Comments (2)

By Max, April 27, 2012

As every month, we had a look at the business report of Auckland Transport to review any items of interest for cycling. Where possible, we will also provide additional context from our own discussions with Auckland Transport. There isn’t that much brand new stuff in this month’s report compared to the last month, but a few interesting items nonetheless.

• Investigations are continuing into the delivery of new sections of the Regional Cycle Network including Waterview, Ladies Mile and Beach Road. New Zealand Cycle Trail development has continued for the Airport to City Centre route.
• [The key item here is probably public confirmation of the investigation works on future Beach Road cycle facilities - this is a link intended to connect to the extension of the Northwestern Cycleway down Grafton Gully (NZTA project).]
• [The other important item is progress on what may become Auckland's first New Zealand Cycle Trail route, intended to link cycle tourists to the city centre - and from there, to the planned and existing cyle routes on Waiheke and Coromandel.]
• Delivery of Cycle training has continued to be high this month with 1916 participants this month from 17 school students, with a number of adult courses being provided including a range of from novice to intermediate and bunch riding.
• Cycle maps for the southern and eastern sections of the region are under development. Inclusion of cycle maps on Google maps has been confirmed and will be launched in May.
• [Cycle Action is currently working with AT on the update of these cycle maps, having contracted us to ride / drive around the region to check the routes for cycling suitability and general changes from the last map version.]
• [It's great to see that Google Maps will soon be bringing us cycling route mapping features as well. Did you know that you can report map issues on Google Maps easily - just right-click on the map and report errors and ommissions (requires being logged in to Google though). We recently reported a number of missing local cycleways on their map system, and found that the Google crew were quite quick in adding these, as long as they were already visible on the sattelite pictures, at least.]
• Te Atatu Road Corridor Improvements: The final detailed design package is currently underway. ACPL is progressively negotiating with affected land owners.
• Cycle Action was strongly involved in this project during the consultation phase, and in achieving a great public response in favour of cycle facilities. We hope that the final detailed design can accommodate the various cycle groups that are likely to use such a key road – which goes through an important residential area and is on a number of school routes, but is also important for faster commuter cyclists wanting to get to the Northwestern Cycleway.

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By MarkR, January 26, 2012

The Waiheke Bus Company has become the first public service bus operator in Auckland to offer bike racks on its buses as a trial and as part of its initiative to help promote cycling as a mode of transport. Waiheke ferry customers can already take their bikes for free on the ferries and now this is extended to the service buses as well. Bike racks have been installed on three separate buses, each capable of carrying 3 bikes each. The racks have been imported from the USA where they have been successfully deployed on public services buses.

The aim is to improve the options for cyclists and many commuters who choose to ride to and from the ferry terminal or who want to explore the island’s many cycle tracks, whilst giving them the flexibility of being able to hop on a bus with their bike in order to venture further, get home after dark when cycling can be hazardous, or in the case of cycling visitors, link up with the 360 Discovery ferry service that calls in at Orapiu Wharf and connects to The Coromandel on a regular basis. The Coromandel shuttle bus service from Hannaford’s Wharf to Coromandel Town now also provides bike rack options meaning cyclists can take their bikes even further.

At the launch at Matiatia today, attended by representatives of Auckland Transport, NZTA, Cycle Action and the Local Board, Fullers CEO Douglas Hudson said “Fullers has been committed to carrying passengers and their bikes on their ferry services for a long time and were awarded for being a cycle friendly business by NZTA at the CAN (Cycling Advocates’ Network)Awards in 2009.

We are very pleased to be able to extend this to the buses on Waiheke Island for the benefit of commuters and tourists who visit the island. This may only be a small step but it has taken a lot of effort to find and import the right racks that are sturdy enough to work effectively on the Waiheke roads. We hope that people will see this as an opportunity to explore more of the island and also connect with the 360 Discovery service that carries passengers from Orapiu at the Eastern end of the island to Coromandel, where the shuttle service from Hannaford’s Wharf to Coromandel town now also has bike racks on board.”

The trial, which will run until the end of Easter, will allow the Fullers owned Waiheke Bus Company to gather data and opinion from users before deciding how to adapt the service and how to develop it further.

Last summer the company worked with Cycle Action Waiheke and Auckland to produce a map of Waiheke cycle touring routes. Publicity about the map has encouraged increasing numbers of cyclists to tour the island, enjoying its cafes, vineyards, beaches and accommodation.

The bike racks are expected to be welcomed by local commuter cyclists and visitors alike. Touring cyclists may be encouraged to ride to the vineyards on the Onetangi Straight or even further afield, rather than stopping at Palm Beach, if they know the bus will help return them and their bike to the ferry or accommodation in Oneroa.

Cycle Action Waiheke supports the trial as an important local transport and tourism initiative for Waiheke. Chair Tony King Turner said “We thank Fullers for taking this step and see it as just the beginning of what could be very exciting developments for cycling on Waiheke. It will also be very important as we work towards our goal of getting Waiheke included in the National Cycle Way program.”

Barbara Cuthbert of Cycle Action Auckland is also impressed with the trial. “..having seen the positive impact that cycling initiatives can have on communities and how it can boost tourism, I am confident that when we look back at this moment in 10 years’ time, we will understand how important this launch and trial is.”

Auckland Transport also strongly supports this initiative and sees it as a good example of the private sector delivering outcomes that encourage integration between cycling and public transport. Such projects link very strongly to the work of Auckland Transport across the region in improving safety for cyclists and encouraging more sustainable travel

The bike racks will be used mostly on the Onetangi bus routes and feedback forms will be available at the Fullers ticket office at Matiatia as well as on the Fullers website.

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By MarkR, June 7, 2011

Cycle Action Auckland’s newsletter is now available to download.

Feature articles include:

- The Cycle Action Road Show

- The Auckland Central Cycle Map

- The Auckland Harbour Bridge Cycle Event

eNews can be viewed by clicking here (PDF 540 KB)

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By Pippa, November 10, 2010

Fullers officially launched their stunning new cycle map on Sunday at the Matiatia wharf before a group of mainland cyclists and members of the Waiheke and Waitemata Local Boards.

The maps are designed to make cycling easier on Waiheke, featuring four trails; the ‘Beach/Wine-Lovers Trail’, ‘Easy Life Loop’, ‘Nature Trail’, ‘Stony Batter Trail’. They offer adventure, gourmet touring, family beach hopping and nature watching, as well as catering for varying skills and levels of fitness.

After the brief launch, Tom Ransom from Cycle Action Waiheke led the group on a guided tour of the Easy Life Loop.

The ride was part of Cycle Action’s Pedal into Summer series of bike rides.

Thank you to Fullers for providing tickets for the day. Bikes always go for free on the ferry.