new auckland

Why cycling paths are taking over

Auckland Transport's push for more cycle and walkways attracts constant complaints the council organisation is pandering to the few. But new figures not only back up AT's plans, they show the moaners are now in the minority.

The cycling community reminds itself not to read the comments whenever there is a story about ratepayer money being spent on new cycleways. Among the inevitable complaints - bike riders don't pay rego or ACC levies for using roads; they're their own worst enemies in causing accidents; they're 'sandal-wearing hippies getting the gold treatment for free'; why do we always have to please the few over the many; Auckland Transport just wants to ban cars.

When the Government last week announced a $390 million fund for walking and cycling projects around the country over the next three years, it was quickly and roundly denounced by the Taxpayers' Union as a "stunning spend-up" for the "urban lycra elite". The group was particularly scathing about $67 million going to Auckland's SkyPath, saying a "hard-working taxpayers from Kaitaia to Invercargill are footing the bill for Phil Goff's pet project".

Obviously cyclists saw it differently, lauding SkyPath as a fantastic addition to the city's cycling network, a boon for bikes, walkers, locals and tourists alike. It's been on the council's horizon for more than a decade - well before Goff was the Mayor. But he is pushing the drive for Aucklanders to get out of their cars.

In Auckland Transport's Statement of Intent to the Council, Chair Dr Lester Levy pointed out the city's growing congestion, housing crisis and pressures on the environment can all be sheeted back to unprecedented population growth - in four years the equivalent of a city the size of Hamilton has moved in. Getting to grips with problems choking Auckland is urgent, Levy said, and compounding the issue is a serious legacy infrastructure deficit, the incredibly slow pace of truly transformational transport changes, and car dependancy.

Right at the top of AT's priority list, and aligned with that of the Council, is improved public and "active" transport - cycling and walking. Aucklanders are starting to catch on, with leaps in public transport use every year, but it's still like trying to turn around a runaway bus. Levy says new facilities are being commissioned or opened on an almost fortnightly basis.

Auckland University architecture and planning expert Dr Stephen Knight-Lenihan says there has been a lot of anecdotal evidence from overseas of awkwardness where there's been transformation to cycling cities, especially where infrastructure has been retro-fitted. He points to Portland, now a very friendly US cycling city, where there was a lot of negative feeling during the transition - stories of cyclists getting harassed by angry people. There was a recent incident in Auckland, on the north-western cycleway, of attempted sabotage on the path, but Knight-Lenihan says that was unusual. "You do get people being grumpy and doing something stupid," he says.

The biking GoPro revolution, where cyclists share footage of their near-misses on social media, may have contributed to the perception there is more anger out there than there really is. With more people sharing the road there will be more incidents, and Knight-Lenihan says it cuts both ways - "cyclists get annoyed because they realise life on the streets is not easy and they get grumpy as well."

Bike Auckland's Barbara Cuthbert says things used to be a lot worse 10 years ago. "MAMILS (middle aged men in lycra) attract agro - riding three abreast - full of testosterone."

"The thing about Auckland is, if you are in a car you hate cyclists, and if you're on a bike you hate cars. But last year 45,000 new riders took to bikes and there's a changing demeanour towards cycling. There's been a 44 percent increase in use of the State Highway 16 cycleway .... e-bikes have transformed the city ... and all ages are having a go."

Cuthbert says cyclists are grateful for any infrastructure, particularly if it separates them from traffic, but believes road behaviour is improving - on both sides.

AT's manager of walking, cycling and road safety, Kathryn King, says views such as that of the Taxpayers' Union now form small proportions. Those who don't support infrastructure being built for cyclists is at 8 percent. AT has yearly independent research done on the sector by TRA and this year found not only the usual increase in the proportion of Aucklanders cycling (by 3 percent on last year, or 52,800 new cyclists - up to over half a million) but a decrease in the numbers of people who view cycling negatively, to 25 percent.

Almost half of Aucklanders now view cycling positively. (Neutrals or didn't knows made up the rest.) Sixty percent would ride if they felt safer. "Cyclists are definitely disproportionately involved in collisions," says King.

Of those who are anti-cycling, a genuine concern for the safety of those on bikes is at the heart of their attitudes. The survey found those who didn't support cycleways were concerned with the behaviour of either cyclists or drivers; thought cyclists were a hazard to other road users; were concerned about infrastructure or were just apathetic.

Encouraging people to get on their bikes has been better routes, more cycle parking, a realisation that it gives a more constant travel time than sitting in traffic, a desire to help reduce congestion and to avoid parking hassles.

King refutes the suggestion that cyclists "get a free ride" while motorists have to pay road taxes. "Our funding comes from Auckland Council and the Transport Agency so it's a mix of taxes and rates. Most people pay taxes and rates - so regardless of how you travel you have paid for the investment being made. We want to make sure we are delivering value for the money invested. The infrastructure we are building delivers more benefits than it costs.

"There's a four dollar benefit for every dollar spent on cycling infrastructure," says King. "The benefits come from health improvements and safety - reducing the social cost of crashes. We know the investment in active modes of travel - walking and cycling - really brings benefits for Auckland and we know most people support that investment."

AT also knows from looking at cities with longer cycling histories than Auckland that key to its success is safety, and speed reduction - to "survivable speeds". That is also important in a city which as seen a staggering 78 percent increase in death and serious injury from traffic accidents in the last five years - compared to a 25 percent rise in the rest of the country.

The statistic is hard to believe but King says it comes from police, and AT has been working on addressing the factors contributing to it. "There has been an increase in riskier behaviours - drinking, distracted driving and so forth. There's not great data on cellphone use but absolutely it is one of the factors. That's why AT's investment in road safety is so signifiant. We have a general understanding of the problem now."

King says the fact that the policies of Auckland Council and the Government now line up, helps.

"I think we've under-invested for quite some time in road safety. We have a bit of making up to do."