Voice your support for the Auckland Harbour
Bridge walkway and cycle way!.. .
We believe that the walk/cycle way on
the Harbour
Bridge
would be the corner
stone project for improved walking and cycling in the Auckland
region, similar to
Britomart being the corner stone project for the revival of Auckland
’s once dreadful
rail passenger service.
Auckland City
Council, North Shore City Council, ARC, ARTA & NZTA are overseeing a study into the Harbour Bridge walk/cycle
way. Unfortunately the final study appears to have significant
errors and omisions - read
about it here.
Learn about the support for the
walk/cycleway from the Auckland public and Councils.
Here's
what NZTA (previously known asTransit) have to say about providing the
walk/cycle way and how it can be funded.
Here are diagrams of how a
cost effective walk/cycle way could be implemented by 2011.
Isn't
it time we were able to walk or cycle over the Auckland Harbour Bridge? You can over
the Sydney Harbour Bridge, so why not in
Auckland?
Want to help? Contact Bevan if you'd like to get more involved.
Questions? Have a look at our 'Frequently
Asked Questions'.
Here's the latest as our campaign
proceeds... May'10: Bridge-path campaigners win developer's backing Campaigners
for a tolled pedestrian and cycle path across Auckland Harbour Bridge
have attracted a leading coastal development company to build and
operate it as a joint venture.
Read more in the Herald article.Jan'10: Iconic Design sought for Auckland Harbour Bridge's Pathway Prominent
Auckland architects, Copeland Associates, have been commissioned to
create an iconic design for the Pathway proposed for the Auckland
Harbour Bridge and Aucklanders are being invited to have their say.
GetAcross
spokesperson Bevan Woodward says “Following NZTA’s agreement to
the feasibility of the Pathway on the city-side of the Auckland
Harbour Bridge, the concept design work can commence.
We’re
after an iconic design with the ‘wow!’ factor. We want to create
a top 10 tourist attraction for the Auckland region and an asset all
Aucklanders will be proud of.”
Hence
we’re inviting Aucklanders to have their say on the Pathway’s
design. They can do this by completing the online survey at
www.getacross.org.nz.
May'09: It's
the Bridge's 50th birthday, so what better way to celebrate than to
GetAcross? It's all on for Sunday 24 May. Click here for details.
May'08: We presented to the Transit Board
in Wellington and got a very
good response.
February'08: The team working on the
additional Waitemata Harbour Crossing have agreed to look at the options
for the walkway/cycleway over the Harbour Bridge as advised by Transit
on Feb 27...
"The Implementation Executive has agreed to jointly manage a study to look at the options to provide walking
and cycling links across the harbour. This study will include but not be limited to the option presented by CAA.
The study will assess identified options in terms of:
1) The expected demand and utilisation of the crossing option
2) The connectivity to the networks on either side of the harbour
3) The impact of each option on the operation of the bridge and other parts of the network
4) The cost of the option
The IE are currently agreeing on a proposed brief and hope to have it signed off by the end of this week and will
look to appoint consultants once the scope and the terms of reference have been finalised."
December'07: Jon Bridges was on Friday's National Radio 'Panel
Discussion' and gave a very good overview of the walkway/cycleway
situation, which included describing our Harbour Bridge as "an
embarrassment".
November'07: We're putting together a campaign team for the
project as we believe there is a distinct window of opportunity over the
few months to get the walkway/cycleway approved, given the requirement
for Transit to start the clip-on strengthening project in mid 2008.
October'07: The story hits front page of
NZ Herald, and Rick van
Barneveld, CEO of Transit does his bit to undermine the importance of
the project by
questioning "if that is a prioritry for Auckland". It
seems that he would rather stick to building motorways for
Auckland and ignore rising oil prices, climate change, the
health impacts, and grave risk to the economy, continue with a car dependent
transport system.
June'07: Slowly but surely seems to be the theme
here. Transit have received the final design and costing report
which shows a cycle way and walk way are all do-able. It now goes
Transit's management team for approval before going to the Transit Board
later this year. All going well, construction could start next year!
Feb'07: Transit have completed their feasibility
study and it looks promising. A final design and cost project has
been commissioned and this is due by June'07
June'05:
Transit tries to backpedal on bridge cycleway plans- see Herald
article.
August'04: Government has ordered a feasibility study to be carried out for a
cycle/walkway on the bridge- see Herald
article.
July'04: Action
on Auckland Harbour Bridge cycle access
When local cyclist Graeme Knowles got serious about
wanting a cycle and walk way over Auckland's Harbour Bridge he never
thought it would see him called to the Beehive.
In March 2003, Northcote MP Ann Hartley announced the
beginning of the 'Bike-n'-Hike' campaign and Mr Knowles initiated a
6,000 signature petition which has led to a request for a submission to
be made this week to a Parliamentary Select Committee.
On 29 July 2004, Mr Knowles and a contingent from Cycle
Action Auckland presented their case to Parliament for a feasibility
study into a cycle and walk way over Auckland's Harbour Bridge. They
were supported by a wide range of Auckland community institutions and
councils, including North Shore City Council, Auckland Regional Council
and AUT.
"We are seeking a feasibility study to be carried out,
with collaboration and cooperation between those parties concerned.
This shouldn't be a huge ask, but given that it's a vital step we need
to make it happen as it hasn't happened yet." With a hint of
anticipation, Mr Knowles says, "This is an exciting time and it could
open up mode-of-transport opportunities that simply have never existed
in Auckland before."
When the bridge was first planned in the 1950s a cycle
and walk way was included but cost-cutting saw it removed. "Our bridge
is so significant yet it lacks public walking and cycling access - what
sort of message does that send?" Mr Knowles says "Because cycling and
walking are not permitted on the Auckland Harbour Bridge this has
effectively turned Auckland into a car dependant region and recent
upgrades of the public transport network struggle to deal with the
varied destinations sought."
Auckland needs to find new alternatives to our reliance
on cars, and Aucklanders need to do some exercise as five times as many
people die prematurely from inactivity, than from car crashes.
Chairperson Sally McAra says Cycle Action Auckland is
keen to be involved and to assist with design and access issues. CAA
predict a significant rise in cycling numbers should the project
proceed, especially if you consider our need to reduce air pollution
and get people out exercising.
"Future events such as the proposed hosting of the V8
car race will require a huge reduction in car transport, and
alternatives provided, so we see this proposal as both logical and
timely."
FAQs about the proposed Auckland Harbour Bridge cycle/walkway here.
For further info contact:
Graeme Knowles, Deputy Chair, Cycle Action Auckland, tel 021-732 442; email shiralee@xtra.co.nz
News articles:
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