Cycle Wellington June 2021 Newsletter

Posted by 392sc on June 04, 2021

https://www.cyclewellington.org.nz/cycle_wellington_june_2021_newsletter

Kia ora koutou

It goes without saying that May 2021 has been a huge month for everyday cycling in Wellington and New Zealand. The events of the last few weeks have resulted in a major turnaround of votes for the Long Term Plan at Wellington City Council. In the end the most ambitious plan was voted in, securing $226M to fund a complete cycling network across Wellington in 10 years!

We are over the super blood moon about this and are so grateful to all of the people of Wellington who made the effort to let the council know how important this outcome was. We may never know what specific arguments or actions tipped the balance in our favour, but we can be sure that everyone’s contribution was crucial.

We are also grateful for the leadership and attentiveness demonstrated by so many of our representatives in council. It is clear that, as a city, we can no longer kick the transport can down the road. We all know we must transform the mobility mix to reduce emissions and realise the many other benefits of enabling everyone who can or wants to, to move about in active, less harmful ways.

Tautoko to our Council! Cycle Wellington supporters will have your backs as Wellington embarks on this important work.

Ngā mihi nui,

Alex Dyer and Linda Beatson
Co-Chairs Cycle Wellington

Calls to action

Show our Councillors some love

We are so encouraged by the leadership demonstrated by our city council by voting to fully fund a complete cycling network in the next 10 years. Please contact them and express your gratitude. Appropriate funding is an important component of the challenge ahead, but the whole council will need our support and encouragement as we transition more public space to healthier ways of getting around.

https://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/about-the-council/mayor-and-councillors

Thorndon Quay / Hutt Road consultation

Consultation closes Tuesday 8th June
Let’s Get Welly Moving have a public consultation running on their proposal to deliver a better, safer Thorndon Quay and Hutt Road. Cycle Wellington is largely very supportive of what is being proposed. We hope that the final width of the cycling space will safely accommodate the large growth in cycling journeys being predicted.

Please engage and submit here:
https://lgwm.nz/our-plan/our-projects/thorndon-quay-and-hutt-road/have-your-say-thorndon-quay-and-hutt-road/

Traffic and Parking Bylaw consultation

Consultation closes 5pm 11th June
The current Traffic and Parking Bylaw consultation includes a number of proposals that will be valuable to better prioritising public street space in Wellington. Please check it out and submit here:
https://wellington.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-information/our-wellington/2021/05/traffic-and-parking-bylaw

Minor improvements map

CW collects observations of poor cycling conditions and ideas for how to improve them on a google map. The map is shared with council officers to help them prioritise minor improvement works. View the map to see what has already been suggested. This tool works best on a desktop browser. Please continue to submit ideas for locations you would like to see enhanced. Please also share with groups that may have some ideas.

Petition: Newtown to the central city clear zones

Please show your support for the establishment of more clearways at key times between Newtown and the central city.
https://www.change.org/p/wellington-city-council-we-need-routes-from-newtown-to-the-cbd-safer-for-cycling-and-better-for-people-on-buses

National speeds setting review

Consultation closes 5pm on Friday 25th June 2021
Waka Kotahi are consulting on changing the ways that speeds are set for a large range of scenarios on New Zealand roads. This is an important opportunity to contribute to some better approaches for valuing places and people over heavy vehicle journeys and time savings.

Please take the time to have a look through all the proposed changes and provide feedback in support of lowering speeds where possible.
https://nzta.govt.nz/about-us/consultations/land-transport-rule-setting-of-speed-limits-2021-consultation/

Hīkina te Kohupara discussion – Ministry of Transport climate consultation

Submissions close 5pm Friday 25th June
The Government is seeking feedback on options to accelerate the New Zealand transport sector to meet the draft advice and recommendations of the Climate Change Commission, and moving to a net zero carbon transport system by 2050.
https://www.transport.govt.nz/consultations/hikina-te-kohupara-discussion

Upcoming bikeness

Brooklyn Rd uphill bike lane have a go

10am – 3pm Saturday 12th June
Bottom of Central Park
Wellington City Council will be putting on a BBQ and are arranging eBikes to try. We think dressups and music are in order!
https://twitter.com/WgtnCC/status/1397312146111967239

Urban Nerds meetup

5:30 – 7:00pm Tuesday 8th June
Fortune Favours, Leeds Street
Meet with urbanists from all walks (and cycles) of life in a fun, informal catch up.
https://urbanerds.nationbuilder.com/join

Next Cycle Wellington Meeting

6pm Tuesday 6th July
Bicycle Junction, 1 Marion St, Te Aro

Project updates

WCC

Cycleway Masterplan 2015 review

This plan is being reviewed in light of WCC voting for an accelerated roll-out of cycle ways in the Long Term Plan, and the impact of LGWM. The focus is on priorities and where to start first to get the greatest take up of cycling.

Brooklyn Cycle Lane

Installation due to be finished this week, there will be an official ‘open day’ Saturday 12th June 10am – 3pm. Council officers will be taking feedback – have your say, bring some mates, and enjoy the lane!

Wilson St

WCC are considering Wilson St as a quiet route through Newtown, and are getting feedback from the community about how the street could work for this. A meeting is planned for 19th June to discuss feedback so far.

Round The Bays

Work continues on this route, we are closer to a continuous path from the waterfront to Miramar.

Recent goings on

Berhampore popup bike lane

The Cycle Wellington Urban Repair Crew held an action in Berhampore. Thanks to all the mahi from our supporters. Together we demonstrated that the repurposing of street space can be achieved in much quicker timeframes than we usually see. Our action attracted a large amount of media coverage across the country.

Liberate the lane Auckland trip

Collage of pics from the liberate the lane event crossing the

Auckland harbour bridge.

Our cycling whānau in Tāmaki Makaurau, Bike Auckland held a rally to ‘liberate the lane’ on the Harbour Bridge. Their request is to run a 3 month trial of dedicated space for people to walk and bike over this critical link in the Auckland transport network. Following a breakdown of the development of the SkyPath project due to technical concerns, the time has come for some general traffic space to be repurposed to enable healthier, more efficient ways of getting around. It has been 12 years since the Get Across rally was held.

Alex Dyer, Patrick Morgan, Jonathan Coppard and Mark Johnston caught the train with their bikes to ride in solidarity with people on bikes in Tāmaki Makaurau.
https://www.podcasts.nz/liberatethelane-the-auckland-harbour-bridge-protest/
https://www.bikeauckland.org.nz/

Improving inclusivity at Cycle Wellington

Word cloud of terms used during the recent inclusivity workshop.

We’ve had some wins, but the hard truth is too many people are turned off by how we advocate. It’s not easy to hear that, although well-intentioned, the impact of our advocacy too often comes across as unwelcoming, especially to women and marginalised people.

We need to do better – to be inclusive, to be effective, and because it’s the right thing to do. We’d love to hear your thoughts.
https://cycwell.wordpress.com/…/03/improving-inclusivity/

New Bike Buddies Wellington facebook group

Bike Buddies Wellington focuses on connecting inexperienced riders with more experienced buddies in their neighbourhood to help make the roads feel more safe and friendly for those who currently cycle less. Please join if you would like to buddy someone or you’d like a buddy in your neighbourhood!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/144380461060899/

World Bicycle Day

Thursday 3rd June was 2021 World Bicycle Day. Cycle Wellington held a picnic at the Te Papa Forecourt, and biked to Oriental Bay.

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