New Zealand is well-known as a mountain biking mecca, with enthusiastic cyclists flying from all over the world to roam our rolling hills and beautiful native forest trails. But when it comes to bringing those bikes into our cities, we’re only just getting started.
As a small nation, we share similarities with bike-friendly cities like Oslo and Antwerp, meaning we have the potential to create world-class cycling infrastructure. But to get there, we need careful, research-backed bike lane design.
Today, we’re exploring how Aotearoa has approached bike lane design, the benefits so far, and what’s next for cycling in our cities.
The Case for Better Cycling Infrastructure
As a team that specialises in road-safe traffic management, we know that bicycle paths are particularly good for Kiwi cities. Well-designed bicycle paths can reduce emissions and congestion, lower transport costs, promote a healthier lifestyle, and make urban spaces more liveable.
Cycling also has economic benefits. Studies have shown that well-designed cycleways encourage local spending, as cyclists are more likely to stop at local shops and cafes than motorists. Additionally, investing in bike infrastructure often costs significantly less than expanding roadways for cars, making it a smart long-term investment.
To maximise these benefits, we need to look at how bike lane design has evolved, and where it can go next.
Kiwi Bike Lane Design Across Time
Past
New Zealand’s cycling infrastructure has historically been an afterthought. While cycling was once a dominant mode of transport in the early 20th century, the rise of car culture around the world saw bike lanes disappear from urban planning altogether. For decades, our cyclists had to navigate roads primarily designed for cars, often discouraging people from cycling altogether.
Present
Today, many of New Zealand’s cities are investing in bike lanes, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. An attitude of fear persists, especially in frustrated motorists who are afraid to do damage to unsuspecting cyclists.
In response, cities like Wellington and Auckland have begun rolling out more separated cycle lanes to improve safety and encourage more people to cycle. However, connectivity remains an issue, as many cycleways do not link up seamlessly, making long commutes challenging for riders.
Auckland’s cycleway network, in particular, has expanded significantly in the past decade, with projects like the Northwestern Cycleway and the Lightpath Te Ara I Whiti standing out as success stories. Wellington’s “Let’s Get Wellington Moving” initiative also prioritises cycling infrastructure, aiming to create a more integrated transport system. While progress is being made, many cycle lanes are still painted lines on busy roads, which do little to make cyclists feel truly safe.
Future
The future of cycling in New Zealand looks promising, but strong commitment from local councils and central government is required to evolve bike lane design. The best cities for cycling worldwide prioritise fully separated bike lanes, seamless connections between cycling routes, and policies that make cycling the easiest and most attractive transport option.
From our point of view, there are a few key opportunities to zoom in on to improve future bike lane design:
- Physically separated bike lanes, like those in Copenhagen, create the safest environment for cyclists and should be the gold standard for those implemented in Aotearoa.
- Safety surfacing and other innovative civil construction strategies can demarcate bike lines while encouraging motorists to slow down in high-risk zones, making it easier for drivers and cyclists to share the roads safely.
- Cycleways should seamlessly connect residential areas with schools, workplaces, and shopping districts to create liveable urban centres that people feel safe cycling through.
- One of the biggest challenges facing Kiwis who want to cycle is the lack of end-of-line storage for their ‘vehicles’, so to speak. Secure bike parking, showers, and lockers at workplaces and transit hubs can all encourage cycling as a commuting option.
If we zoom out and look at the big picture, New Zealand has the opportunity to become the most sustainable country in the world. With kilometres of gorgeous natural forest and plenty of natural resources, we’re a well-loved country that calls to mind sprawling pastures and sunshine. To meet those goals, we have to focus on making our urban centres easier to traverse. From our perspective, that begins with making them bike-friendly.
With bike lane design principles like these guiding the way, there’s every chance that some of our cities will top the list of the most bike-friendly places in the world in the coming years.
Bring New Zealand Cities Into the Future With Expert Bike Lane Design
The team at Traffic Systems Limited has years of experience transforming roads and pathways in the safest, most cost-effective manner. We take our work seriously, and we’re proud to provide civil construction services that help agencies like Waka Kotahi and Auckland Transport shape our cities to be more sustainable.
Curious about how we can help? Enquire with our helpful team today.