Category: Transport

In line with our Transition Town goals of encouraging the use of lower-carbon transport modes Transition Town Point Chevalier has become a supporter of the Healthy Streets Alliance.

You can learn more about the Healthy Streets concept here and see the video of Lucy Saunders talking in Auckland about the subject here. The group is also aiming to promote safer speeds, Vision Zero, the work of health academic alliance, Healthy Auckland Together, and Neighbourhoods for Active Kids. Essentially, the group is looking to promote the benefits of having safe, low-speed, low-traffic, well-designed city environments so people can live active, healthy  lives in their communities.

The speed limit bylaw consultation is a really important step to bringing a healthier, lower carbon transport network to Auckland, where it’ll be much more appealing to Aucklanders to actively move around our city.

With so much bad information circulating about the consultation speeds, I thought you might be interested in watching this inspiring video from AT. Their myths and misconceptions page is really good.

If you’re following the damaging position the AA has taken on the subject, my post in Greater Auckland today discusses the survey they are trying to use to strengthen their position. There’s much more on that subject to come.

The EU has calculated its subsidy to driving is €500 billion per year.

Also, even at the current low rates of walking and cycling due to unpleasant traffic environments:

“Due to positive health effects, cycling is an external benefit worth €24 billion per year and walking €66 billion per year.”

In NZ, the subsidy to driving per capita will be significantly higher than it is in Europe due to our sprawl and high car dependency.

This information could be useful when you are face-to-face with regressive car dependent people complaining about spending money on cycleways or arguing against the changes to our systems that would boost cycling numbers, such as 30 km/hr speeds. Cycleways give us a return on investment. Roads are what cost too much.

A couple of good articles showing that we are right to push for cycleways and better walking amenity as an important way to reduce carbon emissions. Transport carbon emissions are big, and the easiest thing to target while also improving our lifestyle and health.

Simon Wilson:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12172563

Forbes:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2018/12/05/cycleways-quickly-encourage-people-to-drive-less-finds-study-from-car-dependent-new-zealand/#4d5775022617