Cycle
Aware Wellington
13
May 2009
Who is Cycle Aware Wellington?
We are a
voluntary, not-for-profit organisation aimed at improving conditions
for cyclists and encouraging more people to bike more often. We are
the local advocacy group for cyclists who use their bikes for
transport and recreation. Since our inception in 1994, we have worked
constructively with local councils on a wide variety of projects,
including
* Bike to Work Day and other cycling promotion events
* Safety and bike skills training for police officers, council
staff, adults, and children
* Working with the transport sector
to improve safety for cyclists in the Wellington region.
*
Capital City Cycle Guide
More at www.caw.org.nz
Summary
Cycle Aware Wellington appreciates a lot of the points made in
the draft LTCCP, but believes Council should specifically address the
needs of people who cycle, set some performance measures and
targets.
We would like to comment on the following sections
individually:
Land
Transport
We support the goals listed on p115.
It is good to read
that Council is developing a Walking and Cycling Strategy, and we are
keen to offer our assistance and experience.
We encourage Council
to:
- think beyond providing free parking in the city and
consider what makes a place attractive and convenient to people who
choose not to travel by motor vehicle.
- adopt a green transport
hierarchy, with goal of improving quality of life. The hierarchy puts
city-friendly cyclists and pedestrians first. It rewards their low
cost, space efficiency, and zero environmental impact. Trucks are not
last because they perform vital commercial functions in cities. An
important part of the green transportation hierarchy is that trucks
get priority over personal motorcars for scarce curbside parking.
More here:
http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2007/08/the-green-trans.html
This is in line with the Sustainable Development approach
required by local govt legislation.
- develop a strategic
network of cycling routes
- introduce professional cycling skills
training for children and adults. NZTA offers a 75% subsidy for this.
- install more cycle parking
- ensure that every road project
takes account of the needs of people who cycle
- limit speeds on
Akatarawa Rd to 50 km/h as this is a poplular cycling route. A slow
road is a safe road, in this instance. Adjusting road alignment may
have a negative impact on safety, by increasing traffic speeds.
-
upgrade Totara Park Bridge to Hutt River Trail as planned.
-
bring forward to 2009-10 the $95K budget for "Enhance
cycle/walkway linkages strategy".
Once Council has a
strategy it can access NZTA subsidies for infrastructure, cycle
skills training and more education programmes.
We note you
have no Level of Service Objectives and Performance Measure for
people who cycle.
"Council will provide attractive and safe
conditions for pedestrians and cyclists" doesn't specify
relevant measures and so doesn't meet the needs of people who cycle.
We encourage Council to:
- include targets for cycling mode
share, e.g. increase mode share by 1% per year to 2019.
- include
a satisfaction measure, e.g. "95% of residents think Upper Hutt
is a safe and attractive place to cycle."
Economic
Development
We support council's on-going investment in the iconic event, the
Karapoti Classic.
Personal
presentation
We would like to speak to our submission in person. Please
contact me to arrange a time.
Patrick Morgan
CAN -
Cycling Advocates Network
Tel 04-385-4967, mobile 027-563-4733
PO Box 25-424, Wellington www.can.org.nz
/a
voice for Kiwi cyclists/
I presented the submission on 28 May.
Councillors had questions about:
-
bikes mixing with traffic on SH2
-
helmet law deterring cycling
-
safety aspects of a race / ride from Kapiti over Akatarawa Hill
-
Police cycle training