park South 58.6% Khandallah North 53.8% Strathmore 53.3% Newlands South 52.7% Newlands North 51.8% Johnsonville North 51.7% Paparangi 50.9% Johnsonville West 49.1% Source: 2018 Census " class="wp-image-16237 size-full" srcset="https://cycwell.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/drivepercent-2.png 569w, https://cycwell.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/drivepercent-2.png?w=111 111w, https://cycwell.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/drivepercent-2.png?w=222 222w" sizes="(max-width: 569px) 100vw, 569px" /> The existing suburbs in this area have the highest percentage of population commuting by car to the CBD of anywhere in the Greater Wellington area. This has a run-on effect on the rest of us: more cars on our roads, more demand for on-street car parking, and residents pushing for bigger, wider, faster roads. Extract from the traffic analysis for the new development The traffic assessment done for the development is problematic in a number of areas. The low number of cyclists in the area is viewed as a statistical attribute rather than a sign of the poor street design of recent developments. They also view a distance of 2km as being too far to enable sufficient uptake of active transport to the nearest primary school. No analysis is done of active travel options to intermediate or secondary schools. The footpath network is proposed to support trips by bicycle despite using bicycles on footpaths currently being against the law. Melksham Drive, the main road connecting the new development to local schools and shops Current connections for cyclists and pedestrians in the area are extremely poor. New roads in the area have been built wide and open with no attempt to slow speeds or provide separated facilities for cyclists. In order to walk to neighbouring suburbs long detours are required as no footpath exists. Want to walk to visit the suburb next door? Yeah, you’re going to need to go via Johnsonville. The nearby train station at Takapu Road is touted by the council as part of the public transport supporting the development but access to this station (and anywhere else north of Wellington) for cyclists is currently only via Middleton road, a narrow and winding section of road with a set speed limit of 70km/h, likely only suitable for the most confident of cyclists. The report proposes off-road trails suitable for cyclists, but these options will include significant elevation changes that aren’t present on the road route. Middleton Road: Not an inviting place to walk or cycle In the Planning for Growth engagement undertaken last year, Wellingtonians overwhelmingly opposed new greenfield developments, and supported reducing carbon emissions and providing better transport choices. So why is the council soldiering on with business-as-usual car-centric greenfield developments with near-zero provision for cyclists? The main access road, Melksham Drive, has been intentionally built with enough width to provide cycle lanes at some point in the future. Why aren’t they being included right from the beginning? We all know how difficult it is to install cycling infrastructure later on! We encourage you to make a submission on the development concept, and in particular demand that: All new roads be built either with 30km/h speed limits (and appropriate traffic calming measures) or with separated cycle paths.Cycling links be provided from new developments to local primary, intermediate and secondary schools in the area.Missing walking and cycling links be provided to train stations, along Middleton Road and across the motorway to Grenada Village and Paparangi, with pedestrian priority at crossings.New developments allow for commercial zoning so that residents can shop for basic items locally without having to drive. We also suggest that the Glenside West portion of the development be opposed as it has no viable public transport connections. The provision of a new train station nearby on the Kapiti Line has been considered by Greater Wellington Regional Council and we think it needs to be built before the development is progressed. Submissions can be made before monday 30th November at https://wellington.govt.nz/have-your-say/public-inputs/consultations/open/upper-stebbings-and-glenside-west

    • Wellington Bike Love episode 4: Sarrah and Freya
      • Sarrah (left) and Freya (right) SARRAH As there were no parking spots in the city, Sarrah decided to use her bicycle instead and since then didn’t regret her decision. As easy as it sounds, it wasn’t. She never saw herself as a cyclist, even thought she couldn’t do it without a lot of encouragement from her friends and a beautiful e-bike, she now happily rides every day to work. “It’s not only a pleasant commute, it’s even quicker and more environmentally friendly than by car,” she says. “For sure, there are some roads that are confusing, especially Adelaide Road,” Sarrah mentions. She takes extra caution while passing a parking car, though never had an accident. “People take care and respect cyclists,” she says enthusiastically. Her favourite parts of the city to cycle are Miramar and the Waterfront. Over the years, her relationship with her bicycle developed into a loving and respectful one. FREYA Freya did not want to buy a car and looked for other options to get around. Luckily her flatmate showed her the way to a life with a bicycle. Now, it has become her main mode of transport – to commute, to pick up groceries, anything! And all of this combined with free exercise. “Especially during lockdown, it was amazing to cycle with friends along the empty roads,” she says. With traffic, the feeling changed – in some parts, she feels a bit more rushed by the cars. She says, “There are some grumpy drivers, but the majority are sweet.” Apart from those aspects, Freya enjoys the downhills as her favourite parts of cycling in Wellington. There are a lot, and they let her easily forget about the “bah” up hills. Her bicycle gives her a sensation of freedom. She loves and misses it when out of town. Credit to artist Ellen Coup for the mural artwork that served as background. [ By Julia Hilgenfeldt. All stories of the project can be found here: https://julsontheway.com/art-projects/wellington-bike-love.]

    • Bike tune up at A Very Aro Xmas
      • Come along on 5 December 2020 a day of festivities in Aro Street Park where Cycle Wellington in conjunction with Mechanical Tempest will have a tune up stand and volunteers fixing up bikes! We’ll be set up from around 10AM until 1pm. Hope to see you there with your bike! More info about the event available here.

    • Wellington Bike Love episode 3: Matthew
      • More mountain biking was Mathew’s intention while buying his current bicycle. The intention shifted, and now it is primarily used to commute from Khandallah to the CBD. For him, flexibility is the key. “I would rather go when I want to go instead of sitting and waiting for public transport.” With that, other benefits came along. Especially during rush hour, he realised cycling is quicker than by bus or car. It has less environmental impact and the exercise puts him in a good mood, feeling healthy and energised after his 20-minute ride. A win-win situation. Although, he enjoys cycling alone, together with his wife would be even better. She hasn’t the “boldness you currently need to cycle in Wellington” as Mathew describes it. Parked cars which narrow the streets more, people who don’t indicate and open their car doors without looking are the main factors. He always plans his route to avoid congested roads. But Mathew sees change is already happening, with the 30km/h zones as an example. It is just a matter of time. With more improvement around the infrastructure, his wife might feel more confident to join him and cycle the scenic route home along the waterfront. Mathew spent some time choosing his bicycle for his current needs. He really likes it. “I think it’s a cool one,” he says. [ By Julia Hilgenfeldt. All stories of the project can be found here: https://julsontheway.com/art-projects/wellington-bike-love.]

    • Wellington Bike Love episode 3: Mathew
      • More mountain biking was Mathew’s intention while buying his current bicycle. The intention shifted, and now it is primarily used to commute from Khandallah to the CBD. For him, flexibility is the key. “I would rather go when I want to go instead of sitting and waiting for public transport.” With that, other benefits came along. Especially during rush hour, he realised cycling is quicker than by bus or car. It has less environmental impact and the exercise puts him in a good mood, feeling healthy and energised after his 20-minute ride. A win-win situation. Although, he enjoys cycling alone, together with his wife would be even better. She hasn’t the “boldness you currently need to cycle in Wellington” as Mathew describes it. Parked cars which narrow the streets more, people who don’t indicate and open their car doors without looking are the main factors. He always plans his route to avoid congested roads. But Mathew sees change is already happening, with the 30km/h zones as an example. It is just a matter of time. With more improvement around the infrastructure, his wife might feel more confident to join him and cycle the scenic route home along the waterfront. Mathew spent some time choosing his bicycle for his current needs. He really likes it. “I think it’s a cool one,” he says. [ By Julia Hilgenfeldt. All stories of the project can be found here: https://julsontheway.com/art-projects/wellington-bike-love.]

    • Wellington Bike Love episode 2: JOSH & CHARLOTTE with SYLVIE (hiding in the picture) & GEORGE
      • Instead of being stuck in traffic with the car, Josh and Charlotte switched to bicycles with their kids to commute to work and school. “It is better for the environment, cheaper and easier,” says Charlotte. Daughter Sylvie adds “It’s good fun.” Now, it has become a big part of their daily life. While they have worked out the best ways to get around, “there is room for improvement regarding infrastructure and awareness of drivers and cyclists,” Josh mentions. “Especially the pathway through Mt. Vic tunnel.” Besides that, cycling in Wellington is fascinating. The greater awareness of the surroundings, noticing the things and happenings along the way gives a feeling of connection to the city. “It is thrilling” as Charlotte describes it. A life without bicycles is not imaginable anymore for the whole family.[ By Julia Hilgenfeldt. All stories of the project can be found here: https://julsontheway.com/art-projects/wellington-bike-love.]

    • Wellington Bike Love episode 1: Barbara
      • Last year, Barbara moved from Australia to New Zealand. She left her car behind and now only rides her bicycle around the streets and hills of the city. “Riding a bike is all about convenience,” she says. “It’s faster than by car.” Wellington is one of the most dangerous cities she has ever cycled. “The streets are mad. It is so congested. Too many cars for the space.” The good thing is that the drivers are generally polite, and her love for descents keeps her going. “Cause of my body weight, I am a very good descender,” she euphorically says. For her, cycling is the closest experience to flying. With the invention of e-bikes, Barbara now can cycle forever. Her little orange bicycle has already become a part of her body. [Credit to Stephen Templer and Sean Duffell for the mural artwork that served as background.]

    • Protect the jewel in Wellington’s crown – save Round the Bays cycling route
      • Biking around the bays is a stunning ride. But that could be ruined if traffic trebles. We’ll be forced off the road.Next Wednesday, Wellington City Councillors vote on a proposal to develop Shelly Bay, permitting a giant housing and shopping development. But there’s no plan to upgrade Shelly Bay Rd. That could mean 3-4 vehicle every minute along a narrow road, trying to pass on blind corners. Cyclists could be expected to share a 1.5 metre path with pedestrians. Unacceptable.Please take action to protect Round the Bays. Contact your Councillor and let them know you want them to make sure cycling is protected. Ask for the decision to be put on hold until an upgrade of Shelly Bay Rd is agreed.Email or call your Councillor via https://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/mayor-and-councillors/councillors #SaveRoundTheBays 

    • Come along to the CW November 2020 meeting
      • We have a lot to cover at the next CW meeting on 3 November. Please come along and help make cycling better for everyone in Wellington. Go by bike day re-capthe latest on WCC bike projectsPlanning upcoming events / actions: Tweed Ride, Bikes & Brunch, Picnics in ParksFundraisingNewslettering and more….6-7:30 pm Tuesday 3 November at the Sustainability Trust on Forresters Lane Event on Facebook.

    • TR149-20: Adelaide Road – Update
      • You may recall submitting on a recent proposal to remove a single car park on Adelaide Road to make a dangerous pinch point slightly safer. The feedback on the change was overwhelmingly in support of removing two more parks at this location. This will make the road more comfortable and safe for people riding bikes in Paekawakawa (Southern ward – Island Bay, Berhampore, Newtown). Thank you for your feedback – it really shows that providing positive feedback works! The image below shows the bays that will be marked as “no stopping” – both of the boxes shown below: TR121-20 & TR149-20 – Adelaide Road If you already submitted then WCC may take original submissions into account, but it can’t hurt to resubmit your support. We’ve made it really easy using this link. If you haven’t already submitted then use this link. If the above links don’t work for you please email trfeedback@wcc.govt.nz and indicate your support for TR149-20: Adelaide Road. For more background on the change, full details are available here: https://www.letstalk.wellington.govt.nz/traffic-resolutions-december-2020

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