Press release, immediate
This week, Parliament’s Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee will hear submissions on Jo Clendons petition asking for children up to 14 and accompanying adults to be allowed to cycle on footpaths.
The local government election voting papers have gone out and now it is up to us to use our powerful voice and vote for a more walking friendly place. Walking is the human mode of transport that is much more than just a way to get from one place to the other – and this is how it rates on candidate election platforms.
On Friday Feb 12 we meet with the Minister of Transport Simon Bridges in Auckland. There were 8 in our delegation representing organisation concerned that the footpath should not get crowded out with new vehicles. Just that day NZ Post talked about their new delivery tractors going nation wide.
The meeting was good and one of our focus points was asking the Minister to make the NZTA Pedestrian Planning and Design Guide adopted as a standard.
Following is our briefing paper.
Living Streets Aotearoa executive committee first face to face meeting for 2015.
The attached study on a sample of Wellington walkways was published today in the NZ Medical Journal. It shows that while lighting of street-connecting walkways at night is generally good – there was a quarter of walkways where it was inadequate (ie, it was too dark to see your feet or to see the steps).
In the “Discussion” section of the attached – various options for improving things are outlined, in case the Council wishes to consider these.
Hope this is of interest.
Nick Wilson
A highlight of the Wellington 2014 walking year was this talk from international walk researcher Daniel Sauter. Daniel spoke about the important 4 "I's" of walking - Inspiration, Identity, Infrastructure and Institutional arrangements. He noted the joy of walking and 'being' in a place, were as important in a liveable city as moving through spaces, and had some interesting research to show how we spend our time. He commented that he particularly enjoyed the debate during his presentation - thanks to those attending.
Living Streets Aotearoa is the New Zealand organisation for people on foot, promoting walking-friendly communities. We are a nationwide organisation with local branches and affiliates throughout New Zealand.
We want more people walking and enjoying public spaces be they young or old, fast or slow, whether walking, sitting, commuting, shopping, between appointments, or out on the streets for exercise, for leisure or for pleasure.
