Blog
Dear fellow pedestrians,
Life as we have known it has changed forever. We have long shared our footpaths with the odd cyclist or skateboarder, but the appearance and proliferation of e-scooter machines is a whole new thing.
This new era requires that we change fundamentally our approach to getting around on two legs, and demands a hugely elevated sense of awareness and safety. Care needs to be taken in every area and with almost every step.
Check out this podcast on Access Radio No Labels, as we explore the issues facing pedestrians and our footpaths in 2019. Are we moving forwards to a bright future of safe, pleasant footpaths and pedestrian friendly public spaces, or are we steering in a different direction? What action can we take to support walking, and why is it important. Thomas and Ellen explore some of these important issues about accessibility and better places for us to live.
The Great Harbour Way/ Te Aranui o Pōneke Trust hailed NZTA’s decision to proceed with funding the iconic Hutt Valley-Wellington cycling and walking seaward path, announced by Minister Julie Anne Genter at Point Jerningham.
see more in the attached
Its been a busy 2 weeks here in Auckland
The pedestrianistion of Queen st has been approved as part of the City Centre masterplan - here are the details
Yes we do need to start the journey to a more walkable future, for our health, the planet, the economy and just because walking is fun and social. There are some really fantastic projects internationally that we could take bits from and adapt to what we want in New Zealand - its all about what we want after all. That vision is required from the top nudged along by us. Some of the first steps have already been taken with footpath maintenance funding now available and a revised Government Policy Statement on Transport. We need to see that turned into action on our streets.
The Breakfast Show interviewed President Andy Smith about footpath obstacles and our solutions with the Green 'Cut back the Vegetation' and Yellow 'Dont Park on the Footpath' Flyers.
See the interview here.
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Great Harbour Way Trustee and former Mayor Celia Wade-Brown is delighted the Government will be advancing the missing link in the Great Harbour Way.
“The Great Harbour Way, Te Aranui o Pōneke, is an amazing scenic opportunity for locals and tourists alike, for both recreation and commuting.” says Ms Celia Wade-Brown.
“Fixing the gap between Ngauranga and Petone will also seamlessly connect the capital to the Remutaka Trail. Both Hutt and Wellington City Councils are working on their parts, New Zealand Transport Agency must do their section.”
August 2018
Victoria Walks has released the Footpath Cycling Discussion Paper
Victoria Walks, Council On The Ageing, Vision Australia and others strongly oppose any change to allow footpath cycling.
Hi Living Streets Aotearoa,
Here is a PDF of the Directions story on Pedestrian Safety we talked about a while back when you came to visit.
The readership of Directions has increased recently and the magazine now has a circulation of ABC Audit 643,522 and a readership of AC Neilson 907,000.
The magazine will be distributed to AA Member letterboxes from 4 July.
Kind regards and thanks for your help with this story
Mike Noon
General Manager Motoring Affairs
Please see attachment below
Women and walking in New Zealand
New Zealand women love to walk. At least that is what the data shows. Walking is good for physical and mental health, for getting out as part of the community, and for our planet. However, in the last few months media stories have suggested the opposite. Walking (or wheel-chairing) is the usual way people get around and is part of every trip, so what’s going on?
Submit to Let’s Get Wellington Moving
Let's Get Wellington is a once in a long-time opportunity to improve transport in our city. Please make a submission with our helpful ideas below.
What LGWM are proposing and how it will affect walking
Talking, walking, seeing fall colours and catching up with friends and family - what's not to like about a visit to North America in September?
We started with the grand official opening of the Banff Commonwealth Walkway. It physically links several paths around this Rocky Mountain City. Virtually there is a link to other Commonwealth countries including our own capital where the markers were finished last year. I was moved by the indigenous welcome from Siksika Nation elder Tom Crane Bear.
New Zealand’s first national Walking Summit inspired pedestrian advocates, disability groups, sustainability experts and politicians to propose workable solutions to get New Zealanders walking. An outcome of the Summit was this four point plan to significantly improve the position of pedestrians and walking in New Zealand.
My name is Murray Darroch and since the beginning of the 21st century I have been living in Tawa, Wellington. During the period 1973-1989 I lived in Hataitai at 14 Hepara Street.
Wellington’s major transport initiative -
Progress report from the Let’s Get Wellington Moving project
Ellen Blake
Another step forward for the major Wellington transport project shows some interesting results for pedestrians but will it follow through?
New Zealand’s road toll is too high. On a per capita basis it is double that of the UK, and among the highest in the world - alongside Cambodia, Malaysia, Lithuania and Slovenia.
Download this report from Victoria Walks (Australia) on how we can improve roads to make pedestrians safer.
See section 4 for the list of solutions. These will help all road users.
http://www.victoriawalks.org.au/Safer_Road_Design/
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We have recently released the report Benchmarking Cycling and Walking in Six New Zealand Cities. This report compares Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin for important inputs (e.g. funding, policies, infrastructure) and outputs (e.g. extent of walking and cycling, population health and safety) with regards to active transport. The report and supplementary material are available here: http://sustainablecities.org.nz/resilient-urban-futures/benchmarking/