One of the projects to get funding from the government’s Urban Cycleway Funding announcement is to improve cycling links to the Glen Innes train station. Unlike other projects from the UCF the project isn’t a set route but seems to be intended to create a network of routes linking not only the train station but also the town centre, schools and employment areas.

Auckland urbancycleways map 2015-18

Auckland Transport are now asking the public just what they think needs to be done to make cycling in Glen Innes better. This is quite different to the usual consultation done where they asking about some pre-prepared plans.

Glen Innes is set for a major upgrade with improvements planned for people getting around on bike and the local community is being asked what should be done.

Auckland Transport will be improving cycling links to the Glen Innes train station but also wants to know what else can be done in the area for people on bikes says Auckland Transport’s Walking and Cycling manager, Kathryn King.

“Glen Innes and the surrounding area will be developing in the coming years. We are planning for that growth by encouraging people to leave the car at home and instead walk, cycle or use public transport. Getting people walking and cycling to public transport connections is a key priority.  The people who live here know it best, so we are asking them to tell us what needs improving to get them on their bikes,” she says.

The local community is being asked to identify routes they would like to see improved for cycling. That will include routes to the train station but also how access can be improved to the town centre, parks, community facilities and the future Glen Innes to Tamaki shared path. This shared path, which starts at Merton Rd and follows the rail line all the way to Tamaki Drive, will connect communities and provide a direct route into the city for people on bikes.

People are also being asked if there are any particular problems for people cycling in the area that they would like to see addressed.

“We want to make it easier to cycle to the train station so people can get to where they want to go for work or study. That means improvements to the road corridor, but we are also looking at other improvements like bike parking,” adds Ms King.

The project is part of a $200 million, three year programme of cycle projects in Auckland to be delivered by AT, Auckland Council and the NZ Transport Agency. To get more people cycling and to reduce the number single occupancy vehicles on the road, the partners will focus on cycle projects to, and within the city centre, as well as links to major transport interchanges.

The investment is a joint initiative between Central and Local Government through the Urban Cycleways Programme.

For more details on the project or to send feedback online go to the project webpage AT.govt.nz Search: Glen Innes cycle improvements

The method of consultation is also new. AT have developed a mapping tool allowing people to drop a pin on a map and add a comment about it rather than having to try and explain details in a text box like we’ve had to in the past. This is a good step from AT. You do have to have to register to give feedback but you can do so using your twitter profile (if you have one).

Glen Innes Consultation Map
AT’s new cycle consultation tool

The consultation is open until Friday 6 November

Share this

13 comments

  1. A lot of the roads around GI are generally wide and pretty safe to cycle on. The roundabouts (e.g at the intersection of St Johns rd/ College rd); T junction intersections (e.g. Line rd/ West Tamaki rd) and occasional pinch point (e.g under the train tunnel leading to the roundabout on Apriana rd/ Merton rd intersection) are a nightmare for young/inexperienced cyclists who are not confident in the face of the typically aggressive Auckland car driver.

    If you are making a submission, please consider bringing these and any other potential accident spots to the attention of AT.

    Go GI!

  2. Do the ‘existing cycleways’ on the top map actually exist? Are there cycle ways down Mt Eden Road, Dominion Road and Sandringham road?

    1. If I’m not mistaken a bus lane counts as a “completed” part of the cycleway.

      I don’t know why. Especially since most bus lanes turn into parking lanes during most hours of the day.

      1. Yeah what a joke. It’s like someone at ATs bonus is linked to how many metres of cycle lane exist so instead of building some they just claim whatever they can as cycle lane.

        1. I understand that AT is currently reviewing that map, and that as a starter, narrow bus lanes (less than 4.2m wide) are intended to be removed from the “existing” infra map. Sadly, taking such things off planning maps (which were cobbled together by the previous pre-Super City Council’s “complete” maps) seems even harder some days than putting real facilities on them.

  3. The requirement to register to provide feedback has now been removed. I would encourage as much people as possible to provide feedback so that AT continue to approach consultation in this way.

  4. That looks like a good consultation process. Considering New Lynn Station has the same bubble around it on the map (links to public transport), I wonder if AT are likely to follow the same consultation process for New Lynn. I would be very interested in that.

    1. In some ways I see this as get all the consultation done now so they can focus on getting stuff built. Work starts next week on Glen Innes to Tamaki Dr project and I we’ll hear about Quay St soon which I understand will be built quickly.

  5. If you really want to improve cycling around GI, build a decent cycle connection to Pakuranga. A clip-on to the Panmure Bridge or a new light-rail/cycle/footpath bridge from Queens Rd to Kerswill Place would be appropriate.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *