Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s transport future is under threat
Central Government has funded less than the region’s expected amount toward future-focused transport modes – walking, cycling and public transport. In fact, they have removed all funding for new cycleways entirely, providing just 1% of our region’s transport allocation to finish off existing cycleway projects in Tāmaki Makaurau.
No funding not only means that cycleway construction will stop, even worse, it also means no planning of future cycling infrastructure can take place. Cycling could simply be left out of the future of our city.
Auckland Council must now decide which planned projects to continue with and in what areas they will backfill central Government’s shortfall. We desperately need our Councillors to represent people on bikes and fight for a resilient and sustainable city by choosing bikes.
Your Councillors can’t make these decisions without hearing from residents – and that means you. Will you help them understand the need for safe cycling infrastructure?
Email your local Councillors – we’ve made it easy!
If you can, send your email by Tuesday 22 October, so Councillors read it before their committee meeting on Thursday 24 October. We’ve provided a simple cheat sheet and an example letter to help you email your Councillor. You can do this in your own time, or join us for an online group letter-writing session:
Protecting Our Bike-friendly Transport Future Together
Thursday, October 18 · 7:30 – 8:30pm.
How to do it
Who do I address/send my letter to?
We recommend sending it to the Councillor of your local Ward, the Auckland Transport Board and your local community board.
-> Find the email address for your local Councillor here.
-> Find the email address for your local board here.
Key points you could include in your letter
- A safer cycling network in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is really important to me and my community because …
- I am really excited to see Auckland Council commit to XYZ programmes in my area to help me and my community ride bikes in safety. (See list of cycling programmes planned for the Auckland region below)
- It is essential that Auckland Council and Auckland Transport continue to fund safer cycling infrastructure into the future across all stages of programme development. This includes identifying, investigating and implementing new cycling infrastructure to continue the great work you’ve already done.
List of cycling programmes planned for the Auckland region
Programmes with confirmed national funding
- Cycleways Programme (Lower Cost) ~ Māngere East & Manukau
- Cycling for Climate Action
- Albany Highway
- Kelston-New Lynn
- Manurewa
- Great North Road Improvement
- Urban Cycleway Projects
- Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive (Section 4)
Other programmes
- Cycleways Programme (Lower Cost)
- Cycling for Climate Action
- Meadowbank to Kohimarama Connectivity Project
- Māngere West Cycleway
- Supporting Growth (Active Mode Corridor)
- Walking for Climate Action – Manurewa
- First and Final Leg Programme
- Safer Speeds programme
- Road Safety Promotion programme (includes cycle skills)
Other resources
A general guide on writing to your elected representative (PDF).
Example email
| Email address | john.watson@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz (Albany Ward Councillor) |
| Subject | Please continue investing in cycling infrastructure in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland |
| First paragraph: Get to the point about why you are writing. Maybe briefly congratulate them on any recent achievements. | I am writing to ask you to stand by the funding commitments Auckland Council has made to invest in bike infrastructure programmes and continue investing substantially in bike infrastructure programmes going forward given the central government funding cuts. |
| Body of email: Explain why they should support the project and how it would improve your life, and the lives of those around you. Personal stories are powerful. | This is an issue I really care about because biking is how I get around to work and activities, and how I explore the beautiful city I call home. I ride a bike because there’s no other transport option that gets me from A to B efficiently and leaves me feeling happier and healthier. As a global citizen, I also feel a strong responsibility to reduce my carbon footprint and biking is one of the ways I can do this. My safety on a bike is only ever guaranteed when I am riding on separated cycleways away from the traffic. Even though I am a confident rider and will ride on the road when I have to, I know too many people who have been killed or injured by drivers through no fault of their own. Everyone who wants to ride a bike for getting around or for recreation should be able to do so without these risks. For my work, I ride across the whole city so all the cycling programmes the Council has committed to are important to me, but particularly the Great North Road Improvement, and the CATTR cycling programme which includes new separated cycleways near Pāremoremo where I live, in Hobsonville, Albany and other parts of the North Shore. As a cycle skills instructor I have seen the many benefits cycle skills training can have for children and adults. Stronger cycle skills gives people the confidence to ride further and more often, more safely so continuing to invest in the Road Safety Promotion programme is also essential. |
| Final paragraph: Respectfully state again what action you would like them to take and offer support if you want to. If you have the energy, you could look up the area’s recent Local Board plan, Council plans, and / or policy and remind them of how the project could help give effect to them | I strongly urge you as my elected representative on the local council to stand by the funding commitments Auckland Council has made to invest in bike infrastructure programmes and to continue investing substantially in bike infrastructure programmes going forward given the central government funding cuts. |
| Your chosen sign-off and name. | Many thanks. Phoebe Balle, Pāremoremo resident |
