25 years ago l rode a bike to work for 8 months. Was cynically smashed by utes 3 times and had to bail 4 other times. Broke wrist and 2 helmets. Too dangerous by far.
Last November bought an e bike. No hint of danger in 5 months. Reasons: 1 some bike lanes. 2 driver behaviour has improved a lot. 3 e bikes travel faster so pre-empt driver annoyance. 4 greater acceleration allows e bikes to get out of trouble when needed. I love my e bike. Saved me $300 in fuel already, blood pressure lowered. I'm a lot fitter. As a 69 year old, the hills are too much for me on a normal bike. E bikes ARE the future
Yes, lets do it! The bike lane concept is way overdue. Can we organise a protest day to gather bikes and re-storm the Harbour Bridge? I live in the Far North but I'll be there, with friends, perhaps en route from the Cape to the Bluff. For my own cycling wellbeing, I value my hi vis, my rear view mirror and my low tech bamboo-with-a-flag-on-the-end ( extends sideways 1m from my rear carrier to remind drivers to leave a space). And to enhance the wellbeing of the natural world, as a cycling Zero Waste Granny, not only do i aim to buy nothing that cannot be recycled but I have a bucket attached for the roadside litter I pick up with one of those remakable 'picky uppy' gadgets. It's fun!
So totally agree David. Why not take one of the traffic lanes away from cars going over the bridge. The harder we make it for cars and the easier we make it for bikes and public transport the change will happen. Government local or central need to grow a set and just do it.
Really enjoyed this: "..three or six or nine second delay to the very important journey of the very important person in the SUV or the double cab ute." I often look to see if there's a heavily pregnant woman or a gravely injured person being sped to the hospital. But no, it's just about always a single occupant, with an outsized sense of entitlement to match their outsized vehicle. I feel inspired, just realised my imminent car trip can be done by bike instead.
Oh, and what about all those people who complain about the cost of cycleways, imaging roading for cars comes about somehow at zero cost?
Great map, i hope cycle way over bridge is given aleast a e months trial later this year , or Aucklanders cyclist protest one Sunday and just arrange safely and do it to prove their point, it's needed now! Born and breed on Northshore i rode my bike Devonport to Takapuna areas often delivered Heralds Upper Belmont rode to Belmont Intermediate too, only scare i had was 1960 when unthinking lady car driver opened her 2 door morris minor drivers door wide open as i was going past, it threw me under a truck going same way, lucky he managed to stop while i was under the motor area and i only had cuts etc, gave me nightmares for along time, no cycle ways then, glad they're there now and Bridge is the missing link for many more Aucklanders to cycle and drive far less!
I have just been to Auckland and was very impressed with the cycle lanes and the clear delineation between cyclists and pedestrians. I fully support the idea of a lane on the bridge for cyclists.
David, it seems like another lifetime ago that I would ride my bike back and forth from Auckland Uni to Pt Chev and all the way out to Kelston, and I see your map and wish I were still there to experience the change. Yes the bridge is the answer and crack on with your work to make it happen in the minds of bureaucrats and noise makers. I now live in Christchurch and am seeing the increased riding for work and recreation as the bike lanes head across the city and then snake their way south and north. Wineries and farmers markets on the weekend is now achievable without vehicles. Childhood for the aged is just a charge away.
25 years ago l rode a bike to work for 8 months. Was cynically smashed by utes 3 times and had to bail 4 other times. Broke wrist and 2 helmets. Too dangerous by far.
Last November bought an e bike. No hint of danger in 5 months. Reasons: 1 some bike lanes. 2 driver behaviour has improved a lot. 3 e bikes travel faster so pre-empt driver annoyance. 4 greater acceleration allows e bikes to get out of trouble when needed. I love my e bike. Saved me $300 in fuel already, blood pressure lowered. I'm a lot fitter. As a 69 year old, the hills are too much for me on a normal bike. E bikes ARE the future
Yes, lets do it! The bike lane concept is way overdue. Can we organise a protest day to gather bikes and re-storm the Harbour Bridge? I live in the Far North but I'll be there, with friends, perhaps en route from the Cape to the Bluff. For my own cycling wellbeing, I value my hi vis, my rear view mirror and my low tech bamboo-with-a-flag-on-the-end ( extends sideways 1m from my rear carrier to remind drivers to leave a space). And to enhance the wellbeing of the natural world, as a cycling Zero Waste Granny, not only do i aim to buy nothing that cannot be recycled but I have a bucket attached for the roadside litter I pick up with one of those remakable 'picky uppy' gadgets. It's fun!
Great post! Would be a good advocacy piece on the other side of the paywall.
So totally agree David. Why not take one of the traffic lanes away from cars going over the bridge. The harder we make it for cars and the easier we make it for bikes and public transport the change will happen. Government local or central need to grow a set and just do it.
Seville can do it, we just need the political will.
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jan/28/seville-cycling-capital-southern-europe-bike-lanes
Really enjoyed this: "..three or six or nine second delay to the very important journey of the very important person in the SUV or the double cab ute." I often look to see if there's a heavily pregnant woman or a gravely injured person being sped to the hospital. But no, it's just about always a single occupant, with an outsized sense of entitlement to match their outsized vehicle. I feel inspired, just realised my imminent car trip can be done by bike instead.
Oh, and what about all those people who complain about the cost of cycleways, imaging roading for cars comes about somehow at zero cost?
Great map, i hope cycle way over bridge is given aleast a e months trial later this year , or Aucklanders cyclist protest one Sunday and just arrange safely and do it to prove their point, it's needed now! Born and breed on Northshore i rode my bike Devonport to Takapuna areas often delivered Heralds Upper Belmont rode to Belmont Intermediate too, only scare i had was 1960 when unthinking lady car driver opened her 2 door morris minor drivers door wide open as i was going past, it threw me under a truck going same way, lucky he managed to stop while i was under the motor area and i only had cuts etc, gave me nightmares for along time, no cycle ways then, glad they're there now and Bridge is the missing link for many more Aucklanders to cycle and drive far less!
I have just been to Auckland and was very impressed with the cycle lanes and the clear delineation between cyclists and pedestrians. I fully support the idea of a lane on the bridge for cyclists.
David, it seems like another lifetime ago that I would ride my bike back and forth from Auckland Uni to Pt Chev and all the way out to Kelston, and I see your map and wish I were still there to experience the change. Yes the bridge is the answer and crack on with your work to make it happen in the minds of bureaucrats and noise makers. I now live in Christchurch and am seeing the increased riding for work and recreation as the bike lanes head across the city and then snake their way south and north. Wineries and farmers markets on the weekend is now achievable without vehicles. Childhood for the aged is just a charge away.
Petrol vouchers ... how bloody apt 🤣
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