April 2024 Newsletter
https://www.cyclewellington.org.nz/april_2024_newsletter
Calls to Action
Share your feedback on Aro and Ngaio bike network projects
The Aro and Ngaio connection bus, bike and pedestrian improvements are almost complete. Wellington City Council wants to know how everyone is finding the changes and how they might make them better.
Feedback on Ngaio Connections
Feedback on Aro Raroa
Upcoming Bikeness
Arts in Parks
11am Friday 19 April
Webb’s Marion Street
At next week's Picnics in Parks we're holding an open art exhibition! We'll be set up outside Webb's Wellington at 23 Marion Street.
If you have an artwork you'd like to exhibit, bring it along to share with the street. Wall pieces max size 600mm x 600mm. There will be a small plinth for any sculptures. Depending on how many artworks people bring we'll try to cycle through them all.
Netherlands King’s Day Bike Ride
4pm Saturday 27 April
The Boatshed, Wellington Waterfront
The Netherlands Embassy invites everyone to Cycle and Celebrate with us on 27 April for King's Day! Dress in your best Orange outfit as we cycle along the waterfront.
The route starts at the Boatshed to the 1st turning point at Point Jerningham, back towards the 2nd turning point at The Grove, continuing along Lady Elizabeth Lane through Queens Wharf and finishing back at the Boatshed.
Dutch treats and prizes await at the finish line. Join our King's Day celebration afterwards as we celebrate our national day. Make sure you register as there is limited availability.
Next Cycle Wellington meeting
6pm Tuesday 7 May 2024
Sustainability Trust, 2 Forresters Lane, and online.
Project updates
New home for Mechanical Tempest coming
Kia ora Te-Whanganui-a-Tara! You may remember Mechanical Tempest, the DIY bicycle workshop previously located in the former Caltex station on Mansfield Street in Newtown. After a few years without a workshop space we have finally found a new home!
We are in the process of relocating our workshop to the Central Park Flats in Brooklyn. Big thanks to Te Toi Mahana for offering us a new space to work out of so we can continue to empower people to fix their own bikes and help get folks riding!
In case you haven't heard of Mechanical Tempest before, our aim is to teach people to repair bicycles and reduce waste by making use of donated bicycles and spare parts. We are a dedicated group of volunteers with the goal of supporting sustainable transportation options by providing guidance on bicycle repair and maintenance in a supportive, inclusive space.
We also welcome donations of good quality used bicycles and bike parts. Keep an eye on our website tempest.nz and social media @mechanicaltempest to find out about our grand re-opening in May!
If our workshop sounds like something you'd like to support you are welcome to donate or consider volunteering with us!
Wellington City Council
Feedback is being sought on the Aro and Ngaio Connections projects (see above).
Implementation is progressing on the Berhampore to Newtown project. Thanks to eveyone for their ongoing patience with road work disruptions.
A decision on the Newtown parking scheme is now expected on 18 April. There have been some changes introduced since the last consultation. Rintoul Street parking won’t now be removed until mid-late June.
Island Bay Shopping Centre build
Work is progressing on the upgrade of the Island Bay shops, including the build of connecting bike lanes. The initial work is looking top notch, and many have commented on the great attitude and processes of the traffic management teams when it comes to helping keep people on bikes safe while construction happens. We’re looking forward to seeing the finished result.
End of trip facilities for bikes in schools
Pic by Alex Litherland
Six schools across Wellington are getting some better bike parking: Wellington High School, East, Wellington College, Kilbirnie, Newtown (pictured), St Catherine’s. More schools are already interested in getting some. This work has been funded by Climate Action Fund and the now dismantled Let’s Get Wellington Moving (remaining funding picked up by Greater Wellington).
If you think the school your kids go to needs better bike parking - please encourage parents and your school to submit on the Long Term Plan to demand for more funding for this.
Long Term Plan Consultation
The next Long Term Plan consultation is coming up soon and will run for four weeks. There will be a big impact on the bike network programme and funding.
Recent goings on
CAN Do Conference
The national conference for cycling advocacy run by Cycling Action Network was hosted in Wellington and was an invigorating time with many people joining in for some much needed connection and chance to share. We had perfect weather for the guided bike tour of the many sites of improving infrastructure across Pōneke.
Thanks to all the presenters, including Jacob Wahry from Wellington City Council, Miriam Moore from Women in Urbanism, David Trip on pushing for better outcomes for people biking in the Riverlink Project, Chief Biking Officer Fiáin D'Leafy from Bike Auckland on Inclusive Cycling, updates from several local groups around the country, and more.
2 Walk and Cycle Conference
The national conference for walking and Cycling was a great success, with attendees hungry for inspiration and the chance to share their passion for building a better mobility norm for Aotearoa. Keynote speakers Janette Sadik-Khan and Salvador Rueda gave excellent talks about the power and opportunity of transforming our streets away from car domination.
They were followed by a huge range of speakers from around New Zealand that exemplified just how much great kaupapa is going on in many centres, and how much momentum and passion there is from professionals and advocates to deliver better spaces for people.
Check out the speakers, presentations, and galleries of photos on the conference website.
Transport for Life Rally
Thanks to everyone who turned up to the Transport for Life rally at parliament lawn last month. Even though the circumstances are beyond grim when it comes to transport politics just now, it was encouraging to have a lot of voices gather around the importance of doing better how we get around our beautiful country.
We heard from Cycling Action Network, Julie Anne Genter from The Green Party, 350 Aotearoa, The Future is Rail, Living Streets, and more. It is clear that we are going to need to be loud and firm on the needs of people to see better mobility in Wellington, and New Zealand, continue. The current government is working to further entrench car dependency and actively suppress traditional forms of mobility.
Great read: My experience riding an e-bike in Wellington
Check out River’s great write up on what it has been like taking up riding a bike in Wellington.
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