AT welcomes people new to cycling in inner city

An Auckland Transport survey indicates the number of people cycling to work and education along a key inner city corridor has gone up by more than 50%. The Symonds St/Grafton Gully Corridor report also shows a big jump in the number of people new to cycling in the corridor and that people feel very safe on the Grafton Gully Cycleway.

That number is set to increase with the opening of the final stage of the Beach Rd Cycleway tomorrow at 7.30am. This connects the Grafton Gully Cycleway with Quay St at Britomart Place for people cycling.

For the report, cycle counts were taken on 14 locations on Symonds and the Grafton Gully Cycleway and survey questions were asked of people cycling on the corridor. The data was compared with the 2014 survey which was conducted at a similar time of year, weather conditions and time of day. The number of people that said they were ‘new to cycling’ was 28.8% and the perceived safety of Grafton Gully was 8.7/10.

The results were pleasing and show that if you build cycle infrastructure, people will use it says Auckland Transport, Kathryn King.

“It’s really encouraging. This is a key corridor where people cycle to work and to study at the two universities so to see an increase in people cycling along this corridor confirms our research.”

“What really pleased us was the number of people new to cycling. It is these people that we want feel more confident and safe riding to work or education.”

Auckland Transport, Auckland Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency are working together on a $200million cycle programme over the next three years. Central Government has made a significant contribution to funding through the Urban Cycle Programme.

Beach Rd Cycleway stage 2 opening.

Hundreds of people on bikes, Mayor Len Brown and Central Auckland MP Nikki Kaye will be at the opening of the Beach Rd Cycleway (stage 2) and urban space upgrade this Friday 18 September between 7.30am -8.30am (run sheet attached).

What: Opening of Beach Rd Cycleway stage 2 and urban space upgrade

Where: Corner Britomart Pl, Beach Rd.

Survey Results

• Over four counting times (Sat am, Sat pm, Thurs am, Thurs pm), an average of just over 50% increase was recorded compared with the same time and day 2014. (Thursday am recorded a 66.7% increase compared with 2014)

• New to cycling 28.8% up 169% (compared with 2014

• Perceived safety of the Grafton Gully Cycleway 8.7/10

• Perceived safety of city centre cycling increased by 15% (compared with 2014)

ENDS

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