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By Max, May 8, 2012

Auckland Council has just released a summary document about the submissions to the Long Term Plan and the Regional Land Transport Program. Pages 28 and 53 are especially interesting.

The Council’s rail plans got a good bit of criticism (mainly because of the price tag – which I personally feel is crazy when you think that in the same time period we will be spending several times that amount on new motorways alone, and few complain about the debt we are taking on for those – but I digress…).

The good thing is that cycling featured very strongly and favourably in the submissions, wth particular support for a Harbour Bridge Cycleway (very timely) and the need for more emphasis on protected, safe cycle facilities (i.e. more than paint). Our concern that only a pitiful 0.8% of the budget is being spent on walking & cycling was also picked up by a lot of submitters. All in all, a great response by Auckland for cycling. Let’s hope it moves some votes when it comes to finalising the funding for the next years.

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By MarkR, April 11, 2012

You’re right, this just does state the obvious – but using only economic measures for cycling infrastructure just doesn’t cut it. An article by Murdoch University researcher showed that while the Australian Audit Office doesn’t believe cycleways there have delivered on economics (job creation), there is plenty to indicate other unmeasured benefits are being derived. It’s interesting to note that a  study done for the City of Sydney shows the city’s planned 200 km cycleway network would deliver $506 million in net economic benefits over 30 years. This is roughly equivalent to a $4 return on every dollar spent, compared with just $2 for motorway projects.

Evidence of the broader economic benefits of bike lanes is not limited to Australia. In Copenhagen the bicycle, with a modal share of 36%, is already the most used form of transport for trips to work or educational institutions. A study commissioned by Copenhagen’s mayor showed that driving cars offers up a $0.20 net loss for each mile driven, due to congestion, health, accidents and environmental impacts. This is in contrast to the bicycle which offers a $0.35 net benefit to the economy per mile ridden.

The full article by Brad Pettitt, Mayor of Fremantle and Senior Lecturer in Sustainability at Murdoch University, can be read here.

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By Max, March 23, 2012

[Note: Where these CAA submissions on your Local Board area - done as part of the LTP submission, open till 4pm Friday! - has nothing, or only a short generic paragraph, that generally meant that the Local Board did not seem to mention cycling much in their Local Board Agreement.]

Submission on the draft Local Board Agreements as part of the 2012 LTP

1. Cycle Action Auckland would like to submit on the Local Board Agreements, as part of our draft LTP 2012-2022 submission (provided as separate document).

2. As an Auckland-wide group, we submit on most (though not all) agreements. We generally only submit on their transport / cycling aspects.

Continue reading 'What CAA submitted II… [Local Boards]'»

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By Max, March 22, 2012

Submission on the draft Long Term Plan 2012-2022 of Auckland Council and the draft Regional Land Transport Programme 2012-2015 of Auckland Transport

1. Cycle Action Auckland would like to submit on the draft LTP and draft RLTP documents, as well as some of the Local Board Agreements and the Alternative Funding for Transport discussion.

Long Term Plan comments (LTP)

2. We generally agree with the transport-related key issues spelled out in the LTP. We particularly support increased future CAPEX spending on public transport, to the proposed rate of 48% of the 10 year transport budget.

3. However, the plan is severely deficient in not showing leadership in walking and cycling (active modes). There, the plan envisages a highly disappointing “business as usual” approach. We therefore ask for the following:

Continue reading 'What CAA submitted I… [LTP and RLTP]'»

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By jenan, March 21, 2012

Transport funding for the next 10 years is up for grabs now in the Auckland Council and Auckland Transport long term funding plans. Cycle Action is submitting on behalf of our members on a raft of issues and projects. The deadline for submissions is 4pm this Friday, 23rd March.

You can read the plans on the Council website or in the limited time available, make your voice heard on a few key issues. We regard these to be –

• The level of funding allocated to walking and cycling is only 0.8% of the overall transport capital expenditure. This is out of kilter with the proportion of trips already made by walking and cycling now. It is also contrary to Auckland’s goals to provide wider and healthier transport choices, and reduce reliance on cars. Our submission requests an increase to 5% to complete key cycling networks, improve walking and cycling safety and compensate for past years of under- investment in these modes.
• Completing a range of cycling projects which will help change Auckland for cycling. These include the Harbour Bridge cycleway, bringing the North Western Cycleway to the Waterfront, making long overdue improvements to Tamaki Drive. You are welcome to support these, or if there is a local project you want to bring the attention of your Local Board – support it as well.
• Investing in the Regional Cycle Network – the backbone of major cycle routes across Auckland which connect transport nodes, employment and shopping areas. These are the priority routes that need to be fully connected. In the short term it is reasonable to ask for pinch points and hazards, which make cycling unsafe, to be removed.

You can make a submission by clicking here.  The vital sections of the form to focus on are 1.2 and 8.1 (both in the same online form) – ask for increased funds for walking and cycling in BOTH these form sections – you can also use both sections, but especially 8.1, to also expand on projects you favour and ask for improved connectivity and safety on the Regional Cycling Network.