I’ve heard Bob Harvey tell the story of when as a teenager he first rode his bike from Newton Gully all the way out to Karekare, the beginning of a lifelong love affair with his favourite place. His bicycle gave him the keys to the city, and a freedom he could take for granted.
My “wild and crazy” idea is that this should be an everyday reality for every child and young person in Tāmaki Makaurau right now, rather than a fond memory or a future dream. They deserve what young Bob enjoyed: the sheer joy of jumping on a bike and pedalling until you find a beach.
And when our youth can just as easily ride to kura, the playground, local shops and after-school jobs, we’ll have fixed Auckland in a multitude of ways.
The good news: we have the blueprint, knowledge and resources to make this vision a reality. We also have the public support. In every survey ever done, two out of three Aucklanders back a bikeable city, and with deeper discussion – as in a recent Koi Tū citizens’ assembly – it rises to 85%!
As every place where youngsters bike in large numbers has discovered, the deciding factor isn’t hills or weather. The not-so-secret sauce is simply a connected citywide network, just like the one drivers enjoy, and yes including the Auckland Harbour Bridge!
This dream is achievable today, if three key players play along:
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Auckland Transport acts on the Mayor’s direction to find low-cost opportunities to complete the cycling network.
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Councillors hold firm on their unanimous commitments to “supercharge walking and cycling” and build a city children can independently get around.
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Government gets “back to basics” by investing in affordable active transport.
The rewards go far beyond empowering our kids. We’ll also solve congestion, improve health and well-being, ensure greater equity and access, and lock in cleaner air and fewer emissions. To me, what’s wild and crazy is that anyone’s still dithering on this great deal!
Illustration: James Stewart