1.5 million New Zealanders ride bikes, but less than 0.5 percent of the transport budget goes on cycling.
We are missing out on compelling benefits for the whole community:
- better health
- cheap transport
- less traffic congestion
- prosperous business
- safer streets
- cleaner air
- popular
- fun
We need protected cycle lanes on busy roads, safer speeds, and better training for drivers and those on bikes.
When more people cycle more often, we all win.
Sources: Ministry of Transport, CAN
Have your say on the draft GPS
From MoT: On 15 June the Minister of Transport, Hon Gerry Brownlee, released the draft Government Policy Statement on land transport 2015/16 to 2024/25 (the draft GPS 2015) for formal engagement.
The draft GPS 2015 sets out the priorities and funding levels for land transport. To achieve this, it outlines national land transport objectives and investment results, as well as the Government's investment strategy.
We consider that your organisation is likely to be interested in the content of the draft GPS. As such, we would like to draw your attention to this opportunity to provide formal feedback.
How to provide feedback
The period for formal engagement runs until 5pm, Monday 11 August 2014, after which a final GPS will be prepared for discussion by Cabinet.
The draft GPS, background information, and details of how to provide feedback, are on the Ministry of Transport's website - www.transport.govt.nz/gps
You can also provide feedback or raise any questions directly with our GPS project team.
If you have any questions, or would like to arrange a time to speak with the project team, please email gps.2015@transport.govt.nz.
Resources
Here's useful analysis from Matt at Transport Blog
and here's CAN's submission guide
Comments
Living Streets needed not roading corridors of death
Living Streets Aotearoa Press Release
Living Streets needed not roading corridors of death
Pedestrian advocacy group, Living Streets Aotearoa, is calling for a more sensible approach to transport than that represented by the Government Policy Statement issued on Monday.
Living Streets Aotearoa President, Andy Smith, says the GPS simply continues the obsession this government has with multi-lane highways and motorways instead of changing the balance to put healthier, happier, cleaner, more economically-rational active and public modes of transport first.
"The increase in walking, cylcing and public trasnport use that would result from higher investment in those modes would achieve the government's objective of freeing up road space for freight and business vehicles without requiring the never-ending massive capital and operational expenditure to expand, renew and maintain more roads."
"The next generation is choosing smarter ways to conduct their lives than to spend hours driving and we need to ensure the roading environment is one that is safe for them to get about by walking and cycling and by taking the bus or train."
"The obvious place to start is near schools and other busy places like shopping precincts, sportsfields and hospitals using variable or permanent lower speed limits. International best practice is for speeds to not exceed 30km/h near these locations. The Government is to be commended for the effort it has put into its Safer Journeys Strategy but now it needs to make bolder moves to create a more considerate driving culture in NZ."
"Lower speed limits in certain places is the most obvious way to do so. If people feel less endangered as pedestrians and cyclists, they'll be more likely to walk and cycle. That will pay dividends through the health budget as well as well as our transport budget. It's a great shame the GPS has put so little to the modes of transport that should be getting the lions share of funding."
ENDS
more resources
Simon Barnard of Cycling in Christchurch fame has put together a great blog post on the GPS and the issues. Research and experience of other cities suggest that the funding applications mean that our transport system will fall well short of what the GPS says it is aiming at.