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• Overview
• Transit's commitment
• Outcomes
• Transit's Walking, Cycling and Motorcycling Champions
• Examples of Transit Projects

Overview

State highways are an essential part of New Zealand's transport network, connecting and binding communities and facilitating economic development. Cycling and walking are common modes of travel for many New Zealanders who appreciate the health, financial and environmental benefits of these low-impact modes. Given the benefits, the government is keen to encourage more people to cycle and walk on a regular basis.

Cycle lane on SH1 Taupo

Transit New Zealand's statutory objective is to 'operate the state highway system in a way that contributes to an integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable land transport system'. In fulfilling this objective it must consider funding priorities when making decisions on all state highway maintenance and improvements including walking and cycling facilities. Transit also has a responsibility to maintain the functionality state highways provide, particularly to enable the efficient movement of people and goods. These objectives can pose challenges to creating a safe and supportive environment for pedestrians and cyclists (including powered cycles) and mobility devices. This policy provides a framework for meeting these challenges.

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Transit's commitment

Transit is committed to providing and maintaining appropriate, safe, and cost-effective walking and cycling facilities and traffic information and management techniques aimed at cyclists and pedestrians on state highways, especially where specific safety concerns exist and/or where state highways form part of the most appropriate route for these modes of travel.

Transit will fulfil this commitment by:

• Working with local and regional authorities, Land Transport New Zealand, other transport providers and representatives of cyclists, pedestrians and the disability sector to facilitate an integrated and affordable network approach to planning, providing and maintaining walking and cycling facilities, including cycling and walking on and across state highways where appropriate.
• Addressing walking and cycling requirements in its strategic transport planning, in its establishment of funding priorities, in its involvement in local and regional land use planning and at the outset of developing all new state highway improvement projects.

SH1 Wellington Inner City Bypass

• Seeking consistency between local and regional cycling strategies, the relevant provisions of regional land transport strategies and Transit's 10-year State Highway Forecast.
• Delivering facilities for cyclists and pedestrians that represent engineering best practice, high quality urban design and value for money.
• Recognising the particular requirements of different types of journeys such as commuting, school travel, short urban trips, recreational, tourist and racing. Recognising also that cyclists and pedestrians need to travel both along and across state highways.
• Gathering data on the numbers of cyclists and pedestrians using the state highway network to enable targeted treatments to be implemented.
• Maintaining an active network of walking and cycling champions in all Transit regional offices to consult with cycling and walking stakeholders and ensure the needs of these road users are addressed.

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Outcomes

How Transit caters for cyclists and pedestrians in a particular location depends on:

• the surrounding land use - existing and planned;
• the category of state highway;
• the existing safety record;
• whether the state highway is existing or proposed;
• the numbers and specific needs of cyclists and pedestrians;
• available and prioritised funding; and
• the approach taken by the relevant local authorities.

Keith Hay Park pedestrian bridge

The Planning Policy Manual includes this policy statement and also includes a matrix indicating of the types of treatments that may be applied in different situations. The matrix reflects the approach in Transit's National State Highway Strategy of categorising state highways by their primary purpose and the surrounding environment and adopting a context-sensitive management style.

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Transit's Walking, Cycling and Motorcycling Champions

Auckland Region - Warwick Mason, Traffic Engineer, Ph 09-3682026

Waikato/BoP - Nigel D'Ath, Capital Projects Manager, Ph 07-9035136

Hawkes Bay/Gisborne - Ken Holst, Network Engineer, 06-8351750

Wanganui/Taranaki/Manawatu - Maurice Mildenhall, Area Engineer, Ph 06-3454173

Wellington/Marlborough - Mark Edwards, Network Engineer, Ph 04-8012580

Canterbury/West Coast - Tony Spowart, Regional Traffic and Safety Manager, Ph 03- 3664455

Otago/Southland - Roy Johnston, Network and Safety Engineer, Ph 03-4778527

 

Roles and Responsibilities of Transit New Zealand Cycling, Walking and Motorcycle Champions

Specific Roles for the Champions include:

1. Be the first point of contact for any cycling, walking and motorcycling issues from other Transit staff, consultants, advocates, other agencies or the public;
2. Hold and attend where appropriate meetings with cycling, walking and motorcycle advocates and representatives of cycling, walking and motorcycling organisations;
3. Ensure cyclists, and pedestrians needs have been considered in all projects where appropriate
4. Where possible, provide local cycling and walking groups with a chance for feedback on proposed projects (cycling/walking or otherwise) or draft strategies/studies;
5. Raise and identify cycling and walking issues that should be reviewed at national policy level

   Breakwater Cycleway

   within Transit New Zealand;
6. Provide guidance on cycling and walking issues to other Transit New Zealand staff;
7. Liaise with local council cycling/walking officers/champions and other relevant agencies in the region (e.g. road safety co-ordinators, public health agencies and regional councils);
8. Monitor State Highway accident data for the region in conjunction with LTSA, including unreported data where possible (e.g. via local council reporting schemes);
9. Provide feedback to all requests and concerns regarding cycling, walking and motorcycling issues;
10. Attend appropriate cycling, walking and motorcycling related conferences, training courses and seminars.

Cycling, walking and motorcycling groups and advocates will:

1. Publicise details of Transit New Zealand Champions to their members;
2. Keep Transit New Zealand informed of any changes to local/national contact details;
3. Raise local state highway cycling, walking and motorcycling issues in the first instance with the Transit New Zealand Cycling, Walking and Motorcycling Champion;
4. Maintain regular contact and meet with Transit New Zealand Cycling, Walking and Motorcycling Champions;
5. Provide prompt feedback and advice to Transit New Zealand Champions when requested;
6. Provide copies of appropriate magazines, newsletters etc, e.g. ChainLinks and eCAN to Transit New Zealand Champions.

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Examples of Transit Projects

Basin Reserve Pedestrian and Cycle Crossing Facilities
(Winner of the Avanti Cycle Award for Best Cycle Facility Project)

This project changed pedestrian crossings to traffic signals with separate cycle phases and call buttons. This enables cyclists to travel from the Eastern Suburbs (Adelaide Rd) around the Basin Reserve and into the CBD without having to negotiate crossing three lanes of traffic. It has also improved safety for pedestrians - especially school children - crossing the three traffic lanes.

Basin Reserve

Waitangi Stream Bridge Cycleway (Clip-on)

The Waitangi Stream Bridge is a long narrow bridge that poses particular safety issues for cyclists. It is also a key link in the network of cycling facilities in the Napier area. Transit is currently letting a contract for the construction of a clip-on cycleway.

Waitangi Stream Bridge Cycleway

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