Submissions for feedback on the disastrous Draft Government Policy Statement on Transport close at noon (12.00pm), Tuesday 2 April 2024 – the day after Easter Monday. There is much to dislike about this proposal. In short, it signals a drastic turn away from active and public transport and rail, and a frenzy of road building - exactly the kind of infrastructure that we apparently can’t even afford to keep well maintained!CAN supports Transport For All, a new coalition of transport and climate advocacy groups, including: All Aboard Aotearoa, Climate Club, Free Fares, Generation Zero, Public Transport Forum New Zealand, The Future Is Rail / Save Our Trains, and Women in Urbanism.We recommend you answer the GPS questionnaire based on their helpful guide. Some of the Ministry's questions about the GPS are leading and / or misleading, so care is required!Get started here:...
News: March 2024
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Statement on Reductions in Government Expenditure on Cyclingfrom Doctors for Active, Safe TransportEvery day as a doctor I see the urgent health need that is putting intense and increasing pressure on ourhealth system. It’s cancer, it’s heart disease, it’s diabetes and all their awful complications.Unless we do much more to keep people well we will be overwhelmed.There is a huge amount of evidence that one of the very best ways to keep people well is get morepeople cycling and walking.And it’s also comparatively very cheap. Hospitals are really, really expensive.Putting the brakes on cycling and walking spending is incredibly short sighted if you’re in any wayconcerned about the health of your people or the ever widening cracks in our health system.This is before you consider the benefits of cycling for decongesting our very clogged roads and for ourclimate.Dr David...
Mar
Let's save public transport, walking and cycling.Join us at Parliament at 5-6 pm on Tuesday 19 March to demand transport for life. The Government's draft transport plan locks us into car dependency. That means more traffic jams, higher costs, pollution, and more traffic deaths. You can't build your way out of congestion.We deserve modern transport that makes it easy and affordable to get around by walking, cycling, public transport, and driving. Transport that keeps people safe, supports wellbeing, and doesn't cost the earth.We'll have brief speeches at 5:30pm, with people from transport, health, urbanism, and climate groups:Save Our Trains CampaignTim Jones, President, NZ Living Streets Assoc Professor Caroline Shaw, University of Otago Patrick Geddes, 350 Aotearoa Visual aids: children's bikes, bikes with child seats, push chairs, shoes, school bags, kick scooters,...
Mar
Each region of New Zealand is required to maintain a 10-year transport plan, called the Regional Land Transport Plan or RLTP. These cover all aspects of transport planning and spending – walking, cycling, public transport – and oh yes, road construction and maintencance (nearly forgot).Most councils undertake a lot of public engagement and consulting, although the way they do this varies around the country. In one extreme, you’re just dumped into a baffling 100+ page document and have to do your best; in the other, there’s a friendly questionaire with simple options to choose from – but these options might not be a true reflection of what is at stake. It’s all a bit of a minefield.Things are even more confusing this year as the Government has just released a draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on transport, with submissions due by 12pm on 2 April 2024. The RLTPs have to be...
Mar
Cycling advocates are deeply concerned about the Government's draft transport plans, released today. "Instead of getting New Zealand back on track, they are taking us on a road to nowhere," said Cycling Action Network spokesman, Patrick Morgan.“Cutting investment in cycling, walking and public transport is unacceptable. That would cost lives, damage health, deepen the climate crisis, and harm our communities.” "It is a truth universally acknowledged that you can't build you way out of congestion. Wasting billions on highways means that urgently needed transport projects which deliver safety, emission cuts, and better transport choices, are delayed or cancelled." "At a time when most countries are rapidly moving to improve public transport, walking, and cycling, it's embarrassing for New Zealand to deepen our dependence on motor vehicles. The Government's wrong-headed transport plans are...