This post is on behalf of Leroy from Generation Zero. This campaign is supported by Greater Auckland and Bike Auckland.

Linear Park is an incredible idea. It’s a park/walkway/cycleway running from Victoria Park to Albert Park. It would open up a grey, underused part of the city to people, and connect our CBD’s green spaces. It’s a place for the skyrocketing number of inner city residents and people in town to use for study, work, and fun. Our city center is transitioning from a place for cars and little else to a place for people. Linear Park is leading that change. It’s very very cool.

The best part is it’s not just a dream. It’s already part of the plan for the center city. The Mayor, the head of the council planning committee, and other councillors are all big supporters of it. All going well, within a few years Linear Park will be a reality.

BUT those plans are in turmoil thanks to Auckland Transport and the University of Auckland.

From this very good Greater Auckland post:

“Just days after the council made it abundantly clear that they supported the Victoria St Linear Park and wanted the agreed City Centre Master Plan implemented, AT have launched consultation for the Midtown bus route, which if they go with their preferred option, openly defies the council by preventing the Linear Park from being possible.”

The notes for the preferred option state: “This route will make it difficult to reduce the number of lanes on Victoria Street, as part of a planned future upgrade of Victoria Street.” That future upgrade would be the Linear Park, and by difficult they mean impossible.

The reasons behind their proposal are confusing.

Greater Auckland uncovered documents showing that the University of Auckland have been lobbying in secret against Linear Park. They’re against any plan that would send buses past their new science building.

There is another option though! What AT call Option Two and what we are calling ‘The Route That Would Save Linear Park’. This option also happens to provide a quicker, more direct route for students at both the University of Auckland and AUT. That’s why it’s supported by Generation Zero, Bike Auckland, and Greater Auckland.

So we have fired up our quick submit machine again. In less than a minute you can show AT what kind of city Aucklanders want.

We need to send a clear message that Linear Park is not something we should have to sacrifice simply because the University of Auckland are whispering in AT’s ear. This park is a vital step in the right direction in making Auckland a city for people, and we need to make our message heard loud and clear. I need your help to get the message out. Submit here, and then share it with your friends and family to spread the message as far as you can. Our submission form here will send a message straight to Auckland Transport to ensure they get the message that we need to pick Option 2 and save the Linear Park.







I need your help to get the message out. Submit here, and then share it with your friends and family to spread the message as far as you can. To help explain the issue we have made some simple graphics and a video – you can share these too to help people understand the issue quickly and easily.

Note submissions close on Sunday, so get yours in soon. The official AT submission page is available here if you prefer to use this instead.

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