GetAcross - Welcome to GetAcross campaign for walking and cycling on Auckland Harbour Bridge

NZTA's reasons for not trialling walking & cycling on the Bridge

26/8/2022

We've sent the attached letter to NZTA's Chair which highlights a flawed rationale for refusing a trial for walking & cycling on the Harbour Bridge.
NZTA's reasons for not doing a trial are in this Board paper and media release by Brian Roche, with the main reason is due to pedestrian versus cyclist crashes would be “highly likely in either a one or two-lane reallocation”. We think this is merely an excuse for inaction and are proceeding with preparation a judicial review to challenge NZTA's decision.

NZTA's refusal to trial a lane for walking & cycling

26/1/2022

In response to NZTA's disappointing (but not unexpected) refusal to trial a lane for walking & cycling, we have sent this letter asked them to urgently re-consider, otherwise we intend lodging a judicial review in the High Court. This isn't our preferred option but NZTA continues to block walking and cycling on the Auckland Harbour Bridge. This is because they hate being told what to do and they are directly funded by motorised traffic consumption of fossil fuels.

May 30, 2021 AHB Rally

23/8/2021

On May 30 2021, the 62nd anniversary of the Bridge opening, we showed both NZTA and the Minister of Transport, Michael Wood that Aucklanders want to trial liberating a lane - so that we can all get across whether we drive or not. The Bike Auckland 'Liberate a Lane' rally at Pt Erin, followed by a peaceful, joyous procession across the bridge, was a great day for cyclists and for Auckland. Though predictably, NZTA/Waka Kotahi managed things poorly by firstly refusing to sanction people crossing the bridge, and then closed the bridge to traffic without giving proper notice.
Participants in the spontaneous people powered crossing - weren't criminals, just everyday Aucklanders who have never forgotten the fun and convenience of riding a bike or getting about by foot. You can see the happy crowds here: Walking & cycling on the Auckland Harbour Bridge 2021 - YouTube

NZTA misleads by claiming two lanes required for Bridge trial

3/6/2021

Advice by NZ Transport Agency’s Brett Gliddon that “a trial of using the existing harbour bridge for cyclists and pedestrians would require two lanes” is disingenuous and misleading.

NZTA’s Detailed Business Case assessment of the options include the use a single lane to provide for walking and cycling (Option 3 of NZTA’s report dated January, see page 73):

The trial could easily replicate the barriers of Option 3, to provide a safe 4.5 metre shared path for walking and cycling.  However Gliddon knows by claiming two traffic lanes are required, the trial will not be approved.

GetAcross spokeperson Christine Rose says “Such advice is misleading and calculated to block progress. Whilst this is not necessarily surprising given NZTA’s track record over the last 17 years, it is disappointing and time it stopped.”

Transport Planner, Bevan Woodward says “This kind of behaviour by NZTA adds weight to our call for an independent panel to oversee the options and a trial of one traffic lane for walking and cycling (see attached letter).  The Government’s Policy on Land Transport is clear: Less traffic through mode shift to the sustainable modes.  It’s time NZTA got onboard.”

Auckland Harbour Bridge to open for walking and cycling tomorrow

29/5/2021

On Sunday, May 30 in response to the Liberate A Lane Rally at Point Erin @ 10am the Northbound clip-on lanes will close to allow walking & cycling. Details here:
https://at.govt.nz/about-us/news-events/events-causing-delays/

Campaigning to Liberate a Lane

26/3/2021

Movement Trustees Bevan Woodward and Christine Rose present to Auckland Council's Planning Committee

We've been busy
Movement Trustees have been doing the rounds, talking to politicians about the People’s Path – the plan to trial ‘liberating a lane’ for walking and cycling across the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

We have spoken with, and received a pretty good response, from the Devonport Local Board, Shanan Halbert Northcote Labour MP and Chlöe Swarbrick Auckland Central Green MP.

On Thursday 6 May, Trustees also presented to Auckland Council's Planning Committee in support of reallocating a lane for the People’s Path on the westernmost clip-on. Most Councillors were very supportive, and it was officially resolved that NZTA be encouraged to continue discussions with Movement Trustees about liberating a lane, and pursue a cost effective solution as we have suggested. Unofficially, Councillors also agreed to undertake discussions with the Minister of Transport on the matter. You can see our presentation and their resolutions here.

Misleading of NZTA to advise "Further strengthening of the bridge is no longer feasible”.

26/2/2021

NZTA has issued a media release advising ""Further strengthening of the bridge is no longer feasible”.

However this is simply not true. Further strengthening of the AHB clip-ons can be achieved by load sharing to the main bridge - per the these plans prepared for NZTA as part of the SkyPath investigations.

This solution strengthens the clip-on lanes and, as explained on page 1, the main bridge itself can be strengthened by upgrading members of the external structure.

SkyPath back on the table as NZTA reconsiders the Northern Pathway

11/12/2020

NZTA are reconsidering their plan for the Northern Pathway across the Waitemata. There are significant technical issues and cost blowouts (well above the recent costing of $240 million and the original estimate of $100 million last year).

NZTA want to build a new bridge for the busway, walking and cycling. Whilst we support this approach in principle, we are very concerned by the delay this means for walking and cycling. As such a bridge would be a decade or more to complete, we have requested NZTA to get on with the SkyPath design as the elegant low-cost, light-weight, interim solution.

SkyPath is already consented and was approved as buildable at the August 2018 NZTA Board meeting. Any concerns about loading capacity and movement of the clip-on's can be addressed by dynamic load-sharing to the main truss bridge.

Tragically, NZTA could have delivered SkyPath by now, instead we are back to square one with NZTA proactively involve us in their decision-making. We had hoped that NZTA had learn from their previous apology to us for poor communication.

National says 'No' to walking & cycling across the Auckland Harbour Bridge

17/7/2020

National announces a $31 billion transport and infrastructure that does not include
walking and cycling across the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Judith Collins says they would probably not proceed with walking & cycling over the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

However this isn't smart...

Suggesting ferries as the alternative for walking and cycling across the harbour is completely unacceptable. It’s like suggesting that the next harbour crossing for vehicles should also be by ferry. In short, ferries disrupt the journey and add travel time/cost, have limited capacity and can cause inconvenience.
This is typical conservative party thinking on transport. National is under the delusion that we can build our way out of congestion. National’s approach would turn Auckland into LA. National’s transport plan ignores climate change, health & the damage to our cities caused by motorway building
SkyPath has massive support amongst Aucklanders, National is shooting itself in the foot. Internationally, countries are quickly implementing new and improved walking & cycling facilities due to the many significant benefits.

During lock-down it was clear that when the roads are safe New Zealanders love to walk & cycle, but we suspect that National does not appreciate the value in active transport.

Our feedback to NZTA re Landings

8/5/2020

Our submission to NZTA presents our feedback on the proposed Northcote Point and Westhaven landings. We provide an alternative design at Northcote Point to avoid removal of houses.

We commend NZTA for its commitment to providing a high quality walking and cycling provision across the AHB to Takapuna (and beyond).

THE CAMPAIGN TO WALK & CYCLE ACROSS THE AUCKLAND HARBOUR BRIDGE