The Cycle Summit – Celebrating Collaboration in Auckland Cycling
A landmark summit was held last Wednesday afternoon to celebrate and expand the collaboration that is driving cycling innovation in the new Auckland. The summit was called by Auckland Transport and Cycle Action Auckland, and supported by and hosted at the NZ Transport Agency’s Auckland office.
It’s easy to be sceptical about aspects of the new Auckland, but every indicator is showing that it is good for cycling.
To keep the focus tight, we invited 18 short (5-8 minute) presentations and 32 guests. While our primary focus was on innovative projects, we also learnt from major players in the Auckland cycling sector and sought new collaborative opportunities.
Alex Macmillan from Auckland University’s School of Population Health spoke on her doctoral research which documents compelling facts of benefit/cost of cycling investment, and the impact that lack of transport choice has in limiting employment opportunities in South Auckland communities. A range of speakers outlined projects giving children access to bikes, cycle paths and training. Callum McNair presented plans to team the 2013 Harbour Bridge Clip-on event and festival with other sports events; Bevan Woodward reported major progress for the Harbour Bridge Cycleway and Waterfront Auckland launched plans of new cycle routes in their area. The Puketapapa Local Board identified the steps to its success in winning Council and Auckland Transport support for its ‘Greenways’ scheme. Rhys Jones from Ora Taiao focused on moves to promote cycling in Maori communities and the need for more opportunities to expand these initiatives. Auckland Transport; Auckland Council; the NZTA, Cycle Auckland and Bike NZ also featured in the presentation line up.
Stephen Town, (Auckland/Northland NZTA Director) concluded the summit by acknowledging that the collaborative initiatives are vital to Auckland’s cycling success to date and are a key to on-going progress. He stated his commitment to continue to work with the cycling sector to help reduce congestion across Auckland,
We’re keen to share the summit proceedings – the presentations, the highlights and short interviews with participants will be published on You Tube, starting on Tuesday.
Auckland Transport, CAA Committee, Cycle Summit, Events, General News, NZTA
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Auckland, Auckland Transport, CAA Committee, Cycle Summit, Events, General News, NZ Transport Agency's Auckland office, NZTA, South Auckland
Fullers (CAA Sponsor)
Themocracy
I look forward to the presentations being published. But forgive me for approaching them sceptically — I struggle to see what is “innovative” about equitably allocating public space and providing basic amenities for people on bicycles. Other countries and cities have been doing it continuously for decades, having set excellent examples, and we are so far behind.
Now I’m sure there is room for actual innovation and cutting-edge planning and engineering for cycling, but is that what we need so desperately right now in Auckland? I keep hearing that CAA (and even AT and NZTA) have limited resources, so what’s the deal with this summit?
You know, I’d love to see a summit seriously discussing how to allow safe, pleasant and dignified cycling access directly on Symonds Street, or Queen Street, or Ponsonby Road, or Khyber Pass Road — if only just one at a time, and with ordinary facilities as have been proven overseas. (I’ll grant that the Harbour Bridge initiative is a fine idea, however, but hardly innovative.)
I guess I’ll have to wait to see the presentations before concluding anything.
Hi N-M – great to hear from you! Good comments. As chair of Cycle Action I don’t feel that we have a problem with resources at all – we are expanding our pro-bono professional Associates team each month – and I regard that to be the key resource. we need to keep changing Auckland for cycling.
I’d love to hear more from you over a coffee. Feel free to email me if you are interested – cuthash@worldnet.co.nz
Ah, only 32 guests, I was wondering if this was a public event and I had some how missed the ad. Also looking forward to the highlights. Any chance CAA could also do something about this bloody wind- I swear it changes so that I am riding into it everywhere I go.
Hi ahayward. Yes, the event was mainly intended to foster cooperation among the various authorities related to cycling, and to connect them to researchers and groups doing cycling-related work.
We are working on the wind thing, but have been told we will have to accept steeper hills as a trade-off if we want to prioritise this. Really makes you wonder about their attitude.
Great idea and well done for getting the interested parties talking.
Wind or hills that’s a tough one but I would go with the wind – it doesn’t remain all year round unlike the hills!
that wind is officially called “the againsterly” – I asked Philip Duncan of weatherwatch to include it in his forecast, however, i suspect he thinks its just par for the course..