March 2024 Newsletter

Posted by 638sc on March 12, 2024

https://www.cyclewellington.org.nz/march_2024_newsletter

Kia ora koutou -

In our view, the draft Government Policy Statement from the Coalition is terrible, with a massive reduction in funding for active transport. It focusses on pushing through a roads heavy agenda.

We know that a car dependent society is precarious.

We feel the cost of living pressures strongly in this country so much because of how we and the goods we consume move around. Our freedom to access healthy, active means of mobility is greatly reduced, and getting worse. We see that there are large groups of society that cannot, or would prefer not to, drive or be driven in cars. We see the burden of transporting loved ones around who cannot drive. We see the anxiety of an ageing population that finds it more and more difficult to live dignified lives without the ability to drive. We see a growing burden on our already stretched health system being created due to inactivity, - inactivity that could be largely avoided if moving around our cities by walking and cycling were more accessible and better served. We worry that we will fail our climate action goals without more ambitious changes in travel behaviour towards passenger rail, walking and of course cycling.

We see very little positive aspects of the new Government Policy Statement on Transport. We do not support spending enormous amounts of public funds to further entrench bad, car-centric outcomes while the investment and maintenance of traditional modes is still so lacking and being reduced.

While this terrible u-turn is a national level change, it will have a dramatic impact on local efforts. Even as funding is reduced we hope that WCC can continue to prioritise traditional transport modes as they have been lately, and keep delivering infrastructure for safer, cleaner, healthier, and more equitable mobility across our city. Feedback gathered through consultation during the Let's Get Wellington Moving programme consistently showed strong support for enabling more people to travel with more freedom from private cars.

We would like to think that our local council will do everything it can to work around the daunting constraints being proposed. It is important to continue to see progress on the ground.

Kia kaha!

Linda Beatson and Alex Dyer
Co-Chairs

Calls to Action

Transport for Life Rally

5 - 6pm Tuesday 19 March

Parliament Lawn

Join us at Parliament Lawn to demand transport for life. We'll have brief speeches at 5:30pm from transport, health, urbanism, and climate groups.

The Coalition’s draft transport plan locks us into car dependency for decades to come. That means more traffic jams, a higher cost of living, greater pollution, and more traffic violence and deaths.

We deserve a modern transport system that makes it accessible and affordable to get around by walking, cycling, and public transport as well as accommodating those who need to drive. Transport that keeps people safe, supports well being, and doesn't cost the earth.

Submit on the Draft Transport GPS

Closes 2 April 2024

Make a submission on the draft Government Policy Statement and demand that the funding for public transport and active transport are not reduced or constrained in any way. 

C.R.A.B. Trailer crowdfunding campaign

Closes 8pm 9 April

Help fund the build of the “Cahoots Revved and Braked” e-bike trailer, so Cahoots can do its important mahi all across the hills of Te Whanganui-A-Tara!

Upcoming bikeness

CANDo 2024

9:00am to 4:30pm 16 and 17 March

Sustainability Trust,  2 Forresters Lane, Te Aro

Join us at Cycling Action Network's national advocacy conference. The weekend includes workshops, training, rides, plenty of food and drink, and a chance to catch up with fellow bike advocates from around New Zealand.

You will supercharge your advocacy skills, with training on effective messaging, networking, and campaigning. Please register here. We look forward to seeing you.

Register for 2WALKandCYCLE 2024!

18 and 19 March

Tākina Convention Centre, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington

Conference theme: People Power: the path to low carbon transport

​With the impacts of climate change, leaders need to step up to the challenges of transforming our transport network and provide better options to get people where they want to go.

Janette Sadik-Khan and Salvador Rueda.

Urbanerds MARCH *SPECIAL EDITION*

5:30 - 8:30pm Tuesday 19 March

Bedlam & Squalor (above Rogue & Vagabond)

We’ve schemed up a special edition of Urbanerds to celebrate the culmination of the 2Walk&Cycle Conference. We’ll be feasting on insights and hot takes from the two day event with our special guests.

If you’re into cities and how Wellington can tap into this goodness in the next few years or you weren’t at 2Walk&Cycle don’t miss this special Urbanerds.

Streets Cities People - Free public talk

6 –7:30pm Wednesday 20 March

St, James Theatre

Toby Manhire in conversation with Janette Sadik-Khan and Salvador Rueda on the emotional but rewarding journey of creating great streets and cities for people – messages of hope from New York, Barcelona and beyond.

Next Cycle Wellington meeting

6pm Tuesday 2 April 2024

Sustainability Trust, 2 Forresters Lane, and online.

Project updates

Wellington City Council

East
  • Balaena Bay construction is now two-way, a milestone.
  • In April, sea walls stage 2 starts; Evans Bay, Greta Point to Cobham Drive. More communications coming, re: parking, disruption.
  • Onepu Road work continues to October.
  • Te Motu Kairangi in Long Term Plan consultation with timing uncertain. More clarity on the shape of this coming in May.
  • Kilbirnie work continues in August to November with the new section to the major intersection with Rongotai Road and Onepu Road.
Southwest
  • Brooklyn Road is proceeding to final design stage.
  • Aro Valley – user experience audit this week.
South
  • Berhampore to Rintoul Street construction underway with new bus platform designs being finalised.
  • Newtown Parking plan. Significant consultation feedback will result in a new paper going to Councillors with changes, for a decision on 4 April.
West
  • Wadestown Stage 1 construction underway.
  • Ngaio user experience audit coming, and traffic resolution for bus stop changes.
  • Karori – South Karori Rd secondary route installed.
  • Birdwood Street and Braithwaite Street new lines marked.
  • Karori Road crossings are due for completion.
Central City
  • Bike parking on Shell Lane off The Terrace being installed now. Council are looking for other locations, but can't use the carriageway or narrow the footpath.
Behaviour Change 
  • Aotearoa Bike Challenge, results are being analysed. Initial data shows the busiest year so far with a 10-15% increase, in particular via new riders.
  • The ‘Get there together’ campaign has been out for several weeks and is in the evaluation phase now, with more activations coming. E.g. 1.5 metre events. Other councils want to use it. Waka Kotahi may find funding too.
General

In April, WCC will release a report on metrics of success and ridership of the emerging bike network. The new report will be the first of more to come. 

 

Recent goings on

Shelly Play

We hope you managed to get along to the great event around the Miramar Peninsula last Sunday. Thanks WCC! We hope you can make this more regular!!