Easy Transport Auckland - Launched

Here we are, it's Sunday afternoon, 12th September, in QE II Square across from Britomart. What's going on over there...?

And who's this woman holding a cut-out bike. Pippa Coom if I'm not mistaken. And isn't that Alex Swney in a cardboard box? And texting - that's Tenby Powell. Another Waitemata Ward councilllor candidate. And back left - wait - isn't that Rod Oram? Must be something important....

And look at that. All lined up and ready to go. Lanes laid out. Must be a race...

That man in a train - complete with white smoke out of its smoke stack. Isn't that Mike Lee? Chairman of ARC. Rob Thomas is the cyclist sharing the road with Pippa. And Jessie Chalmers is the red bus - CV candidate for Waitemata & Gulf local board.

He's sharing this race with the other candidate competing for the Auckland Council ward seat of Waitemata. Alex Swney. Sharing an interest in transport outcomes. Bloody good thing.

Paul Stephenson is another bike person - C&R local board candidate for Waitemata Ward. Seems he's got a cardboard bike too - hiding behind his billboard. Man. We'll have cycle lanes all over Auckland at this rate...

And here we have Greg Moyle. He's a C&R man with enthusiasms for buses - yellow ones. He spoke that he liked shorter ones for the CBD. Good idea Greg, That's what they have in Perth. Not these great clunkers. They can do the inter-town routes.

By the way, that's David Slack the renowned speech writer, holding the microphone. Part of the organising ctte. He's talking to Christopher Dempsey in the ferry. This is Easy Transport Auckland's initiative. A coalition of CAA (Cycle Advocates for Auckland) and CBT (Campaign for Better Transport) and Living Streets Aotearoa. You can see their website: Easy Transport Auckland

And Pippa had a few choice words too. As did one or two other candidates dotting the ranks.

And here's the redoubtable Barbara Cuthbert. Sustainable transport maestro and impressario. Fantastic. And just look at that Tee-Shirt. A collectors item before too much longer... And with her is the thrower of the dice. CBT's Cam Pitche's little daughter, Kate. It is a race...

And look - she's thrown it - the dice. It's above her head. Step out of the way. Looks like the ferry to the right is winning...

Bugger. Start again. And the Britomart Loop project inches into the lead. But they are all important for Auckland. These projects. And it's great to see candidates from across the spectrum lining up to support them...

And here's the finish line. Can you see? 280 kms of new cyclepaths for bikes. And there are equivalent targets for the other modes represented in this race. Check out the website for details. And for how candidates have completed the questionnaire.