February 2023 Newsletter

https://www.cyclewellington.org.nz/february_2023_newsletter

Kia ora koutou -

Welcome to another huge year for better biking in Pōneke.

Work is progressing on Kent - Cambridge Terraces and Bowen and Whitmore Streets. Council voted to proceed with designs for the Aro Valley and Ngaio Connections projects. Let’s Get Wellington Moving consulted on designs for The Golden Mile, Johnsonville and Ngā Ūranga Gorge, as well as Thorndon Quay and Old Hutt Road.

There is much more to come this year from the Paneke Pōneke Bike Network programme, as well as more projects from Let’s Get Wellington Moving. For instance, coming up in March there will be public consultations for the Kilbirnie and Thorndon Connections projects.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support and engagement in these. We need to keep up the pace that is seeing change on the ground.

Ngā mihi nui,

Alex Dyer and Linda Beatson

Co-Chairs Cycle Wellington

 

Calls to action

Sign the petition - Support Sustainable Transport: The NZ E-bike Rebate

It is time for the New Zealand Government to support sustainable transport options for the majority of people. Please sign the petition calling for the New Zealand Government to provide a rebate for the purchase of an electric bike.

Aotearoa Bike Challenge

Month of February

Aotearoa Bike Challenge poster

Ride with your friends and colleagues this February for your chance to win some great prizes along the way! 

Ride anywhere, anytime and encourage others to do the same to earn points.  The more points you earn, the further you climb the leaderboards and the better your chance to win prizes.

Add your business to the Cycling Works campaign

CYcling Works logo

Wellington City Council have committed to create Paneke Pōneke - a connected bike network across the city. The plan is excellent but it is already being challenged by some for reallocating public road space.

Without your employer’s support there is a real possibility that naysayers will delay safe cycling climate action in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

Ask your employer to stand up for your right to a safe cycling route to work.

Statements in support from business leaders (preferably a Managing Director or CEO) are needed about why your company supports the new cycling network plan.

 


Upcoming bikeness

Sunrise Social Ride

6:30am Thursday 2 March

Carter Fountain, Oriental Bay

Bike to Oriental Bay Beach, and have breakfast in the parklet at Aye! Empanadas after watching the sunrise.

Park Life bike tour

3 - 5pm Friday 24 February

Te Aro Park, Dixon Street

A free guided bike tour visiting Pōneke parks. Open up the inner city on wheels!

Bike Rave - E.T. Rave Home

8pm Saturday 11 March

Top of Mt Victoria (or 8:30pm at Freyberg Beach)

Family Cargo Bike Picnic

12 noon Sunday 26 February

Shelly Bay (Chocolate Fish Cafe)

Bring your cargobikes, ebikes, bike trailers, kids seats, tag-alongs, box bikes and more. It's a chance to get to know the other parents you've seen pedalling 1, 2 or 3 kids around Wellington by bike.

  • 12pm - Meet at Shelly Bay (Chocolate Fish)
  • 1pm - Cruisey ride to Scorching Bay
  • 3pm - BBQ at Scorching Bay

This Bicycle Junction event is free for everyone and we hope you can bring something to share for the picnic. Pay attention to the event listing on Facebook as we will cancel if the weather isn't looking good.

Big Bike Film Night

7pm Sunday 26 February

6:15pm Monday 27 February

Penthouse Cinema, Brooklyn. Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/nz/events/landing/8391 

6pm Tuesday 28 February

Lighthouse Cinema, Petone. Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/nz/events/landing/8392

Have you been hankering for some BIG screen bike entertainment, adventure, and inspiration???

Bikes transport us, and the 10 films in this outstanding collection do it vicariously on the cinema screen with plenty of entertaining characters. Get your tickets before they’re gone!

Go By Bike Day

7 - 9am 14 March 2023

Under the sails at Queen’s Wharf

Good news! Go By Bike Day is back for 2023! WCC would appreciate some volunteers to help on the day helping out with the breakfast and setting up / packing down. Please email [email protected] to sign up if you're keen.

Picnics in Parks

11am - 12:30pm weekly on Fridays

Changing locations

Every Friday (nearly!) 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 March 2023

Sustainability Trust, Forresters Ln. and online

 


Project updates

Wellington City Council

Waterfront

WCC have been conducting some research to better understand perceptions of safety by people travelling in various ways in the mixed use setting of the Waterfront.

Bike parking

Some better bike parking is still planned for Oriental Bay with a new bike container facility coming. This has been slow to get in place and is still a month to 6 weeks away.

The set of bike parking corrals around the central city that were consulted on last year will be installed soon. The parking spaces have already been technically changed in WCC’s systems, but the Sheffield stands are still to be installed. The corrals will also support the upcoming rollout of the eBike share scheme - being a designated drop zone for those bikes as well as privately owned bikes.

Paneke Pōneke bike network

Kent and Cambridge update

A webinar detailing recent construction updates was held on 26 January by the WCC team. WCC didn't published the recording as it was only a snapshot in time of where things were at. You can however view it here.

WCC officers are also keen for people to familiarise themselves with the new dedicated bike signal phase designed to cross the intersection of Courtenay and Kent Terraces when that goes in place. The signal will allow for travel in both directions but will not be long.

Bowen and Whitmore Streets

Construction action happening this month. Please be aware of the upcoming change that will remove the right turn into Stout Street from Whitmore Street.

People on bikes will instead need to use a hook turn to complete this manoeuvre.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPXrKBuFkLc

Other transitional projects

Public consultation for the Thorndon and Kilbirnie Connections projects will be starting early next month.

Brooklyn Road

Consultation for the next stage of Brooklyn Road has been pushed back past March.


Recent goings on

Alistair Smith Fellowship 2023

Congratulations to Miriam Moore and Catarina Gutierrez on receiving the Alistair Smith Fellowship for 2023. As representatives of Women in Urbanism, they intend to work to boost participation in cycling by women, and highlight cycling in Tawa. Read more here.

New CAN Chair

Our very own Alex Dyer has accepted the role as Chair of Cycling Action Network. He is staying on as a Co-Chair of Cycle Wellington.