The lack of good bike parking is a universal bugbear! (See Russell Brown’s great blog post yesterday, about the ups and downs of bike-parking while shopping, with great pics from readers of how good other cities have it). Well, there’s good news from Auckland Transport about better bike parking at crucial transport hubs – we asked Scott Winton from AT to tell us more:
New bike shelters have been installed at the Albany Busway Bus Station this week, to be followed by two other locations next month. Glen Innes Train Station and the Half Moon Bay Ferry terminal will also have the sleek new bike shelters installed as part of Auckland Transport’s strategy to make cycling to transport hubs throughout the city easier and more convenient.
They are designed to be attractive, functional, easy to use and good value for money. The modular design allows for additional sections or modules to be added to over time if required.
Each module has four Sheffield-type bike racks so will accommodate up to eight bikes at a time. There will be one module installed at Half Moon Bay, one at Glen Innes Train Station and two at the Albany Bus Station near the entrance to the station. Albany’s parking went in today; the one at Glen Innes is expected to be installed on 8 November, and Half Moon Bay late November.
Funding for the bike shelters comes from Auckland Transport’s Walking and Cycling three-year programme. To maximise the benefits to the transport network and increase the number of cycle journeys, the programme has a focus on improving connections to and within the city centre as well as links to key public transport hubs.
Part of improving links to transport hubs is to provide some shelter and security for the bikes. They also act as a visual reminder for people that cycling to the transport hubs is a good option.
Kathryn King, Auckland Transport Walking and Cycling Manager says: “We want to make travelling to work or school by bike and public transport more attractive and convenient. There is a large residential catchment surrounding these interchanges with the population expected to grow significantly in coming years.”
“To accommodate that growth, Auckland Transport will create an environment conducive to cycling. Installing bike racks where they are needed is part of that strategy.”
— Scott Winton
