Sapporo Transport Oriented Design Study

This is a google image of the southern part of the city of Sapporo - the 5th biggest city in Japan - with a population of around 1.9 million people living at an average density of 1700 people/square kilometre. The map shows the main motorways and arterial roads in the city....

...this zoomed in area brings us closer to the case study ward of Sumikawa, where I stayed with my daughter for a few days last week. In this picture you see the layout of streets. A classic grid network. You can just make out the subway running vertically down the image. At this point it runs above ground.

... and here's a closeup of the study area. You can easily see the covered subway line, and in the centre of the picture is the station itself with translucent ceiling to let light in...

This picture shows the Subway infrastructure from street level. It's not the most attractive bit of urban infrastructure, but it's quiet (electric) and fume free. The street edges here are mostly activated with small cafes and shops. There is some car traffic but it's light. Most transport in the street network is by foot and bicycle...

...here is a small part of the cycle parking beneath the subway....

...and here's more cycle parking on the high street side of the Sumikawa subway station. This area of bike parking seems to be more utilised by those shopping in the area...

The broad pavements are busy with pedestrians - at this time of day mainly shopping - commuters have already gone to work... Note the marking and provision for the blind.

Here's that bike park by the shops again (back across the road), and you can see a cyclist approaching along the footpath. Many cyclists choose to bike on the footpath - it's wide enough - and bikes don't go more than around 15 kms per hour. Nobody wears a helmet...

On the pavement, very close to the subway station is a sheltered bus stop. Here a bus has stopped to pick up and drop off. All very handy...

...and here's the train for you to try...

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.

Sign the Lake Road Cycle Lane Petition - Now Please

A very active petition is under way now, for the North Shore cycle lane. I've just checked out comments left by recent signatories.


Here's a selection:

2558
Name: Ryan CrawCour on Feb 2, 2010
Comments: Cycle Lanes should be kept. In fact with Auckland's traffic congestion problems more cycle lanes should be developed and people encouraged to ride more and drive less. It will make for a fitter, happier nation!
2559
Name: Anonymous on Feb 2, 2010
Comments: I think new zealand is very "unfriendly" to byciclists.it is very dangerous to drive with a bike on new zealand roads,and I think if there were more cycling lanes then more people would use their bikes,so it would aalso be more environmental frindly.
2560
Name: Jared Scollay on Feb 2, 2010
Comments: The North Shore is congested and dangerous of cycling - the number of cycles lanes and their coverage needs to be extended not reduced.
2561
Name: Natalie Jessup on Feb 2, 2010
Comments: We REALLY need to keep more cycle lanes! The North Shore has been so ahead in many other things (recycling, bus lanes) so please keep the bike lanes and make more.

YOU need to sign this petition, and get your friends to sign it too.

Here's the introduction to the petition from Bronwyn Jones who has organised the petition and who will be presenting it to North Shore City Council next week:

Dear all,

We need another 500 signatures by 8 Feb, which is just 10 days away, on the residents’ petition to save the Lake Road cycle lanes. Please get one or two, or even three, or more people onto the online petition. Family members (kids ok), work colleagues, friends, whoever. Anyone from the Shore or Greater Auckland (Lake Rd is an arterial route and part of the Regional Road Plan), who has not signed already. Or, email me for a Word doc of the petition sheet and circulate a hard copy.

Why the hurry? We need to present the petition to the NSCC Infrastructure & Environment Cttee (which includes transport, cycling etc) on the evening of 9 Feb. Council officers will present a report recommending that the cycle lanes be left as is and they need the petition as support. The chairman, Ken McKay keeps saying that the council “cannot ignore the views of 2,700 people” from the anti cycle lane petition and we have to send a clear message to the council that there is a lot of support for the lanes, more than the antis. So far, we have about 2,700 names (2k online, once the double ups are deleted; 730 from our own efforts circulating the petition at events). We need to get well over that 3,000 mark.

Please forward this email or get onto the petition online and get the names of those who haven’t signed in there: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/lakeroadcyclelane/

There is a tab at the top that allows you to see who has signed. Ignore the donation page that pops up after you have signed – just click out of it.

Thank you, everyone, for helping with this. Our efforts at events have shown us that this issue is bigger than just our local interests. People who support safety on the roads WANT to sign.
Apologies if you get this email more than once. Thank you so much if you have signed.

Thanks and regards
Bronwyn,

SAVE THE LAKE ROAD CYCLE LANES. SIGN THE I-PETITION AT:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/lakeroadcyclelane/

So. What are you waiting for?

You support cycling don't you?

Even if you're not a North Shore cyclist, you can see that this is an exemplary project that needs support so it gets the Council support it needs, so it develops into an exemplar for all Auckland.

Won't take you long.

Xmas Otago Rail Trail Experience

Emily and I did the Otago Rail Trail for a Christmas treat. Came home on Monday after completing the 154 km expedition. Here we are with our rental bikes (Ranfurly Bike Hire). And by the Clutha River, just donwstream from the Clyde Dam at Clyde where we started off...

Crossing the Clutha River heading into Alexandra on day 1. Long stretches of Central Otago. This is by Olrig Station. Parked by a railway gangers shed...

Plenty of heritage and history along the way. And places to get some shade. Day 2 was hot...

Lots of bridges of all sorts of shapes and sizes. Nothing quite like biking across a bridge...

And the tunnels were interesting too. I think there were 3 quite long tunnels to bike through. We had a bike light that was bright enough to bike behind. Walking encouraged...

The Graham Sydney images of Central Otago and landscapes are everywhere. Hard to resist.

Here is Peter's Farmstay. The accommodation to chosse from along the way is hugely varied. Pubs, taverns, fancy hotels, basic campsites - you really become aware of the economic transformation this piece of infrastructure has brought about in Central Otago. The new gold mine. And seriously sustainable...

...and everywhere along the way, those fantastic, big sky views... sure we got the odd sore wrist and a numb bum from time to time... but it's fun. We were told the average age of people doing the trail is in the 50's...

And finally the train on the last piece of track left in place. I thoroughly recommend the Taieri Gorge train back to Dunedin. Buffet car and all...

Bikes on boats

This is a good news story. The photo here was taken at 8:00am on Tuesday 8th December on the good Fullers Ferry Kea, just before she left Devonport for Auckland. I could've taken a similar photo any other weekday - at about this time. Note the absence of lycra, and the bikes handing from the rack in the background...

As you can see there was not much room for any more bikes. Pity really. Still. You can put boats on Fullers Ferries at other crossing times, and of course there's always the Bayswater Ferry - not that far away - and a quicker harbour crossing. Though you have to be a bit dextrous getting your bike from one end of the ferry to the other - so you are ready to get off.

Room for improvement. By the way - my bike's the white Avanti in the stand with the blue helmet on the handlebars...

Here's the Fullers media release they issued following the news they'd won the NZTA's Cycle-Friendly Award. Now there's a good initiative - makes me think of what we'd like NZTA to do - so we can award them a cycle friendly award....

Press Release – Fullers

Auckland, 23 November 2009 – Fullers ferries is delighted to announce its winning award from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for ‘Cycle-Friendly Commitment by Business’ at the recent Cycling Advocates’ Network (CAN) Cycle awards ceremony …Fullers Wins NZTA Cycle-Friendly Award

Auckland, 23 November 2009 – Fullers ferries is delighted to announce its winning award from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for ‘Cycle-Friendly Commitment by Business’ at the recent Cycling Advocates’ Network (CAN) Cycle awards ceremony and NZ Cycling Conference in New Plymouth.

Now in their seventh year, the Cycle-Friendly Awards are designed to acknowledge and celebrate some of the most notable achievements in the country that are helping to promote cycling and to create a cycle-friendly environment. The Awards are devised by the CAN, the national organisation promoting everyday cycling.

The award, as well as a uniquely designed “bicycle-bell” trophy and certificate, was presented to Jim Hannan, Waiheke Relationship Manager (on behalf of Fullers’ CEO Douglas Hudson) by the Associate Minister of Transport, the Hon Jonathan Young (on behalf of the Minister, Steven Joyce).

Fullers has been working on several different cycle friendly initiatives to support and encourage cycling which resulted in its nomination for an award by Cycle Action Auckland and Cycle Action Waiheke. Barbara Cuthbert, Deputy Chair, Cycle Action Auckland was thrilled that CAA nomination of Fullers was selected to win the award.

“We are so grateful for the profile and practical support that Fullers gives to cycling and integrated transport in every aspect of their ferry operations. We have endless stories of the wonderful attitude from the deck crew and office staff towards cyclists which makes using the Fullers services such a joy. They are without doubt leading the way in integrated transport in Auckland,” says Barbara.

”The crew’s can-do friendly attitude demonstrated towards cyclists on a daily basis goes unnoticed in a region where too little investment is made in cycling. Bikes travel for free and some ferries in the Fullers’ fleet have recently been upgraded with extra space for bikes. Ferry travel extends our reach throughout the whole region. Fullers is also gearing up to carry bikes on their buses, once the Transport Regulations are changed. They are real leaders in integrating cycling into the public transport system”, she explains.

Nice to have some good news cycle stories.

Auckland might be getting TODs, but PODs are slow to come...

A couple of years ago I attended Newman's presentation: TOD, POD and GOD. He'd gone beyond Transit Oriented Development, and Pedestrian Oriented Development - to Green Oriented Development, and was talking about green roofs and energy efficient housing and the like. Good stuff.

Here is Auckland, there is a head of steam up over TODs, we have the Northern Busway, and we have some successful rail infrastructure. Which needs electrification and extension and further development. That's all good. But public transport infrastructure needs to be linked into land uses to form a good TOD. There are a few of these in Auckland, but there's not been much in the way of PODs.

New Lynn and Newmarket are among the most successful TODs. Waitakere City Council has gone to exemplary lengths to get the New Lynn development up. This is a TOD (because you've got rail and bus services connecting there, and driving the development), but the council has also strived to make the whole environment pedestrian friendly by creating a trench for the rail and establishing more pedestrian oriented paths and spaces. It's not totally successful, because there is still - in my opinion - too much provision for the private car.

Newmarket is a pretty good TOD too. And its pedestrian environment is OK, but again, there is execessive emphasis on the car, and not enough on pedestrian and cycling amenity.

Auckland reaps what it sows.

Auckland's strategic documents don't really get to the core of what is needed to deliver PODs. I tried with the previous RLTS (the one that is active now), to get some policies in there about POD. And here is the salient policy from RLTS 2005:

3.1.6 Design transport connections within high
density centres and corridors to give priority to
supporting pedestrians, cyclists and public transport
and to enable improved urban amenity and land
use integration, rather than to provide for the free
flow of vehicle traffic. (ARTA, TAs, Transit NZ,
OnTrack).

Needless to say, that sort of sentiment expressed in a single policy statement is all well and good, but it needed to be fleshed out somewhat. Easy to ignore. And at the time it would be safe to observe that officers were not full of ideas about this stuff either. Auckland is so far behind the eight ball on things like this.

Anyway. Again at the RLTC I have raised the matter of the need to better integrate land use and transport policies - in order to deliver POD as well as TOD - arguing that Auckland transport strategies are too reliant on public transport alone to deliver the benefits and city shaping that is needed.....

I was asked, after the last RLTC to provide some feedback on how the new RLTS should be changed to better provide for POD thinking. So I dug back into that assignment and here is the advice that I have provided for consideration in this draft RLTS:

My contribution here is drawn from a paper I did earlier this year which you can find at:
http://www.joelcayford.com/AucklandsTransportCarbonEconomy.pdf

You will see in there, in terms of Transport Carbon Reduction - based on the work of VTPI (Victoria Transport Policy Institute - based in Canada - which is extracted and quoted in the paper), a region like Auckland can expect a 20% to 40% transport carbon reduction through ensuring that the transport/land use patterns of existing town centres, DOES shift to a much more pedestrian and cycling oriented transport pattern than now. But at present, my sense is that the policies in place in the RLTS and the performance targets, don't drive that outcome hard enough.

The key things I want to draw out, some of which may be in the current RLTS draft, include: Go back to the principles set out in the ARGS, including:

• Reduces the need to travel by car by encouraging more employment/business/retail/community facilities close to residential areas and the opportunity to walk or cycle. This pattern needs to foster a critical mass in terms of population to support a range of small local enterprises.
• …(the need to)…Enable a regional land use pattern where local areas have sufficient critical mass in terms of population to support a range of quality and accessible community facilities and services, including health facilities and education and training to support employment choice.

Then, from the other end of the policy spectrum, the Long Term Sustainability Framework (LTSF) proposes a number of performance measures and targets which I think need to be built into the RLTS, so that there is real focus on delivery:

• Proportion of private motor vehicle travel compared to sustainable transport.
• Community resource accessibility index.
• Percentage of population within identified growth areas.
• Percentage of employment within identified growth areas.
• Fuel consumption per capita.
• Means of travel to work.
• Average length of journey to work.
• Percentage of population within 500 metres from a train station or transport hub.
• Activity mix in centres and pedestrian traffic (measure of vibrancy in centres).
• Total urban footprint and measures of land use (industrial, residential, business etc).

... while some of these relate more purely to land use, and might be better placed in the RPS, a good number of them are better placed in the RLTS, and lead to the desirable outcome that there be targets (5 year, 10 year, 20 year, 50 year) for these measures, which are indicative of the implementation of the principle of the ARGS. They can be added to, for example, by including a mode share set of targets as well.

In the Growing Smarter (GS) document, it is stated, as part of its assessment as to why the ARGS has not been happening on the ground, for example:

• Subdivision codes and traffic engineering codes and parking requirements are often in conflict with good urban design and TOD-type development…."

GS goes on to state:

• To avoid the worst impacts of climate change and rising oil prices we need to rapidly reduce the use of carbon-based fuels, develop ways of recapturing carbon, facilitate a shift to the widespread use of renewable energy, and radically reduce energy use. Aucklanders will also need to significantly reduce their dependence on the private motor vehicle, and redevelop their urban form and rural centres into a compact urban form.
• The RLTS review needs to find ways to reduce CO2 emissions from the transport system.

I note that in the current RLTS the "Emissions" appendix explains that one of the reasons for increased emissions is that under the strategy, people will actually take on average slightly longer trips: "Longer average vehicle trips are due to higher vehicle speeds. The combined effects of significantly more investment in roading, public transport and travel demand management, result in higher speeds, which allows people to travel further in the same time period…." . In part this is a consequence of not achieving the sort of urban form, density, and POD transport mix, that will cause a shift in this.

I have prepared a set of policy recommendations in the paper, which you can see at Chapter 5.

In retrospect, I think priority should be given in the RLTS, to bringing out the ITA (Integrated Transport Assessment) policy tool, and having it triggered earlier/lower down the hierarchy in the consenting process. It needs to include some of the targets and performance/assessment measures mentioned above. This would in part achieve better TOD outcomes, but needs also to drill down into the POD outcomes.

Finally, last but not least, I note that - for example NSCC (North Shore City Council) is reviewing its pavement/footpath strategy at present. But this all rests on the bedrock of "Infrastructure Design Standards Manual". The IDSM. This manual - and the engineering standards it enshrines, is the root of many of the anti-cycling and anti-pedestrian and pro-car outcomes that we see. In my view the RLTS needs to require a review of these IDSMs as they relate to Auckland Region's town centres, so that there is a shift in emphasis. The drive for this review is bring about a mode shift, by making pedestrian and cycling environment much more attractive and safer than now.

This material probably needs a bit of rationalisation and tidying, but gives an idea of where I think Auckland (and SuperCity) needs to be going if we seriously want to change the amenity, and public experience of our town centres.

Toward Better Cycling in Auckland...

The Tamaki accident has galvanised action and attention around cycling in Auckland. I will not try to add much to that in this blog, but I will provide a few bits and pieces:

1) the media info pulled together by Mark Bracey for Cycle Action Auckland (who have been doing a magnificent job through this period. Congratulations.)
2) a couple of nice cycling pics from Copenhagen (above)
3) two video clips about cycling I shot and put up on youtube a while ago
4) .... and you MUST go and add your name to the Lake Road cycling lane petition (see bottom).

1) Cycle Action and Tamaki Drive

The team at Cycle Action Auckland have been very busy. Barb Cuthbert (Deputy Chair CAA) and Barb Insull (Secretary CAA) have been highly active in the media, and it has been excellent to see would-be-super-mayor John Banks put on the spot on this critical issue. Here are some bits and pieces:

27 Sept: Our thoughts and best wishes go out to the cyclists and the families of the victims of the accident on Tamaki Drive on Saturday.This is an all too familiar tale that many of us are acutely aware of. As "the voice for cyclists" in Auckland, Cycle Action has been active this weekend in ensuring that the people who choose to cycle are fairly represented.Our concerns have been reported in a story in the Sunday Herald, and another will be in tomorrow's NZ Herald. Plus, there will beinterviews on Breakfast and Sunrise TV (Channels 1 and 3) at 7:10am.There will also be a radio interview on Radio Live Breakfast showand Barbara Cuthbert will be discussing the issue with John Banks onMorning Report at 8.10.

and then a couple of days later with news updates:

Tamaki Drive Crash Links to Media Reports and Interviews

MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER – morning

1) TVNZ Breakfast: Ensuring Safer Roads for Cyclists. Interview with Barbara Insull (Secretary, Cycle Action Auckland)

http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/breakfast-monday-september-28-3022620/video?vid=3022708

2) TV3: Can Cyclists and Drivers Exist Harmoniously? Interview with Barbara Cuthbert (Deputy Chair Cycle Action Auckland)
http://www.3news.co.nz/Can-cyclists-and-drivers-exist-harmoniously-/tabid/572/articleID/122980/cat/525/Default.aspx

http://www.3news.co.nz/Home/Story/tabid/209/articleID/122980/cat/525/Default.aspx

National Radio: Morning Report: ran two items: (3) Cycling Advocate Calls for Speed Limit on Tamaki Drive: interview with Barbara Cuthbert and John Banks, (4) Injured City Cyclist in Critical but Stable Condition. Background including comment from John Wilmer, BikeNZ
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport

5) NZ Herald: Push to Lower Speed Limit After Crash
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10600013

6) Herald on Sunday: Cyclist Critical After Tamaki Drive “Carnage”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10599817
BFM Radio also interviewed Barbara Cuthbert on Monday morning.

Members of the public contributed opinions on the issues to radio and newspaper forums, including:

7) NZ Herald: What Can be Done to Make Cycling Safer?
http://blogs.nzherald.co.nz/blog/your-views/2009/9/27/what-can-be-done-make-cycling-new-zealand-safer/?c_id=1&objectid=10599925&commentpage=2

MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER – afternoon and evening

8) TV3 Campbell Live: Auckland – A Cyclist's Nightmare.(Mon 28 Sept)Interview with members of Pickled Peddlers group. . Also interview with Bicycle NSW CEO Alex Unwin about conditions for cyclists in Sydney.
http://www.3news.co.nz/Auckland---a-cyclists-nightmare/tabid/367/articleID/123107/cat/221/Default.aspx

9)National Radio: Afternoons Jim Mora: Interview with Glen Koorey (CAN Co-Chair) http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons

10) RadioLIVE Drive show with Maggie Barry: Interview with Barbara Cuthbert (not sure if audio available)
http://www.radiolive.co.nz/OnairHosts/MaggieBarry/tabid/371/Default.aspx

And that's a selection. There have been some truly horrible letters. The one I saw was written by someone from Waitakere who basically said that cycling was like smoking - both bad for your health - both private choices - take the consequences..... It is amazing when this happens. But I see it the world over. Make a change and there is always a proportion of the population who can be relied upon to react in the most vicious and emotional way. I would ask you to - this is not over till it's over - to go on the NZ Herald blog about this and add your views to the debate....

http://blogs.nzherald.co.nz/blog/your-views/2009/9/27/what-can-be-done-make-cycling-new-zealand-safer/?c_id=97&objectid=10600143#message

3. My favourite cycling videos

This one's in Devonport, North Shore.

It's got better. But can you can see this has to be the idea of a traffic engineer having a joke at cyclist's expense....

And this one's in Copenhagen.

I just put the camera down and let it run for a while.

The cycling speaks for itself....

Did you like these?

4) Cycle Petition

This petition is for everybody who believes that cycle infrastructure - which allocates road space to cyclists - is an essential step in making cycling safer in Auckland. The lane is on Lake Road between Devonport and Takapuna. It is unfinished, but soon will be. Please follow the instructions below and go there, and add your name.

Dear fellow cyclists

The Lake Rd cycle lanes are under threat again. Responding to a group of Devonport residents who wrongly believe the cycle lanes cause motorist delay, North Shore City Council is reviewing whether the cycle lanes should be removed.

We need to send a strong message to North Shore City Council to let them know the cycle lanes MUST stay. Please help us by signing the on-line petition, and forwarding this email to your friends and colleagues, especially if they live on the Shore. You could also add the petition link to your Facebook page, send a tweet, or anything else you can think of to get the word out.

Sign the petition at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/lakeroadcyclelane/

Read more about the Lake Rd cycle lanes on Cycle Action's website: http://www.caa.org.nz/

Thanks in advance.

Cycle Action Auckland

So go to it, if you haven't already.

Remember, you can tell how civilised a city is, by the amount of cycling.

Wellington Waterfront - bridges to walk, places for shelter

Wellington waterfront. Winter pictures. Bridge 1.

Walking around the waterfront it is striking and wonderful and fun to encounter so many bridges of different kinds. We like being over the water. Biking or walking...

Wellington waterfront. Winter pictures. Bridge 2.

This is a simple lifting bridge. Elegant in design and operation.


Wellington waterfront. Winter pictures. Bridge 3.

This multi-purpose bridge for bikes and pedestrians has a wind break down the middle. You can choose to walk with the wind, or in the lea...



Wellington waterfront. Winter pictures. Bridge 4.

This wharf was separated from the main wharf, now linked with a multitude of small bridges. Easy access. Desire lines recognised. And no railings to mess things up...




Wellington waterfront. Winter pictures. Bridge 5.

This speedy cycle and pedestrian bridge does have a railing. The bridge is narrow, carries a lot of slow traffic. And - as the sign says - is part of a working environment. Safety rules...


Wellington waterfront. Winter pictures. Shelter 1.

It's windy in Wellington. In case you don't know. And it has been known to rain horizontally. Not to worry. Come to the waterfront and there's a shelter for you. These seats are positioned with screens behind. The screens are metal with holes - so you can see through, but rain and wind are all but stopped.


Wellington waterfront. Winter pictures. Shelter 2.

This walkway can be exposed, so there's a wall to stop wind and rain, and if it's seriously bad, a little roof over your head...


Wellington waterfront. Winter pictures. Shelter 3.

Here's a break in the Port's wrought iron fence, so you can get in, but while waiting the lights, there's a roof over your head...

North Shore City Council reviews Cycle Strategy...

If you take a keen interest of cycling issues in and around Auckland, you'll know about the Lake Road cyclelane, and the public debate that whirled around that...

One of the outcomes at North Shore City Council of all the hot air and incendiary letters that ensued, was that it decided to review North Shore City's Cycle Strategy. That strategy was put together by a previous council - one a little more representative of the interests of cycling and of pedestrian oriented development and other modern ways of thinking about urban development and transport.

It is essential - I think - that a good number of thoughtful submissions are made. The strategy is being reviewed now. Submissions close on the 16th of March - a week's time.

You can see the current North Shore Cycle Strategy, and the form to make a submission (you can do it on the internet), on NSCC's website at:
http://www.northshorecity.govt.nz/have_your_say/walk_and_cycle_strategies/cycling_strategy.html

I've put in a submission. The submission form asks for your response to the vision, 5 goals and 7 strategies. You can go into those in detail at the NSCC website - but they are big files, and take a while to download etc. But the heart of the NSCC cycling strategy is as follows:


Vision and 5 Goals for cycling North Shore
The vision for cycling on the North Shore is:

“To provide a safe, convenient and enjoyable cycling environment that meets the needs of cyclists and encourages cycling as a mode of transport and as a means of recreation.”

This vision is supported by five goals which reflect national and regional transportation and community objectives. The goals are:

• To increase the number of people cycling


• To increase the number of students cycling to school


• To improve safety for cyclists


• To improve convenience for cyclists


• To improve enjoyment in cycling

The Executive Summary contains a brief description of the current 7 strategies to deliver that vision, and the 5 goals. I have pasted them here:


North Shore City Council 7 Cycle Strategies

Strategy 1 - Develop safe, convenient and quality cycle networks and supporting facilities to meet cyclists’ needs The provision of safe, convenient facilities for cyclists is paramount in encouraging people to change their travel behaviour. People must feel safe and know they can get to their destination easily. This strategy provides for the development of the cycle network (strategic and local) through cycle specific projects and other road improvements, and supporting facilities such as parking, learn to ride facilities, hand rails and integration with public transport.
Strategy 2 - Apply best practice cycle design guides to cycle networks and to cycle facilities Ensuring that the appropriate cycle facilities are located in the correct location and to the required guidelines and standards (safety and otherwise) will create a vibrant, well-used cycling environment on the North Shore. This strategy provides best practice solutions for cycle facility type, design and location,
incorporating Austroads documents and guides from Transit NZ, Transfund and the Land Transport Safety Authority. It also provides a comprehensive process for delivering the best solution on a case by case basis, recognising that each situation is different. Best practice design guides also apply to urban design and safety guides and Land Transport Rules. This chapter also outlines enforcement in terms of ensuring appropriate behaviour from motorists and cyclists.
Strategy 3 - Maintain cycle infrastructure to a high standard. Once facilities are in place it is important to ensure that they are kept up to standard and updated where and when necessary. This strategy outlines the cycle facility maintenance plan. Another important facet of maintenance is monitoring and evaluation – ensuring that the facility or programme is achieving the goals of this Cycling Strategy. North Shore City is following the lead of the Regional Cycle Monitoring Plan in its monitoring and evaluation programme.
Strategy 4 – Support education and training programmes that improve cycle safety North Shore City Council is dedicated to protecting its citizens and improving road safety. This strategy provides for the ongoing expansion of the Council’s cycle safety programme, which includes education sessions delivered in schools and workplaces
as well as other community initiatives. Driver awareness and education is addressed through active support of regional and national campaigns. Current programmes include:
• ‘Bike It’ the North Shore City schools’ bike programme
• Kids Bike Day
• ‘Share the Road’ campaign (regional and North Shore City level)
• Adult beginner bike sessions
Strategy 5 – Support programmes promoting cycling In order to
maximise the number of people using the cycle facilities provided around the city, a programme is required for promoting cycling as a safe and efficient way to get around. This strategy provides for the ongoing implementation and development of programmes such as the TravelWise school programme and the workplace travel plan programme, which are important channels for promoting safe cycling to people travelling to school and their place of work. The Council will also continue to promote cycling through cycling events, community based programmes, neighbourhood accessibility plans, personalised journey plans and by supporting promotional activities initiated by other organisations.
Strategy 6 – Improve the coordination of efforts amongst groups affecting cycling. The provision of cycle facilities and programmes is progressed by many different parts of North Shore City Council. This strategy seeks to develop processes and structures to maximise the efficiency of these different parts of Council and ensure the successful delivery of this plan. The main driver for coordination will be a cycle steering group made up of relevant Council officers. This group will monitor the implementation of this document and report back to other Council departments and external organisations and groups.
Strategy 7 - Ensure that where possible, adequate resources are available to implement the Cycling Strategy Resources are required to action the strategies outlined above. This strategy puts in place the processes required to ensure that, where possible, this funding is available from all obtainable sources – in particular from the New Zealand Transport Agency and North Shore City Council itself.

I recommend you make a submission.


The survey questions, and my submission, were basically this:

Do the vision statement and goals reflect your vision and goals for cycling in North Shore City?: Yes.

Are the seven strategies appropriate to achieve the vision and goals?:
No

If not, please suggest how these could be improved.:

Strategy 1 is supported. Safety is paramount to deliver the vision. If people don't feel it is safe to cycle on North Shore, then this effectively means North Shore City does not "encourage cycling as a mode of transport..."

Strategy 2 goes too far, in my opinion, in emphasising "best practice cycle design guides to cycle networks and to cycle facilities". It is more important now to be re-allocating road space to cycling (by setting it aside with white painted lines for example), and by removing the right to park cars in the road reserve. It is also more important now to be working with Parks Dept (and ARC's Parks Dept) to allocate space within parks and reserves for green cycleroutes - which can connect with road cycleroutes. Then later, as demand and acceptance grows, then resources can be allocated to improving the standard of cycleway infrastructure. It is better to have a safe cycling network that is less than perfect, than it is to have a few short sequences of cyclepaths which are world class, but which don't connect, and lack utility.

Strategy 3. My response to this is similar to Strategy 2. What is important to cyclists is that cyclepaths on road reserves are swept regularly, and are kept clear of glass fragments and other detritus that can make cycling unsafe or unreliable. It is better that existing cyclelanes are kept functional, rather than money being wasted keeping them beautiful. In cash-strapped times the priority needs to be utility and safety - rather than perfection.

Strategies 4, 5 and 6 are essentially motherhood and apple pie. It is good to do these things. It is good for NSCC to be walking the talk. It is also appropriate for NSCC to act consistent with its vision for cycling on the North Shore.

Strategy 7. I don't support the caveat "where possible" in this strategy. NSCC has a duty to deliver multi-modal transport infrastructure. There is clear direction from all levels that Auckland, and its sub-cities, need to do far more to encourage land use settlement patterns, and urban form which "encourage cycling as a mode of transport...". Just as NSCC has promulgated Plan Changes 22, 23 and 24 to require much greater responsibility on the part of land developers to ensure that stormwater effects are minimised etc, then in the same way, NSCC needs to be ensuring that its District Plan guides and shapes land use patterns which will genuinely "encourage cycling as a mode of transport" - ie that people are encouraged to use a bike for local errands, shopping, going to school, going to work etc - rather than feeling actively discouraged to use a bike by land settlement patterns, absence of safe lanes, and large physical distances between land uses, limited mixed uses etc. Thus - NSCC has a duty to financially support cycle infrastructure development, but it also has a planning duty to ensure that land use patterns also "encourage cycling as a mode of transport".

If this is relevant, please tell us how we can work together. :
As an ARC councillor, I am keen to ensure that Regional Planning and TLA planning is well integrated and coordinated. Am happy to come along and talk about this, or/and facilitate sharing of ideas with ARTA.

Are the actions listed in the Cycling Strategy 2009 appropriate to achieve the vision and goals?: No

If not, please explain what we could do better or differently.:
In particular, my comments in regard to Strategy 2 and 3 indicate that the priority now is to establish NSCC cycle path networks (that don't need to be gold-plated). Cycle infrastructure needs to be connected and joined up. PM Keys initiative for a national cycleway is a good opportunity for NSCC to share this popular vision, and engage over how this path might integrate with North Shore cycle infrastructure. It is important for North Shore's economic future and tourism, that North Shore is part of this initiative.

For your interest.

Peddling for a National Cycleway

Don't you think it's fantastic that the Prime Minister of a National Government should advocate for a cycleway the length of New Zealand? I certainly do. Key's enthusiasm for cycling should surely make all those who whine about cycling being for masochists, and on and on, many of them unreconstructed petrol heads, to think twice.

Choice is good - they might even think.

But I do have a little note of concern nagging - being a few days away from booking my own family cycling expedition on the Otago Rail Trail.

You might recall that this very same National Government has let out a few squeaks about certain bits of the NZ rail network being unprofitable - as if any railway - or indeed any motorway - is actually profitable (when you add all the true costs up). There might be a little agenda here.

Imagine if it was proposed that those railways should be ripped up to form the spine of a national cycleway - like the Otago Rail Trail writ large.... You can almost hear the comment: "we can kill two birds with one stone here..."

Setting that possibility to one side, I think a national rail trail would set cycling solid into NZ's national psyche. A bit like a cycleway across Auckland's harbour bridge would. Everybody would want to connect to it - especially towns and cities along the way. It would be the trigger for the establishment of a nationwide network of cyclepaths.

That is an outcome NZer's and tourists would love.

See also NZ Herald opinion piece by Barbara Cuthbert:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10560821

Walking & Cycling across the Bridge = Good Urban Design

There is a major debate in Auckland now about whether bikes and walkers should be allowed on the Auckland harbour Bridge (opened in 1959, when everybody walked across!). Transit and now the New Zealand Transport Agency are thinking of every excuse under the sun why it shouldn't happen. Here's a few thoughts on that (the NZ Herald newspaper chose not to publish them - even though the paper had run 4 opinion pieces against this project without balancing viewpoints)....

"...Critics of the Auckland Harbour Bridge walking and cycling project are dancing on the head of a pin with narrow benefit cost arguments. But at least they are dancing.

This project is about more than lycra-clad cyclists enjoying themselves at tax-payer expense. The project is about competent urban design and walking. It’s about opening up Waitemata Harbour waterfront access to the public. It’s about waking up and smelling Auckland’s roses.

Some bemoan the $40 million price tag. But all transport projects are expensive. Currently planned Auckland motorway projects total around $4 billion, while passenger transport projects total around $2 billion. Building safe walking and cycling across the Auckland Harbour Bridge would cost less than 1% of the amount planned for a few kilometres of motorway and railway.

The current Auckland Regional Land Transport Strategy supports the allocation of $420 million of available transport funding on travel demand management measures over a 10 year period including the implementation of 50% of the region’s strategic cycleway network, and extensive improvements in urban walking infrastructure. Unfortunately the region is behind achieving this target because city councils and Land Transport NZ (now the New Zealand Transport Agency) have not delivered on the transport funding strategy they agreed in 2005.

Narrow benefit-cost arguments are the last resort of those seeking to kill projects with multiple objectives. The Auckland rail electrification project was attacked by narrowly comparing its benefits with motorways. But when the associated economic development benefits rail enables through agglomeration and more efficient land use were factored in, the bean-counters went quiet. They now support rail. New Zealand’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority came up against the same narrow arguments when it advocated insulating houses. The bean-counters now accept that the energy savings and health benefits that go with living in a warm house more than justify the cost of insulation.

Auckland has long needed to take a fresh look at transport planning by identifying the benefits of diverting the focus away from cars, and towards bicycles and pedestrians. Transport planners have disregarded the significant adverse affects of car use and the range of benefits associated with increased bicycle use as an alternative. More cycling and walking reduces the adverse affects of cars, and has other far-reaching benefits.

Last week the New Zealand Urban Design Forum was launched. Hundreds of planners, architects and transport engineers attended. This is professional recognition that there is more to urban planning than building suburbs for people, roads for cars, and buildings for offices. Urban Design is about the public realm. It is about waterfronts, open spaces, and it’s about walking and cycling. Wellington’s waterfront with its multiple destinations, open spaces, and walkways and cycleways proves good urban design can happen in New Zealand.

Brisbane’s Goodwill Bridge was built across its harbour river for walking and cycling. Now 50,000 people use it each week. It connects Brisbane for walkers and cyclists. Brisbane also provides bike racks on some of its buses and some ferries – but these alone could never match Goodwill Bridge. They complement it.


Sydney is rightly proud of its coastal walkway. This will be connected through the East Darling Harbour reclamation which has been recently retired from port-shipping purposes and is being re-developed for mixed uses emphasising a public realm based on the best urban design they can buy.

Auckland has the same opportunity. The waterfront at Kohimarama and Mission Bay is a taste of something good. We see more of it at the Viaduct. This connects to the walking and cycling Te Whero bridge to the Wynyard Quarter. The vision for this reclamation includes a coastal promenade for walking and cycling. From there is a smooth connection – a great walk and cycle - to the road winding through the yachts and attractions of Westhaven Marina, to the foot of Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Not everybody might want to continue this Waitemata journey by walking or cycling over the Bridge. But every year 7,500 people cue up and pay for the opportunity to walk or run over as part of the Auckland marathon. They love it. The view from the top is fantastic. And so is the feeling of achievement and wellbeing.

Transit has provided for walking and cycling across the harbour at Greenhithe. People can walk and cycle across the Manukau Harbour at Mangere. Providing for walking and cycling across the Waitemata Harbour is consistent with past practice, and in compliance with the multi-modal objectives of the New Zealand Transport Strategy.

Second harbour crossing plans have settled on a tunnel for the next crossing, with walking and cycling across the existing Auckland Harbour Bridge. So it’s not a question of if, it is a question of when, walking and cycling infrastructure is provided on that bridge. The time is clearly now, in coordination with Westhaven and Wynyard Quarter development, and as part of the economic regeneration of Auckland as a tourist destination.

Booze Allen have advised Auckland Regional Council that this project can be provided for on the existing bridge, and while this will result in narrowing the clip-on traffic lanes, these will still be wider than central section traffic lanes. These experts have advised that safety levels would be acceptable.

As a signatory to the New Zealand Urban Design Protocol Transit stated that it: “plans and designs state highways in a way that supports good urban design and value for money. In particular, Transit aims to achieve integration between state highways, local roads, public transport, cycling and walking networks and the land uses they serve.”



Now is the time for the New Zealand Transport Agency to practice what Transit preached, and to take proper account of the Auckland Regional Transport Strategy. It is also time for Auckland and North Shore City Councils to pay more than just lip service to the provision of cycling and walking infrastructure. And then there will be dancing in the streets and upon the bridge...."

Cycle Lanes on North Shore

My letter was published in North Shore Times - February 2008 - at a time when strong opposition was being organised locally.....

"A decade ago when it was suggested North Shore needed buslanes on roads, many strident voices were raised in opposition. But today public transport is accepted, and its infrastructure demands tolerated.

The current debate about cycling on North Shore, triggered by the Lake Road cyclelanes, is similar. There are strident supporters and strident opponents.

It is a fact that the majority of trips are made by car. But that need not mean provision should be ignored for other modes of transport - like walking, cycling or buses.

Roads are a finite resource and need to be shared by us all.

Change in the allocation of road space, so that popular methods of transport can use roads safely is always a challenge. We see this with new bus stops, bus shelters, traffic lights, bus-lanes, cycle-lanes, and widened footpaths.

However a peaceful community is one which tolerates different choices, and provides for them in public life. Car transport is relied upon by the majority, but cycling is valued by many, and there will be more. This is a real need.

Civilised cities are built upon tolerance.
North Shore City Council shows wisdom and care through safely providing for cycling, walking, buses, as well as cars, on our shared roading network."