Our letter to Auckland Transport and Auckland Council, October 1st, 2024
We write on behalf of Women in Urbanism Aotearoa (WiU), a 2,000+ strong organisation of women in the urban planning professions. Our kaupapa focuses on designing cities with women, marginalised people and children in mind. Our goal is to make sure our cities are safe and supportive places for everyone to thrive.
WiU are writing to you to express our support for continued funding of future cycleway and related safety projects across Auckland including, but not limited to: Road Safety Promotion programme, cyle skills, First and Last Leg Programme, Māngere West Cycleway, Supporting Growth Active Modes Corridor, Walking for Climate Action Manurewa, Safer Speeds, and Meadowbank to Kohimarama Connectivity Project.
We understand that there are significant funding shortfalls that were expected from the central government, which leaves all future cycling projects across Auckland in jeopardy over the next three years. We urge you to continue to invest in Auckland’s vital transport infrastructure (both physical and social) for our communities.
Momentum has been building for those opting to cycle to access their daily needs across the city, with a 14% increase in cycling in the last twelve months alone according to most recent cycle count data from Auckland Transport. This is a clear indication that investing in cycling infrastructure and related safety and supporting services has value for our communities, and is worth continued investment.
Women in Urbanism do not underestimate what this loss of funding would mean for our communities, and what disenfranchising vulnerable communities from transport choice would do, as these are the communities who need investment in transport options most of all.
Women in Urbanism members are embedded in our communities, and are on the frontlines of many community initiatives (especially urban mobility and cycling related work). We’ve seen firsthand the value of Bike Skills training for migrant women, and older women in our communities, who often have no or little means of transportation here in Aotearoa, and are learning to cycle so they may access their daily needs, stay healthy, and live in dignity.We’ve seen children go from passengers in their parent’s car, to independent and confident tamariki, who know and feel safer in their neighbourhoods, when the barriers to cycling are lowered through Auckland’s Bike Hubs, Events, Bike Trains, and Learn to Ride Events.
We also know from surveys of our own database – and from Auckland Transport's surveys – that women would prefer to cycle as their mode of transportation, if it was safe to do so. Giving children and parents more transport options makes sense as it reduces congestion on our streets, reduces time pollution, supports us to spend time with our whānau, and also increases our, productivity. This can only be achieved through safe street design: traffic-calming andsafe crossings; wide footpaths; protected bike lanes; and better visibility around driveways – all of which these projects provide.
The Auckland Plan 2050 has three directions that speak to the importance of Transport and Access. All three of these directions will be negatively impacted by any reduction in funding from Auckland Council to invest in cycling and related projects over the next three years.
1. Maximise safety, environmental protection and emissions reduction
We know that climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, women, children, marginalised people. We also know that we must build a resilient people focused network to encourage the shift in transport modes that will support a wider emissions reduction goal. Not only is transport a major household cost, we all bear the cost of the lack of safe walking and cycling, in the sustained levels of deaths and serious injuries across the region – which disproportionately affect Māori and Pasifika, young people, and the elderly. We call upon you to continue your commitment to funding people transport options and infrastructure such as walking, cycling and safety projects to maximise safety, the environment and emissions reduction.
2. Better connect people, places, goods and services
We know that Auckland is growing, and that this is putting pressure on the wider transport network. People going to and from work, education centres, daycare and carrying out their daily needs deserve to have the option to do so via cycling, walking and public transport. Active modes support a compact city, the first and last leg of any trip deserves to be one that is safe, and enjoyable. We know 25% of Aucklanders do not hold a driving license. We also know from surveys of our own database – and from Auckland Transport's surveys – that women would prefer to cycle as their mode of transportation, if it was safe to do so. And we know women take public transport more, and walk more than men. We call upon you to continue your commitment to ensuring that the people of Auckland are better connected with each other, places, goods and services.
3. Increase genuine travel choices for a healthy, vibrant and equitable Auckland
We know that active mobility supports wider health outcomes, and we also know that there are barriers in place that prevent people from embracing active mobility. These are often related to safety issues, and a lack of viable and supporting infrastructure. With wāhine more likely than tāne to trip chain and drop off children at school, run errands around going to work, it makes sense that these tasks are able to be completed by bike, or on foot. When safe crossings and improved facilities for walking, cycling and public transport are implemented they support elderly and disabled residents too – many of whom do not or cannot drive, and all of whom deserve better transport options. We call upon you to continue your commitment to ensuring that the there are an increase in genuine travel choices for a healthy, vibrant and equitable Auckland.
Auckland Council’s vision is for a “built environment underpins the development of prosperous, inclusive and vibrant communities. Quality development helps to regenerate the environment and deliver our commitments to greenhouse gas emission reduction as we grown and change.” We argue that if Auckland Council are serious about their commitment stated in the FDS, they should continue to stand by projects that will support the development of Auckland as a people focused, healthy, equitable city.
Any discussion of “value for money” must be transparent about the full range of outcomes. We understand that there is also a requirement to address ‘value for money’ - this should be addressed openly. Improvements to cycling and walking infrastructure, teaching people to cycle, supporting kids to feel confident on their bikes provide a lifelong investment in your community, and one that should not be underestimated. We urge you to continue the momentum that communities have fought hard for and importantly to continue investing in people. Women, children, and marginalised groups are the ones that stand to gain the most, and subsequently lose the most should you decline to support these types of projects.
Ngā mihi nui,
Women in Urbanism Aotearoa Committee
