April 2026 Newsletter
https://www.cyclewellington.org.nz/april_2026_newsletter
Kia ora koutou
The weather event that battered Wellington recently was shocking. We really are seeing and feeling the impacts of climate breakdown on our front doors. The localised nature of the record rainfall meant that access from the southern suburbs was difficult for all road users, but people still got out there with their waterproofs on and carried on cycling in the days after.
We often hear the misnomer that bad weather is a barrier to cycling and is why more people don’t. But there is a lot of evidence that people will keep getting around by bike in all sorts of weather conditions. Even with our famously high winds, Wellington arguably has a more mild climate than some cities where cycling levels are much higher. The key barrier to more people cycling more often is poor infrastructure and poor design that exposes people on bikes to fast, heavy vehicles, and just too many cars out on our streets.
The other huge challenge everyone is grappling with, of course, is the crippling price of imported fossil fuels. A resolution that returns costs to affordable levels still appears highly uncertain, and is making biking and public transport critical for many suddenly.
Cycle Wellington is grateful that there has been such a lot of progress on the bike network over the last few years. We knew how valuable better biking infrastructure is in even ‘normal times’, but we couldn’t have anticipated how damaging this next fuel crisis would be!
What is painfully clear is that investing in enabling more people to get around without needing to drive is more important than ever. Bikes are the obvious front runner for this challenge. We have seen efforts to improve public transport in various forms for decades at this point. But the main way actual gains have been made with regards to bus lanes in Wellington City is via the bike network program.
Paneke Pōneke is delivering for people choosing to take up riding bikes for their everyday journeys, but has also brought a lot of investment in bus lanes in several locations, bus stop upgrades, and a huge amount of pedestrian infrastructure upgrades to boot! ( pun intended 😉 )
We met with Mayor Little last week to check in on how he sees bikes in Wellington, and where to go from here. We were grateful for his time and appreciate there are some big challenges his Council faces. We are very concerned by the proposal to cut a lot of funding from the bike network.
Cycle Wellington is committed to fighting to keep up the momentum of the bike network plan. When the wording of the 2026 Annual Plan was agreed to, we didn’t have an international fuel crisis, and we also hadn’t recently suffered some severe flooding.
For these reasons, and so many more, safe and comfortable networks that support more people getting on their bikes is a must have. There are important submission opportunities detailed below to keep that work happening, please have your say.
Alex Dyer and Linda Beatson
Co-Chairs
Calls to action
Cycling is under attack. Submit on the Annual Plan
Closes Sunday 10 May 2026
Wellington has made a good start rolling out a network of protected bike lanes, Paneke Pōneke, but progress is at severe risk under the proposed Annual Plan for 2026. The Council is planning to slam the brakes on, slash the budget, and delay urgently needed projects. That’s not ok.
Have your say and make sure this council hears loud and clear to keep going, or even go faster, on the bike network rollout!
Call for emergency bike networks. Sign CAN’s open letter
Cycling Action Network and supporting organisations are calling on our leaders to urgently deploy widespread, safe cycling infrastructure in response to the emerging energy crisis. The open letter calls for the following actions:
- Deploy pop-up bike lanes
- Reinstate funding for active travel
- Accelerate shovel-ready active transport infrastructure projects
- Reduce urban speed limits
- Hit pause on RONS
- Make public transport free
Read and sign the open letter today.
Upcoming bikeness
Pop up bike lane
7:30-8:30am Thursday 30 April 2026
Featherston St (by La Cloche)
Why has WCC hit pause on bike lanes?
Wellington has made great progress on building a network of protected bike lanes, but this year the programme has stalled. Not acceptable. Let's take action. We need our Council to keep building the Paneke Pōneke Bike Network.
The need for connected bike lanes has never been more urgent:
- everyone deserves safe streets
- to help more people avoid high fuel costs
- to reduce the severity of weather bombs in a changing climate
- Te Ara Tupua means more people biking, and they need connected central city bike lanes
Seven years ago we put our bodies on the line to call for bike lanes in the central city.
Are we ready to do this again to highlight the need for protection? Are you in?
Aotearoa Health Shift Webinar: Dr Tim Welch and Lennart Nout
12 Noon Thursday 7 May 2026
For the second Healthy Shift webinar of 2026 CAN will be hosting Dr Tim Welch and Lennart Nout who give their expertise on enabling healthy journeys in New Zealand cities.
Orange Bike Ride
10am Saturday 2 May 2026
Queen’s Wharf under the sails
Decorate your bike and join the Netherlands Embassy in your best ORANGE outfit - the national colour of the Netherlands for a family friendly event to promote cycling as a sustainable means of transport. Register to join.
Bike the bays
Various events
Bike the Bays is a programme of fun cycling events across the eastern suburbs. From relaxed group rides and coffee stops to workshops and family-friendly activities, it’s all about helping more people get out on their bikes and enjoy the bays in a new way.
Check out the range of events on WCC’s website.
Next Cycle Wellington Meeting
6pm Tuesday 5 May 2026
Sustainability Trust, 2 Forresters Lane, and online.
Recent goings on
WCC
In the final stretches of the build of the Te Haerenga Roa o Te Aro – Greta Point to Cobham Drive connection around Evan’s Bay. Looking forward to opening later this year.
Councilor Randle is again pushing for the development of a ‘Transport Plan’ for Wellington.
The next Long Term Plan drafting process is underway. Cycle Wellington will need to fight to ensure we keep investment in cycling flowing.
An emergency response plan is being worked on, in case fuel supply levels change by the Government in response to the international energy crisis.
A worrying proposal seems to be being explored for a ‘Shared paths speed limits bylaw”, such as an enforceable 10kph limit for people on bikes. Cycle Wellington would be strongly opposed to such a move, instead favouring ongoing investment in better infrastructure and design.
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