August 2023 Newsletter
https://www.cyclewellington.org.nz/august_2023_newsletter
Kia ora koutou -
Pic by: Anna Fifield
We’re so excited to see the newest addition to Paneke Pōneke open! The Newtown to City route has been a big project as an early route in the new network roll out. It provides a much more comfortable experience for people cycling to and from the south of the city.
You can now cycle from Newtown shops to the waterfront mostly using separated bike lanes. As this is a transitional project - there are a variety of rough bits, such as through the Basin Reserve, and the uncomfortably narrow lanes on Adelaide Road. The point of the transitional approach is to get the space repurposed effectively in use in a low-cost, adaptable manner and to be able to learn from the implementation as a more permanent, higher quality design is developed.
Some comments about the new facility from social media:
“I love it, the bike lanes are what have encouraged me to get a bike. I was too afraid to cycle on the big roads in traffic before the cycle lanes got built. Now I bike all the time.” - Rachael Bolstad
“The network connecting up across the whole city has got me seriously looking into bikes now. I want to be a cyclist but it doesn't take many near-misses to shake your confidence on the road.” - River Wicks
“omg I love it! opens up the city for me. means I don't need to take the car AND I don't feel like I'm going to get killed on the way to work. AMAZING” - Terry Fleming
We’d like to congratulate the teams at Wellington City Council for managing to get this open before the cut off deadline of the football tournament.
Thank you to all of our supporters who have spoken up, submitted, written to their councillor, donated, and otherwise helped out over the years. Advocacy works!
We’re really looking forward to a great summer of cycling to come!
Ngā mihi nui
Linda Beatson and Alex Dyer
Co-Chairs
Calls to action
Ride your bike!
Add your business to the Cycling Works campaign
Ask your employer to stand up for your right to a safe cycling route to work. Have a look through the statements in support from these excellent cycling leaders:
Upcoming bikeness
Picnics in Parks
11am - 12:30pm weekly on Fridays
Changing locations
Every Friday (weather allowing) we meet up somewhere in central city Wellington in an on-street parking space. Join us for a chat and coffee, and sometimes: knitting, board games, and puppies, and help passers-by rethink the use of public space. We’re usually near a cafe, so come support a local business for your lunch as well.
Next Cycle Wellington Meeting
6pm Tuesday 5 September 2023
Sustainability Trust, 2 Forresters Lane and online.
2WalkandCycle Conference 2024
Monday and Tuesday, 18, 19 March 2024
Tākina Convention Centre
The date and location of the next national walking and cycling conference has been set. Wellington will host in the new Tākina Convention Centre.
Wellington Bike Polo
Wednesdays 7pm
Kilbirnie Recreation Centre
Do you love riding your bike? Do you love team sports? Are daylight hours cutting your evening rides short? If you answered yes to any of the above, why not come along and give Bike Polo a go?
Bike polo is an exciting team sport that involves using a mallet to hit, pass, and shoot a ball around a hard court whilst riding your bicycle! Games are 3 a side, and normally last around 15 minutes.
Playing bike polo gives you the opportunity to level up your bike skills, meet new people, have fun exercising, and play in national and international tournaments!
You don't need anything to start playing, simply show up between 7pm-9pm on a Wednesday night with a bike! (Ideally not a cargo bike.) We'll help you with the rest 🙂
Project updates
Wellington City Council
Bike Network transitional projects
Newtown to City
It’s open! Go have a try!
Given the football brown out, the team is giving this project a settling in period before feedback proper will be opened up in September. Council are aware of a few immediate issues:
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The speed bumps that were added at the fire station at the northern end.
- There has been existing concern from FENZ at that intersection in general.
- Council are monitoring behaviour and gathering evidence about this location and are having ongoing conversations with FENZ
- The right hand turn bay for cars at Elizabeth St. will be extended. It is proving too short - given there are now fewer places motorists can cross or turn along this stretch.
If you have any safety concerns in the meantime; please do email the team at: [email protected]
The implementation of several other bike network projects are impacted by the FIFA Women’s World Cup brown out (a temporary halt to all road works):
Te Motu Kairangi - Miramar Connections will be making a baseline survey available soon.
A post-installation report is being prepared for the Botanics to City project.
Upcoming consultations expected to begin in September:
Transformational Projects
Brooklyn Road
Almost 800 submissions in total. Project with officers' recommendations going to council committee on 24 August.
Other updates
There is a push on to commit to spending on the network projects before financial year end (June 2024).
Kilbirnie’s “KFC corner” construction will begin soon. Work on the Evans Bay gap continues.
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