After more than 100 years, pathway linking Wellington and Hutt has the green light

Thursday, 23 May 2019

The Ngāūranga-to-Petone shared pathway is part of a longer path called Te Ara Tupua, which will eventually allow people to walk or bike around the whole harbour. (Video first published in September 2019).

Richard Seddon was Prime Minister when the first cycleway between Wellington and Lower Hutt was proposed.

On Thursday, a pathway moved closer to reality with Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter unveiling designs for public consultation on the Ngāūranga to Petone shared walking and cycling path.

Cycling Action Network Project Manager Patrick Morgan said it was amazing it had taken more than 100 years but he was pleased to finally see progress on the pathway, estimated to cost between $76 million and $94m.

Paul Kennett rode a penny farthing to symbolise how long it had taken to get better cycling facilities between Petone and Ngāūranga.

The first reference he could find to it, was from Hansard in 1901, where it was suggested cyclists could pay five shillings to build the pathway.

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Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter cycled to the launch.

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Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter believes the shared pathway will be the 'most significant expansion' of public access to Wellington's waterfront in decades.

'Queen Victoria was on the throne and King Dick Seddon was Prime Minister and the Wright brothers had not yet flown, so you can see we have been patient.'

The pathway will be 5 metres wide and designed to accommodate cyclists, walkers and runners.

A cycleway between Wellington and Lower Hutt first appeared in Hansard in 1901.

Morgan was aware some commuting cyclists had said they would not use it if there were also runners and walkers on it.

Getting the design right and building a good quality facility would overcome the doubters, he said.

Richard Seddon was Prime Minister when a cycling route from Lower Hutt to Wellington was first proposed.

Once it was built he believed the number of cyclists commuting to Wellington would increase dramatically and e-bikes would become the norm on the pathway.

Paul Kennett has cycled into Wellington for 20 years and, like a number of cyclists at the launch, said the current ride was dangerous.

Paul Kennett commutes to Wellington on an e-bike and, after 20 years, he still finds the ride on State Highway 2 scary.

On the ride home he was frequently 'squeezed' between trucks and the hill and he could understand why a lot of cyclists did not use it.

He rode a penny-farthing to the launch to symbolise how long the fight for a pathway had taken.

Cycling advocates, from left, Paul Kennett, Patrick Morgan and Linda Beatson are keen to see the shared pathway built as quickly as possible.

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester said the pathway was an 'exciting' development that would bring the two cites closer together.

'The planned new 5-metre wide path should help ease congestion on the highway, and obviously link with the improved walking and biking facilities this council has developed along Hutt Road.'

Graeme Hall from the Great Harbour Way Trust, which supports a safe walking and cycling route from Wellington Airport to Eastbourne, believed the pathway went well beyond making life easier for commuters.

The highway between Ngāūranga and Petone was too dangerous for most recreational cyclists, he said. They, runners and tourists on the Rimutaka Cycle Trail will use the new pathway.

The announcement was not, however, all good news for commuters. Hutt City Mayor Ray Wallace has been lobbying for a third lane to be added to SH2 when the pathway is built.

Genter dismissed the idea, and said a third lane would only put more cars on the road and make congestion worse.

National's Associate Transport spokesperson Brett Hudson said improved cycleways should be welcomed, but not at the expense of the rest of Wellington's transport system.

'Motorists on SH2 will pay for this cycle and walkway project, yet the Government has ignored the possibility of adding an extra Wellington-bound lane to the motorway at the same time.

'That will do nothing for the mood of the people paying the bills while they're stuck in traffic, who are waiting for improvements like the Melling Interchange and Petone to Grenada link.'