https://www.cyclewellington.org.nz/october_2023_newsletter

Kia ora koutou -

In October each year Cycle Wellington holds its Annual General Meeting. Thanks to everyone who made it along as we reflected on the year past.

The formal aspects of this year’s AGM saw no changes to the roles and responsibilities at Cycle Wellington. Thanks again to all our wonderful officers, and again to our wonderful supporters! We still have a lot more work to do on the bike network next year and we’re looking forward to even more routes being delivered.

We were excited to see the release of the first zine produced by Women in Urbanism that was supported through the Alastair Smith Memorial Fellowship. Miriam and Catarina gave us a sneak peak at the AGM and have since made their zine ‘Wheels and Whims - A wahine's journey through Wellington’s Bike culture’ available online. Check it out and share!

On a less happy note - it has been disturbing to see more tacky stunts by some irresponsible people out there.

We’re disappointed that some still don’t seem to appreciate how important it is that we transition our streets to better enable healthy forms of transport in order to help lower car dependency and emissions from transport in Pōneke.

If you’re riding the new cycleways, please take care and consider taking slightly slower journeys until we stop seeing the tacks.

Ngā mihi nui

Linda Beatson and Alex Dyer
Co-Chairs

Calls to action

Newtown to City route - Have a go and give feedback!

Closes 5pm 13 November 2023

Bus and bike improvements between Newtown and the city are complete. Wellington City Council are keen to get your feedback from experiencing the street changes in real life. The feedback you provide now will contribute to more permanent improvements as part of plans for mass rapid transit on this route.

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Upcoming bikeness

Celebrate World Menopause Day

5.30pm Wednesday 18 October

Queens Wharf

Frocks on Bikes has teamed up with Menopause over Martinis to celebrate World Menopause Day on Wednesday 18 October. We’ve organised a ride that will be entirely on shared paths or separated cycleways - thanks WCC!!

Meet at Queens Wharf at 5.30pm for the bike ride to Auntie Social in Newtown at 6pm. Or skip the bike ride and meet at Auntie Social from 6.30pm. There’ll be time to learn a few things about menopause, ask some questions and share some stories. There’ll be platters of delicious food, a short quiz, and a few spot prizes. Frocks are optional and bikes/e-bikes available for free from Switched on Bikes if booked in advance. Limited tickets (from $15) available!

Drum & Bays

4pm Thursday 26 October

Sky Stadium

This will be the first of a summer series of waterfront daytime Drum & Bays bike raves. Meet up at the Sky Stadium concourse from 4pm. We’ll start rolling at 4:20pm. You can join the party with your wheels anywhere along the waterfront as we roll around to Pt Jerningham, before turning around and finishing up back at Te Papa.

Bike Rave - From Beyond The gRave

8pm Saturday 28 October

Waitangi Park

Something wicked raves this way! Halloween once again brings a tour de fright to be remembered. This is your chance to be the Ghoul of your dreams. Dig out your Frankenbike and don your creepiest get up and let’s get grooving. DJ PocketLipps will be on the deck providing the spooky tunes.

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 7 November 2023

Sustainability Trust, 2 Forresters Lane, and online.

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Project updates

Wellington City Council

Transitional Projects

Consultations closed on both Newtown to Berhampore and Kilbirnie Connections projects as well as the Newtown Parking Management Plan. Early design work is progressing on Te Motu Kairangi - Miramar.

Transformational Projects

Brooklyn Hill

The detailed design stage is currently being commissioned. Council are aiming to start ground work on the Brooklyn Hill project early next year.

Weka and Evans Bay

Construction work continues.

Kilbirnie Intersection

The build is about to start on this major intersection in Kilbirnie.

Tawa to Johnsonville Connection

Consultants have been recently secured to design this large project.

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Recent goings on

Quays Please

Thanks those who signed our petition for Quays Please. The petition received 241 signatories. Watch this space. We hope this important route will somehow be accelerated when Council receives the petition and discusses it.

Consultation fatigue

Thanks to everyone for yet again pitching in on consultations recently. There were lots of submissions made on both Newtown to Berhampore, and Karori Connections. We are keenly mindful that the amount of consultation has not reduced with the bike network programme. We hope Council officers work on adjusting their methodology soon to make more progress more easily.

If you think you are suffering from fatigue, please make sure you get some rest, eat well, follow the advice of your medical professional, and ride your bike. 

Opening of Pito-One to Melling cycleway