The Campaign For Better Transport

ARTA reports a dramatic increase in cycling in the Auckland region:

The number of people cycling in the Auckland region has dramatically increased by 27% compared to last year, according to a survey for the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA).

Over 12,000 cyclist movements were recorded at 84 sites across the region for the Cycle Monitoring Programme, which is a one day snapshot of cycling in the region taken during the second week of March each year. The sites were monitored at peak times from 6:30am to 9:00am and then again from 4:00pm to 7:00pm.

ARTA’s General Manager of Strategy and Planning, Peter Clark says, “Recent improvements in cycling infrastructure across the region are beginning to have a great impact on increasing the number of people choosing to take their bike.

“One of the most significant rises in cycling numbers we’ve seen since the start of the programme in 2007 was on the North Western Cycleway with an increase of 70%. Over 600 cyclists were counted on the cycleway during the monitoring times this year. The recently opened $3m Kingsland section of the North Western Cycleway is sure to boost cycle numbers even further as this now provides an almost continuous 12km ride from Te Atatu to the Central Business District.

ARTA Media Release

Autumn is upon us and many Auckland cyclists consider the milder conditions the best to get on their bikes and use pedal power to move around the city.

To help cyclists and would-be-cyclists on their way, a series of online, interactive cycle maps have been launched today to provide up-to-date information and help Aucklanders plan their active transport routes around the region.

The Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) has teamed up with Google, the Ministry of Transport and the wider cycling community to create the maps that chart Auckland’s cycling facilities and infrastructure. The cycle maps also provide valuable safety information regarding areas where there have been recent cycle and motor vehicle incidents.

Read the full media release here.

Mathew Dearnaley reports in the Herald on the likelihood of cycle and walkways being added to Auckland’s existing harbour crossing.

Auckland’s harbour bridge clip-ons could be candidates for “orthopaedic surgery” which would enable walking and cycling paths to be added and could improve their longevity.

The Transport Agency has been given a proposal by engineering consultants working with the Getacross campaign to find ways of adding walking and cycling links without shortening the life of the 40-year-old clip-ons.

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